I thought this would be so fun to bring y’all some insight on some up & comers in the Futurity world right now! Visit with Danyelle Campbell, Lee & Hallie Hansen, Scamper Hill, Brian Wheeler, Dale Long and myself as we answer a few questions about some great horses we are riding right now for this upcoming Futurity year.
Make sure you tune in and watch these guys, I thought it would be so fun to have some horses to cheer on this year. I hope to check back in with them later this year to see how we are all accomplishing our goals!Thank you to each and every one of these trainers taking the time to share knowledge and insight. I hope you can see there is strategy to this side of the industry. I love getting to connect people, shine a little light on some special people and some even more special horses. Thank you for giving back, show them some support guys. (Comment, share, and go like their pages )
Enjoy!!
Name/Horse
Danyelle Campbell: Big Shoes Ta Fill “Joaquin” (3 yr old gelding by Dash Ta Fame running in ‘24) owner/rider/breeder.
Lee & Hallie Hansen: Persnikitty “Cardi” (4 yr old mare by Slick By Design. (RC Back N Black) running in ‘24) Owned by 88 Ranch Performance Horses
Scamper Hill: Ima Epic Burr Bug “Bubba” (3 yr old gelding by Epic Leader running in ‘24) Owned by: Chris McIlwain
Brian Wheeler: DesignerLeapToHeaven “Penny” (3 yr old mare by Heavenly Firewater running in ‘24) Owned by: Kim Matthews/ Mission Ranch
Tricia Aldridge: Adios Pantalones “Adios” (3 yr old stallion by Tres Seis running in ‘24) owner/rider.
Dale Long: Saaul Good “Sully” 2024 Futurity (3 yr old gelding by Winners Version running in ‘24) Owned by Benette Little.
Money won/highlights
Danyelle: $38,000 BFA Super Stakes third place. BFA Juvenile 1st Round Winner. Second in first round of OKC Rookie Futurity and placed in Avg.
Lee & Hallie: $10,000 She ran the fastest time of her class at the BFA through the slot race, juvenile, and futurity running a 15.389 making the 4yo finals. She had an unfortunate fall in round one of the Rookie at OKC but came back in round two to win 5th.
Scamper:$35,000 BFA Reserve Juvenile Champ. Fortunes Round Sire Slot Reserve Champion.
Brian: $67,810 BFA Juvenile Champion and Fortunes Round Sire Slot Champion.
Tricia: $77,000 Jingle Bell Classic Champion, Reserve at BFA Super Stakes
Dale:$19,000 Placed in Super Stakes, BFA & OKC.
Do you feel the horse was easy or hard to train?
Danyelle: He has been willing from the first ride. There have been hiccups along the way trying to teach him to do things as efficiently as possible. He has his own ideas about barrel racing and has definitely learned it’s a race.
Lee & Hallie: She has been pretty easy to train. I want to credit 88 Ranch Performance Horses for her start. They used her pretty hard on the ranch so she knows what real work is! The barrels came easy after that.
Scamper: He was tough for the first few weeks, then got solid pretty quick like most of my Epics do.
Brian: She was more on the harder side in the beginning but she has really taken to everything and is starting to be easy.
Tricia: Easy. He always wanted to be good, super smart, so I had to work a lot to keep him from anticipating.
Dale: He’s definitely been the easiest one yet I’ve had to train.
How many Futurities have you gone to? Next big show?
Danyelle: We’ve been to two (BFA & OKC.) We will go to two more in January, next being Lone Star. He’s not in Pink Or Ruby buckle so I will go to the ones he’s eligible for as long as I feel like he is mentally and physically prepared. I really haven’t set an earnings goal etc for him. My main priority is to set him up to be a solid, long term horse.
Lee & Hallie: We have gone to two Futurities so far (BFA & OKC.) We are heading to The Lonestar Shootout, Golden Buckle, and Showdown Productions in Texarkana in January, followed by Kinder in Feb. Thats all we know for sure right now.
Scamper: BFA & OKC, next stop will be The LoneStar Shootout.
Brian: BFA & OKC, next will be Memphis over New Years.
Tricia: BFA, OKC, & Jingle Bell Classic, next stop Lone Star Shootout/Golden Buckle.
Dale: We’ve ran at 2 futuritys now with the Lone Star Shootout likely being our next one, followed by Golden Buckle.
Do you go to jackpots in between Futurity runs? Why or why not?
Danyelle: Very rarely even though I understand the benefits. Maybe it’s because im from the west coast where we didn’t have a jackpot every night of the week. Old habits die hard. I’m a perpetual slow worker. Always working on body control and positioning (on and off the pattern). I try to make certain my foundation stays solid. Generally, if I go to a jackpot it’s to do something training or see if an issue I’ve been working on has improved.
