The Guaranteed Sale Graduate Side Pot is an additional incentive payout available exclusively to eligible horses purchased through an official Old West Horse Sale. For the 2026 Futurity season, eligible Sale Graduates must compete in the 4 and Under Division, with payouts awarded independently in Heading, Heeling, and Breakaway. These payouts are awarded IN ADDITION to the Main Futurity Pot, giving eligible Sale Graduates the opportunity to earn money from both payout programs.

IMPORTANT: 2026 VS. 2027 ELIGIBILITY

The eligibility requirements and payout structure below apply specifically to the 2026 Old West Futurity season, including the World Championships in Amarillo. Expanded age divisions and additional classes announced for 2027 do NOT apply to the 2026 season.

Purchasing an Old West Sale Horse in 2026? Scroll down to the 2027 Sale Graduate Expansion section to learn about the additional earning opportunities available beginning next season.

*Please review the Important Payout Rules at the bottom of this page.*

ONLY HORSES PURCHASED THROUGH AN OFFICIAL OLD WEST HORSE SALE IN 2025 QUALIFY FOR THE DESIGNATED 2026 SALE GRADUATE BONUS PAYOUTS.

A horse's age alone does NOT determine eligibility for Sale Graduate bonuses. Horses purchased through an official Old West Horse Sale in 2026 are NOT eligible for Sale Graduate bonus payouts during the 2026 competition season,  regardless of age or competition division. These horses will become eligible for applicable Sale Graduate bonus opportunities beginning in 2027, provided they meet all other eligibility requirements. For example: A 3-year-old horse purchased at an Old West Horse Sale in 2026 is NOT eligible for a Pre-Futurity Sale Graduate Bonus in 2026, regardless of its age or competition division.

To be eligible for the 2026 Guaranteed Sale Graduate Side Pot, all of the following requirements must be met:

Horse must have been purchased through an official Old West Horse Sale in 2025.

Horse must compete in the 4 and Under Division of an eligible 2026 Old West Futurity.

Horse must be entered in Heading, Heeling, or Breakaway.

Horse must qualify for the short round.

Breakaway entries are limited to women competitors, in accordance with Old West Futurity rules.

Any ownership transfers must receive written approval from Old West to maintain eligibility.

Additional Eligibility Notes:

Eligibility applies to the horse, not the rider.

Horses not purchased through a qualifying Old West Horse Sale are not eligible.

Horses purchased during the 2026 season do not qualify for 2026 Sale Graduate bonus payouts.

The expanded 2027 age divisions and Intermediate and Limited Sale Graduate payouts are not available during the 2026 season.

The 2026 Guaranteed Sale Graduate Side Pot pays five (5) places deep in each eligible discipline at participating Old West Futurity events.

Eligible Disciplines:

Heading | Heeling | Breakaway

Each discipline is paid independently according to the official 2026 payout tables below:

$3+ MILLION ON THE LINE FOR OLD WEST SALE GRADUATES IN 2027

The opportunity is getting even bigger! Beginning in 2027, Old West Futurities will expand its Guaranteed Sale Graduate Side Pot program, creating additional earning opportunities for eligible Sale Graduates throughout their 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old competition years.

4 • 5 • 6 YEAR OLDS

HEADING • HEELING • BREAKAWAY

OPEN • INTERMEDIATE • LIMITED*

*Limited does not include Breakaway.

IMPORTANT: These expanded opportunities begin with the 2027 Old West Futurity season and do NOT apply to the 2026 World Championships in Amarillo.

EXPANDED AGE ELIGIBILITY

Beginning in 2027, eligible Old West Sale Graduate horses will have opportunities to compete for Guaranteed Sale Graduate Side Pot payouts during their 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old competition years. This includes the addition of a combined 5–6 Year Old Sale Graduate Division across Heading, Heeling, and Breakaway.

EXPANDED CLASSES

Guaranteed Sale Graduate Side Pot payouts will continue in the Open Futurity and expand to eligible Intermediate and Limited classes. These additional earning opportunities are designed to provide more ways for eligible Sale Graduate horses to compete and earn throughout their futurity years.

Limited payouts do not include Breakaway.

FIVE PLACES DEEP

The expanded 2027 Guaranteed Sale Graduate Side Pot will pay five (5) places deep in each eligible discipline and class, per event. Each eligible discipline and class will be paid independently according to the official payout structure.

2027 SALE GRADUATE ELIGIBILITY

All existing Sale Graduate eligibility requirements remain in effect, including:

Horse must have been purchased through an official Old West Horse Sale during the qualifying purchase year.

Horse must compete in the applicable competition year and eligible age division.

Eligibility applies to the horse, not the rider.

Horse must qualify for the short round.

Ownership transfers must receive written approval from Old West.

No ground money will be paid.

Breakaway entries are limited to women competitors, in accordance with Old West Futurity rules.

2027 PAYOUT STRUCTURE

Guaranteed Sale Graduate Side Pot payouts will be available across eligible age divisions, disciplines, and classes according to the official 2027 payout tables.

The final 2027 Guaranteed Sale Graduate Side Pot payout structure and amounts will be determined by the total number of horses sold through official Old West Horse Sales in 2026.

PLUS, THE ROAD TO THE MILLION

The opportunity doesn't stop with the Sale Graduate Side Pots. Eligible Old West Sale Graduates can also compete at the Road to the Million in Heber City, Utah, where Heading, Heeling, and Breakaway competitors have the opportunity to chase the $1,000,000 bonus.

Road to the Million eligibility, qualifications, and payouts are governed by separate official rules.

YOUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY STARTS IN THE SALE RING.

When you purchase an eligible horse through an official Old West Horse Sale, you're buying more than a horse. You're gaining access to exclusive earning opportunities designed to continue long after the sale.

With more than $3 million in earning opportunities on the line for eligible Old West Sale Graduates in 2027, the future is full of opportunity.

BUY A SALE GRADUATE. COMPETE IN 2027. CHASE $3+ MILLION IN OPPORTUNITY.

Payouts are made only to eligible Old West Sale Graduate horses.

Horses must qualify for the short round to receive a payout.

If fewer than five eligible horses qualify, payouts stop at the final qualifying position.

No ground money will be paid.

Heading, Heeling, and Breakaway are paid independently.

All payouts are subject to official Old West Futurity rules and eligibility verification.

MAIN FUTURITY POT VS. GUARANTEED SALE GRADUATE SIDE POT

The Main Futurity Pot and Guaranteed Sale Graduate Side Pot are two completely separate payout programs.

MAIN FUTURITY POT

Funded by entry fees.

Pays back 80% of collected entry fees.

Open to all eligible horses, regardless of Sale Graduate status.

GUARANTEED SALE GRADUATE SIDE POT

Available exclusively to eligible Old West Sale Graduate horses.

Provides additional payouts beyond the Main Futurity Pot.

Pays according to the official Guaranteed Sale Graduate Side Pot payout tables.

*An eligible Old West Sale Graduate may earn money in BOTH the Main Futurity Pot and the Guaranteed Sale Graduate Side Pot at the same event.

OWNERSHIP TRANSFERS

Sale Graduate horses transferred after an official Old West Horse Sale and before competition must receive written approval from Old West to maintain eligibility for the Guaranteed Sale Graduate Side Pot.

Transfers approved by Old West: Sale Graduate eligibility remains intact.

Transfers not approved by Old West: Horse becomes ineligible for Guaranteed Sale Graduate Side Pot payouts.