The Breeders Challenge – Committee and Purpose
The purpose of the Breeders Challenge is to enhance the activities of Belgian breeders and the exhibiting of the offspring at a future designated show. An annual service sale will be held that offers the nominated stallions services, only the offspring from these services will be eligible to compete in the breeders challenge. This program also serves as a fundraiser for future NABC’s, The Belgian Draft Horse Alliance Inc., and generates the prize monies for the Breeders Challenge Classes.
The Breeders Challenge will operate as program within the Belgian Alliance with a committee comprised
of at least three members; these members will include:
- Andrew Beachy
- Edward Yoder
- These two founding members will be lifetime committee members unless they
choose to step down, at that time another individual will be placed on the
committee agreed upon by the other serving members.
- These two founding members will be lifetime committee members unless they
- One board member of The Belgian Draft Horse Alliance Inc.
- Organization of Annual Service sale
- Billing and collection of stallion nominations and services purchased
- Record keeping of eligible horses
- Advertising and promotion of Breeders Challenge
- Preparing and presenting an annual report for review by The Belgian Draft Horse Alliance Inc.
- Establish the payouts of the prize monies
- Serve as advisory board on the allocation of the monies for future NABC’s
- Adjust and change the rules and regulations of the Breeders Challenge as seen best for continuation of the program.
Breeders Challenge Program
The 2028 Breeders Challenge will give breeders and exhibitors an opportunity to participate in an exclusive class at the NABC XI in 2028, and to help generate funds for future NABC shows and the BELGIAN DRAFT HORSE ALLIANCE.
Stage 1
Nominating Stallions
Stallion owners will nominate their stallions into the 2028 Breeders Challenge Program. Owners can elect for one or two services per horse nominated. A catalog/program will be created to advertise and promote both the stallions and the program. To be included in this program, nominations must be made by December 1st each year to be advertised in the catalog for the following year. Late entrants will be accepted up to the day before the stallion service sale and offered for auction at the conclusion of the cataloged horses. All Stallions nominated must be registered and DNA/JEB tested. Ownership of the nominated stallion must be the same as recorded with the Belgian Draft Horse Corporation of America. By nominating your stallion, you are responsible for a five-hundred-dollar ($500) minimum bid. Payment of any bid above five hundred dollars ($500) will be the responsibility of the bidder.
Purchasing Stallion Service Fees
Bidder numbers will be used to bid during the stallion service fee auction. Bidder numbers can be obtained prior to the auction at the Belgian Draft Horse Corporation of America booth. The bidder number must include the person’s name, address, and phone number. They must confirm the information to be used for the stallion service fee purchased by the end of the day of the Gordyville sale. After the sale day ends, the information cannot be adjusted, and it must then match the mares nominated.
Stallion service fees purchased or bought back, with a minimum of $500, must be paid in full to The Belgian Draft Horse Alliance within 30 days to remain eligible for the program. Failure to pay any service fee within 30 days of the invoice date will result in those individuals being ineligible to nominate mares, exhibit, and/or receive premiums for any horse that is exhibited in the Breeders Challenge. This includes services that are purchased by joint memberships that are not paid (all parties listed will be ineligible)
Stallion fees will be sold at the MID-AMERICA DRAFT HORSE SALE, February 27, 2026, starting at 7:45 am local time. Services can be purchased via both live and telephone bidding.
The death of a stallion before the time of breeding will result in a refund to the purchaser. A change in ownership of a stallion may occur mid-process, but the stallion owner at the time of breeding will then be credited as the stallion owner nominee. If the new stallion owner does not wish to participate in the program, fees will be the responsibility of the original stallion owner. It is the responsibility of the new stallion owner to notify the Breeders Challenge Committee. The Breeders Challenge committee must be notified of all ownership changes in a timely manner to ensure program accuracy.
Nominating Mares
The purchaser of the stallion service fee is allowed to nominate (2) mares per stallion. The second stallion service fee is negotiated between the stallion owner and the purchaser. Nominated mare(s) to be bred to the stallion service purchased must be registered under the purchaser’s bidder number. To summarize, the purchaser of the stallion service fee will be the same owner of the mare(s) nominated.
Mares bred to these stallions are to be determined by September 1st, and the mare nomination form is to be returned to the Belgian Alliance by this date.
Late mare nominations will be taken from September 2nd, until September 15th . A late fee of $150.00 per nominated mare must be paid at the time of nomination. After September 15th , no further nominations are allowed, and the stallion service fee purchaser will forfeit all rights to the program for the current year, including all fees previously paid.
If a mare is sold that has been nominated into the program, she can remain eligible as long as she is the only mare entered in the program as bred to the nominated stallion. (i.e., Stallion service fee purchaser cannot breed two mares, sell one, and have both remain eligible for the program.) The new mare owner is responsible for notifying the Breeders Challenge Committee.
