Location: Arcadia Ranch- Frost, TX 76641

Dates: April 24-26, 2026.

2026 Eligible Dates- Pups born between April 1, 2023- March 31, 2024
2025 Eligible Dates-Pups born between April 1, 2022- March 31, 2023

The following tasks MAY be seen in the event:

• Fieldwork to include pasture work and outruns no longer than 300 yards, 
• Trailer loading,
• Working in multiple pens and alleys
• Loading stock and shoots
• Sorting with Gates and mechanical aids
• Double lifts
• Any realistic ranch chore we can come up with to test our dogs ability to do real work

You will run three runs in each stock.. There will be  two Futurity events consisting of real life Ranch work to test the dogs abilities to work a ranch and to promote the working Ranch Dog aspect of the Australian Shepherd. There will be one Arena type event which means that it will be run in an arena and will have some common obstacles that you're used to in the trialing world.

Location: Windy Hill Arena (1 acre arena)
Scoring: 1 point per animal that completes the task. Task 1-4 all head must complete to continue. Activity 5-9 , points will be counted for each animal that completes the task in the prescribed manner.
Time Limit: 12 minutes
Tie Breaker Timeline: Sort​​​​​​​

***Once the heads of the cows are turned towards the panels, then you may move from the handler post.

If you go through the high point opening, you'll get two points per head that go through. Low point opening is 1 point per head. Once any cow passes through the opening, only cows that are behind the plane of the fetch panels, can be worked for points. If none of the cows get points, they are all still workable no matter where they are on the field.

Here is the Loom video covering the Cattle Handling and Arena Tasks for Futurity Course 1. Please give it a watch.

Watch here: https://www.loom.com/share/b457772e24bc469792bcdc55352b95ef
 

2025 Ranch Dog Futurity late entry (Open)
-Full: $750.00
-4 Monthly installments: $187.50

2025 Ranch Dog Futurity late entry (Novice)
-Full: $500.00
-4 Monthly installments: $125.00

2026 Ranch Dog Futurity (Novice)
-Full: $250.00
-4 Monthly installments: $62.50

2026 Ranch Dog Futurity (Open)
-Full: $500.00
-4 Monthly installments: $150.00

Substitutions: Dogs may be substituted. You may enter a new dog with payment of a substitution fee of $250 as long as it qualifies.

This event is a points and time event. The most efficient correct work will be rewarded. Teams will earn points for completing tasks based on the number of head of stock that complete the task.

We will have line judges and timers. The course director will have the final say in any judgement calls.

We will have lovely sheep for the event. These sheep will make you and your dog look like rock stars. They have been well controlled and well treated. They are honest and will most likely leave you wishing you had these sheep at every event you attend going forward.

The cattle will be lightly dog broke, meaning they will have seen a dog and been moved around a little bit by a dog. The cattle we get from my supplier are usually very easy to work and compliant. They usually range in size from weanlings to adults and allow you to get a real ranch dog feel to things.

2025 Working Aussie Source Futurity: Jacqueline Tinker
2026 Working Aussie Source Futurity: Enoch Phetteplace
2026 World Ranch Dog Finals: Jacqueline Tinker

• High Combined Open
• High Combined Novice
• High Sheep Open
• High Sheep Novice
• High Cattle Open
• High Cattle Novice
• Reserved High Combined Open
• Reserved High Combined Novice

• Cash- Added Money
• Special awards and swag 

• No restrictions on trialing before the Futurity Event. 
• Futurity Courses will be run for Points and Time.
• Training devices (mechanical and/or electrical) will not be permitted on trial grounds.·
• Bitches in season are permitted and will run in draw order.·
• Each owner/handler is responsible for their dog(s). Dogs must be confined or on lead at all times, except when competing. Dogs are not allowed to run loose on the trial site.
• No collars of any kind permitted on dogs when running. 
• If a dog is withdrawn for any reason, no refunds will be made. 
• Dogs may be substituted. You may enter a new dog with payment of a substitution fee of $100 as long as it qualifies.
• Excessive inappropriate gripping will earn teams a no score for that run. Teams that grip out in one run are still eligible to compete in following runs.
  

• I do not currently or in the past offer(ed) stockdog training lessons.
• I have not put a WTCH or a HTCH on a dog.
• I have not completed advanced classes on any stock through AKC or level III classes in AHBA.
• I have not won any money competing with a stockdog.
• I have not competed in any level above novice in any other stockdog organization.
• I do not train outside dogs.

As long as you meet the requirements listed above as of the date of entry, you will not be required to move up to Open if anything changes during the current competition year.