Lee & Hallie: She has not been to any jackpots. When she placed in the first round of the BFA 4yo futurity her first run I knew she knew her job. She’s pretty much all business and I want to make her runs count.
Scamper: Not unless I’m trying to work on something specific with with horse. If they are solid and working good I like to keep them fresh and keep the runs off of them to make them count.
Brian: I will go to jackpots if I feel like one needs to make a run to work on things but normally I won’t take one to very many jackpots throughout the year . I’d rather save the good runs for when it counts.
Tricia: Not unless I’m working on a problem. I want to make sure when he runs it’s for the most money. It’s not worth the risk of crippling him for a $35 EF.
Dale: It really depends on the horse and how many races are coming up around that time. Sully in particular if I do take him I may just exhibition keeping him confident and fresh.
Do you give time off between runs?
Danyelle: This would depend on what I have coming up. My horses all lived turned out 24/7 so they get movement and exercise to some degree on their own.
Lee & Hallie: I’d say they usually get at least two or three full days off where they are turned out, then they may go on the exerciser lightly for a few days then back to riding. It’s important they rest and relax.
Scamper: I usually give them several days off depending on the horse and their performance at the previous Futurity.
Brian: I do like to give 3 or 4 days off after a Futurity and normally don’t like to go two weeks in a row . I’ve always done better when mine are rested up and are ready to go rather then have been on the road for weeks at a time.
Tricia: When I come back from a tough stretch, I like to turn him out for a week. I feel it keeps him fresh and ready to work. By the end of the week, I can definitely tell he’s ready to be back at it.
Dale: I do typically try to have off weeks in-between races where I may have had to make 3 runs.
How often do you work the pattern a week?
Danyelle: This depends on the horse and sometimes daily and sometimes I take the barrels down and just ride working on the basics.
Lee & Hallie: I’d I’d say right now two or maybe three days a week I’ll walk and trot through the pattern two or three times to put her feet where they need to go.
Scamper: 1-2 times weekly.
Brian: I’ll work the barrels 2 or 3 days at home and probably the other days just working on her being responsive to what I’m asking her to do.
Tricia: Sometimes not at all. I don’t want to fix something that’s not broken. If I do, it’s usually just trotting, keeping him soft and keeping forward motion.
Dale: I may walk or trot the pattern every day but really only put Sully to work on the pattern once a week.
What does your work at home look like? Do you ever go “fast” at home? Or just slow?
Danyelle Campbell: While I see the benefits of going fast at home, I rarely do it. I really do focus on proper body placement and confidence at slower speeds. If I do speed one up, I make certain to not “train” and pull them up with one tiny mistake. I want them to understand they have to keep moving forward and keep going even if we make a mistake. If one is made, I will come right back around and then work on fixing it.
Lee & Hallie: When I’m training them as three year olds I do go fast at home probably once every other week or so. It’s important they learn that at home before I ask them to do it somewhere else. Once they are running if everything’s going well they don’t get worked fast at home much at all if ever.
Scamper: Usually just a trot or lope through to keep them sharp, I very rarely run unless I’m trying to fix a specific problem.
Brian: My work at home consists of mostly a trot or slow lope on the pattern and keeping it very simple. I usually won’t make any fast runs at home after the futurity has started.
Tricia: I will trot through, then cruise through once (faster than a lope but not run) before I leave somewhere and just make sure all feels well, especially if I haven’t been working pattern. If I need to make a correction, I’ll typically trot through and correct it, if he feels good, I walk to first barrel and get off.
Dale: I typically trot / lope around the outside of the arena free headed until I feel them level out and then will go to a drill according to what may could have been better based on previous run. I will go fast at home if I need to but not more than once every few weeks once they get to this stage.
Anything that you feel helps your program? (Ex: vet, good shoer, magnawave, acuscope, bemer, coldspa, aquatread, icing legs, etc.)
Danyelle: Listening to my horse. Getting out of my head and feeling what’s happening under me. I’m a huge believer in my horses living turned out as I feel it helps them physically and mentally. I have a couple of fantastic vets and a couple of fantastic shoers. A client recently gifted me a Bemer therapy setup and I do like it. My horses eat alfalfa and they get an awesome mineral supplement called Prime 90. That’s my program.
Lee & Hallie: All these things. Our vet Dr Hand at ESMS has been on our team for almost ten years. He’s a phone call away, knows our horses, and even flies up to us in the summer a couple times. He is very invested in our program. Our shoer Kevin Jager has been shoeing my horses for fifteen years. I owe him a lot. All of our sponsors are a huge part of our team. We absolutely love the cold spa and use it as much as possible.
