KINGMAN, Arizona---Everyone starts somewhere. Whether it is a tiny Tiger Woods swinging scaled down golf clubs or the more familiar to the rodeo crowd sight of a little blond girl on a streaking brown horse called Scamper, World Champions are not created overnight. They all hone their skills and develop the winning attitude through various levels of competition, long before they reach the pinnacles of their sports.
The same is true in barrel racing—not just of the competitors but also of their horses. Building champion barrel horses is a long process of repetitive training, hauling to season, and making adjustments as the horse improves. Just as Scamper began his training in a Clayton, New Mexico feedlot, all great champions start somewhere.
With that in mind, the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association (WPRA) created the ProFuturity and ProDerby programs in 2006. The programs are designed as the proving grounds for future champion rodeo horses. With average payouts being emphasized, the goal of the program is to build consistency in young barrel horses, preparing them for the life of a rodeo athlete.
Now in its sophomore season, the ProFuturity and ProDerby program is gearing up for its second finals to be held in conjunction with the WPRA World Finals, October 22-28 at the beautiful Diamond W Arena in Alvarado, Texas. Again offering a full slate of prizes and lucrative added money, the second edition, sponsored by Dodge Rodeo, should be as exciting and rewarding to competitors as the first as WPRA members and their future champions ride for the title of WPRA World Champions.
Fittingly for an all women’s association, leading the pack in 2007 is a pair of females: Jolene Stewart riding Williamson Penn Little’s tough little mare Sooner Superstar. Superstar is a daughter of the Jud Little owned Cash Not Credit and comes from Little’s string of talented barrel horses. The duo vaulted to the lead of the WPRA ProFuturity standings with a big win at the WPRA Spring Fling Futurity. That event was held in the same arena where the champions will be crowned in October: the Diamond W in Alvarado.
Because the WPRA Pro Futurity program emphasizes building rodeo barrel horses for the long term, the futurity is set up in a 2D format. That allows for competitors who don’t push their young horses as much and strive for consistency before going after speed and opportunity to cash in. The current leader in the 2D is Ericka White, a recent graduate of the Findlay, Ohio horse program and first time futurity competitor. White has been riding for Susie MacGaughaney on a Dash ta Fame bred horse.
The futurity is open to horses 5 and under ridden by WPRA members that were not competed on prior to Dec. 1 of 2006. Qualifying competition is not required to enter the Finals. Pro Derby horses are former Pro Futurity mounts moving into the next level of competition. Continued…
Continuing…
The aged horse events and are just one opportunity available to competitors at the WPRA World Finals. While there for the Dodge Pro Futurity and Pro Derby Championships, many contestants will also elect to compete in the 4D Challenger race and WPRA Richest Run for $100K, probably the most electric event of last year’s championships.
The WPRA will also award over $10,000 in bonus money to the winners in the ProElite Sire Incentive Program.
Fans and contestants alike have the opportunity to buy raffle tickets for a Jerry Beagley custom saddle with proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, to place bids on a silent auction, and to shop the “Cowgirl’s Christmas” gift show from 10AM-10PM on October 26-28 during the World Finals.
Admission for events held during the day is free. Evening event general admission tickets for adults are $10 for Thursday and Friday and $20 on Saturday. Tickets for children aged six to 12 are $5 and children under the age of six are free. Tickets are available by calling The Event Connection at (888) 594-3903 and at the gate.
Official sponsors of the event are Dodge Rodeo, Wrangler, Ariat Boots, Finish Line Horse, My Horse’s Choice, and Multi Chem.
Copyright 1996 - 2008 Rodeo Attitude, LLC., All rights reserved.