The Pennsylvania Futurity has announced that it will officially be changing its name to more accurately reflect the region and participants to the Penn-Ohio Futurity. In a combined effort to resume its rightful place as a nursery for fine American Saddlebreds, the exhibitors and breeders from the states of Pennsylvania and Ohio have merged forces to promote the Penn-Ohio Futurity as one of the nation's most progressive and responsive futurities. The Ohio Limited Breeders and the Penn-Ohio Futurity are pleased to announce a new venue and new tradition of excellence for 2006 with the move of the Penn-Ohio Futurity to the Springfield Charity Horse Show in Springfield, OH, to be held on September 22-24.

Show manager Jack Hawkes is delighted to welcome more colt exhibitors to the Springfield Charity Horse Show, which will be held at its facility at the brand new Clark County Fairgrounds. The Penn-Ohio Futurity has made some exciting changes, including a two-year-old under saddle class instead of a two-year-old in-hand class and a one-time combined nomination for mares and colts fee of $75. "We want more exhibitors to participate in the two-year-old division, and we want to make the payment system super easy with a single payment plan," he said.

"It is extremely important for us to continue to listen to the people who are actually out there doing it," says Marcia Belcher, Penn-Ohio, chairwoman. The Ohio Limited Breeders will be offered discounts for stallion nominations of $50 during the auction to be held February 26.

Why the changes? The Pennsylvania Futurity had been physically held in Ohio for years at the Western Reserve Horse Show in Warren, OH. This year with 14 weanlings showing and not in the best of facilities for colts, Belcher decided to take the reins and make some bold moves. “For the health of our industry and with the support of board members, including Dick Kearney and Tom Ferrebee this will be the best opportunity to build the futurity in the future," says Belcher. "We hope to attract exhibitors from Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri and Illinois." Although in conflict at the present time with the lucrative Wisconsin Futurity and the Wisconsin Limited Breeders Stake, the Penn-Ohio and the Ohio Limited Breeders Stake hope to capitalize on the central location at Springfield, OH. For further information about nominations, rules and class specifications, details can be found on the Ohio Saddlebred Horse Association website at
www.ohiosaddlebred.com or by contacting Marcia Belcher directly with any questions at (330) 625-1009.

Addendum
The board of the Penn-Ohio Futurity has voted unanimously to offer the members of the Ohio Limited a one-time buy in opportunity for their yearlings and two-year-olds for the 2006 competition year. Anyone wishing to nominate a yearling shall pay a nomination fee of $225 and anyone wishing to nominate a two-year-old shall pay a nomination fee of $275. There are no penalties applied...only the sum of the nomination fees for each division. Nominations will be due May 15 for the buy-in option. Nomination forms are available online at www.ohiosaddlebred.com on the Penn-Ohio link.

~~~