Scamper: Vet work is a must on any athlete, especially one at the top of their game, and a good farrier is crucial.
Brian: I think Dr Hand and Dr Ford being good (performance) vets gives an advantage because my horses are moving soundly and are ready to go to Futurity after they work on them. I shoe my horses myself, and I just try to keep my shoeing simple. Sticking to the basics to keep the horse sound.
Tricia: Vet/Farrier can absolutely make or break you. Dr. Lee has gone above and beyond over the years, always being a phone call away and a resource even when I’m on the road. Cutter Holloway has been shoeing for me for years. Also, both Dr Lee and Cutter have ridden quite a bit themselves and I feel that helps their perspective. I have to count on them, just as much as I count on my training. When I can win or lose by 1/1000th of a second… it matters. I also like the cold spa, acuscope and routine chiro.
Dale: Definitely the vet is the biggest factor of success but also will use the magna wave and I wrap legs religiously. Of course a solid strict feed/hay/supplement regimen is important as well.
Do you run on lasix? (You know I had to ask!)
Danyelle: love this question. Hahaha. I have no issues giving lasix when I know that my horse needs it. However, I do not use it as a preventative drug. This is solely based upon my laziness when it comes medicating a horse. At this moment I do not have a horse who runs on it and I realized two weeks ago my bottle is three years old and brown in color.
Lee & Hallie: Omg do I have to answer…yes we do.
Scamper: Yes
Brian: I do run on lasix
Tricia: Of course. Lol
Dale: I personally run everything on lasix as I feel it’s very cheap solution and preventative compared to the consequences of one bleeding.
Favorite thing about your horse?
Danyelle: I love Joaquin’s happiness. He is always happy to see me and anxious to go do things. He’s like a golden retriever puppy who happens to weigh 1250 pounds.
Lee & Hallie: She’s pretty darn gritty. To take a complete fall so early and come back and run 5th out of 425+ horses shows me she doesn’t just know her job, she loves it too. I appreciate that in a horse and it makes it extra special when it’s paired with ability like hers.
Scamper: His laid back, but solid demeanor
Brian: Probably her size . She’s not to small but not to big either .
Tricia: He has quite the playful personality but he is a machine when I send him down the alley. He loves his job and I love that. That’s my main goal, to keep it fun for him.
Dale: My favorite thing about Sully has got to be his just “go get it” attitude. He gives 100% in everything he does and just wants to please. Of course his goofy/slightly stressful personality makes him special too.
Biggest goal for this year?
Danyelle: To have a confident and sound horse at the end of the year.
Lee & Hallie: Of course I’d love to win the Pink Buckle. I know it’s an outside chance and there are so many great horses and trainers, but you don’t have a horse every year with the talent it would take and I’ve felt that kind of talent in her.
Scamper: To Win a major Futurity and win $100k on him.
Brian: Fort Smith is always my goal every year. I always want to do good there.
Tricia: To be the highest money earning Futurity stallion. ($300,000+) My Pink Buckle Goal eludes me… so I would like to win that too.
Dale: My biggest goal would probably have to be winning a bigger futurity but keep him enjoying what he does throughout the year.
One tip you would recommend to someone getting into Futurity horses and finding a great horse:
Danyelle: Get the horse you cannot live without. This may have nothing to do with cost or pedigree, but start with a horse you love and every day will go smoother.
Lee & Hallie: Have fun and ask questions. Pay attention to the little things with your horse. How do they handle being alone, new experiences, stalling, hauling to town for the first time, etc. If they don’t handle new things well it doesn’t mean they can’t make a great horse but it might make it harder for them to make a great futurity horse. A good minded horse can accomplish a lot their futurity year.
Scamper: Trust your training and stick with a horse or a specific bloodline that tends to fit your style.
Brian: My tip to someone getting into Futurity horses is to find a colt that is bred to run the barrels. I want my Futurity prospects to be out of proven mares.
Tricia: Even when it’s discouraging to enter up among people you look up to, people you know are out of your league, keep doing it. Yes, you will get your butt kicked, but pay attention, learn all you can, and eventually you’ll start climbing the ladder, with hard work, you’ll start to see your name right along side theirs. As far as a great horse goes, I PROMISE you’ll know when you’re sitting on one, it will feel different, you may think you have one, but you’ll KNOW when you do.
Dale: Focus on and stick to your gut instincts because that’s what got you to the position your in today. You will fail but don’t ever give up.