![Rod Matthiesen and Cruisin on the River. Photo courtesy ArabianHorsesGlobal.com.](/images/articles/1770/cruisinontheriver with rod matthiesen.jpg)
Rod Matthiesen and Cruisin on the River. Photo courtesy ArabianHorsesGlobal.com.
“The Ultimate Futurity was created in an attempt to raise interest in Arabian and half-Arabian stock horses,” Ulmer said. “Those of us that breed, train and show Arabian reining, working cow, cutting and general ranch horses want to see the numbers and competition grow in our classes at the horse shows. We want to offer more to the open trainers that train other breeds. It would be great to get them interested in showing Arabians as well as Quarter horses. I know that we can create some fun, lucrative shows that will soon become a ‘must go’ for everyone riding in these events."
The Ultimate Futurity began last year as a single show and has expanded to an “add-on” for two different shows this year. The first was held in conjunction with the Lincoln, NE, Arabian show May 13-15, and the second will be a part of the Region 4 Show in Nampa, Idaho, June 20-25. A large part of the appeal of these classes is the fancy amounts of purse money generated by interest and entry numbers.
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![Eleanor Hamilton and CMS Little Sierra. Photo courtesy ArabianHorsesGlobal.com.](/images/articles/1768/cmslittlesierra with eleanor hamilton.jpg)
Eleanor Hamilton and CMS Little Sierra. Photo courtesy ArabianHorsesGlobal.com.
Eleanor’s Arabians is a prime example of the kind of involved exhibitor the Ultimate Futurity attracts. Three of Eleanor Hamilton’s horses did quite well at the Ultimate Futurity in Lincoln. Cruisin On The River ridden by Rod Matthiesen for Eleanor won $500 in the Arabian Reining Futurity Open, Sheza Melody Jac, ridden by Gary Ferguson for Hamilton, won $1,192.50 in the HA Reining Futurity Open and CMS Little Sierra, owned and shown by Hamilton, won $400 in the HA Reining Maturity Non-Pro.
“This is exactly what all of the Arabian horse industry needs. Real innovative thinking and lots of action!” said Hamilton, president of the ARHA and a real advocate of hands-on promotion and showing. At 75-years-young Hamilton is still actively exhibiting reiners and is justifiably proud of pointing out to everyone that “…if I can do this at my age, anybody can do it!”