While a successful competitor in the Appaloosa world and a reining fan for a long time, this year will mark the first time Ty Wilkerson will compete in the NRHA Non Pro Futurity. His journey to the show started a little over two years ago when he purchased a weanling filly, Electric Lil Peppy (Pretty Peppy Chec x Electric Lil Chic), from her breeder, Alexa Hale. Ty nominated the mare in the NRHA events and started getting ready for their first big show.

“I trained her myself, but I have had a lot of help in the process. [NRHA Professionals] Justin ‘Gunny’ Mathinson, Martin Larcombe, Francesco Martinotti, or Richard Pokluda… Also my dad, who is an all around trainer, has watched me ride and helped me a lot,” said Wilkerson about his past two years.

Wilkerson has shown Appaloosas from an early age with his family. “I have always wanted to do reining. I watched it since I was a youth, and it was when I saw Wimpys Little Step I knew I wanted to own a Palomino reiner. I am not to that point yet with my sorrel mare, but I am off to a good start,” laughed Wilkerson. “I showed an Appaloosa reiner a couple of years ago, but that’s my only previous experience with reiners, so I am excited to show here, even though I am a little nervous.”

Wilkerson found his Futurity mount online when he was stationed in South Texas as a Texas State Trooper. “She was in North Texas in a pasture with a mini pony and a mini cow. When I saw her, I told my fiance Ashley that we have to go get her, so we did and now she is my Futurity horse,” said Wilkerson, who owns the horse together with his mother. “My family is very supportive of me. Even my fiance’s family. When I was stationed on the border, they took care of the mare for me her whole yearling year, so I really appreciate that. My father and my uncle Jack have helped me the whole time and also Jorge Puente, who shows Appaloosas. I went to ride with him, and he has helped me with my mare before the Futurity a lot.”