Stallions Owned by Joint Membership
If the stallion is owned by a joint ownership and the stallion receives no bids for that service fee, and the joint ownership does not have mare(s) registered under the joint ownership, the joint ownership must declare which owner will be eligible to utilize the service fee. To record this designation, an ownership declaration form must be submitted within 30 days of the sale. The form will be mailed with your invoice and can also be obtained by visiting the Belgian Corporation booth or calling the office. For example, Jane Doe and/or Bill Doe own the nominated stallion, Joe Du Marais, under the joint ownership of Jane Doe and/or Bill Doe. Joe Du Marais receives (0) bids during the stallion service fee. Jane Doe and/or Bill Doe do not own mare(s) under this (Jane Doe and/or Bill Doe membership). Jane Doe and/or Bill Doe must designate which member account or single owner (Jane Doe or Bill Doe) will nominate mare(s).
Stallion Service Distribution
Proceeds from the stallion services sold will be distributed in the following manner: -50% will go into a Breeders Challenge Purse.
This purse will be distributed to original stallion owners, breeder of the animals, and
exhibitors of the animals. One animal can result in a payment to one, two, or three individuals.
-30% will go to future NABC’s
-15% will go to the Belgian Draft Horse Alliance
-5% will go towards administrative funds and class awards
Stage 2
In 2026 – 2028, Breeders Challenge foals will hit the ground! Foals born must be nominated to be eligible for the Breeders Challenge competition. These forms are due by September 1st . Late foal nominations will be taken from September 2nd until September 15th . A late fee of $150.00 per foal nominated must be paid at the time of nomination. After September 15th , no further foal nominations are allowed, and the stallion service fee purchaser will forfeit all rights to the program for the current year, including all fees previously paid.
The owner who nominated two mares for the stallion service purchased must choose which foal will remain eligible and complete one form for the eligible offspring. These forms will be made available and must include a copy of the horse’s registration paper.
If owner purchases both services to a stallion in a given year, that owner can nominate up to four (4) mares. This owner can choose any 2 foals to be eligible for the competition.
Stage 3
Eligible animals must be entered to the 2028 Breeders Challenge show by the proper deadline determined by the show. There will be no entry fee for the Breeders Challenge Program, but exhibitors will be responsible for any stall fees, exhibitor charges, and other fees that may be applicable.
The 2-year-olds (2025 service sale offspring, foals of 2026) will show in two classes at the 2028 Breeders Challenge show on separate days. For these 2-year-olds, a standard halter class, and a cart driving class will be available. Each class will count equally (50/50) towards final standings. The yearling (2026 service sale offspring, foals of 2027) and weanlings (2027 service sale offspring, foals of 2028) will show in a halter class only.
Stage 4
2028 Breeders Challenge Program purse will be distributed to the top 15 exhibitors, breeder, and stallion nominator.
Breeders Challenge Purse will be distributed as follows:
- Original stallion owners – 20%
- Breeder – 20%
- Exhibitor – 60%
The exact payout schedule for placings 1-15 will be provided in 2027.
The mare & foal nominating forms will be sent out in July
Please direct any/all questions and nominations to the Program committee members:
Andrew Beachy – 330-317-3213
4567 S. Mt Eaton Rd. Dalton, OH 44618
[email protected]
Cole Steinbrick– 419-967-0077
5950 E Port Clinton Road Marblehead, OH 43440
[email protected]
Edward Yoder– 574-407-0468
11770 W 400 S Millersburg, IN 46543
[email protected]
2028 Breeders Challenge
Premier Sire and Premier Dam Award
Based on the results from all 3 Breeders Challenge Program Divisions (2yr old, yearling, and weanling) the Premier Sire and Premier Dam as well as the reserves of the 2028 Breeders Challenge will be determined. Sires and Dams are eligible for these awards even if they do not have an animal exhibited in all 3 divisions. If a Sire or Dam has two animals in each division, only the highest placing will be counted. In the two year old division, the OVERALL placing will be used, not the placing of both the hitch and halter portion.
The points are to be given as follows:
Placings from each division will be tallied
1st – 20 points
2nd –18 points
3rd –16
4th –15
5th –14
6th –13
7th –12
8th –11
9th -10
10th -9
11th -8
12th -7
13th -6
14th -5
15th -4
16th and below – 2 points
In the event of a tie, the Sire/Dam with the highest placing 2 year old animal will determine the winner; if there are no 2 year olds the highest placing yearling will be used to determine the winners.
2028 Breeders Challenge Premier Sire and Dam will each be awarded $3000
2028 Breeders Challenge Res. Premier Sire and Dam will be awarded $2000