The Clydesdale Breeders Cup was a new feature of this year’s Grain Millers Harvest Showdown.
The Cup is a new initiative, explained Delvin Szumutku one of the event’s organizers. He explained four shows were held over the summer in Nipawin, Swift Current, North Battleford and Austin, MB. At each of the events horses could be entered in the Cup qualifier, with the top two animals eligible to go before the judge Calvin Martin in Yorkton for the ultimate prize.
“There were classes at each of the shows,” said Szumutku.
The animals had to be bred in Saskatchewan but could have been owned by someone else. The owner of the winning horse was presented $1,000 with an additional $500 to the breeder. Szumutku said in each case the horses in the final were owned by the breeder.
The Cup was supported and sponsored by David Williams through his business Carpet One.
“His (Williams) grandfather used to have horses and had Clydesdales,” said Szumutku.
The summer classes were open “to any gender, any age,” said Szumutku. “Basically it is about the quality of the horse, the conformation of the horse.”
In the end all the qualifying horses were mares but they ranged from a colt only a few months old to a mare seven-years-old.
In the end some hard work paid off in a win for Linda Banga of Canora, as her seven year old mare Banga’s Keeva topped the class to take home the first Breeders Cup.
“I’ve been working on this mare since April when the show season started,” said Banga, who was all smiles after the big win.
Banga said having her horses, she had two in the final, ready for Yorkton was not easy, requiring a lot of time juggling between harvest on the farm and a teaching job at Parkland College in the city.
The two mares, which both qualified through the show in Nipawin, are half-sisters, coming from the same mare, but different stallions. Banga said in her mind both are fine horses.
“For me I like both,” she said, adding the one chosen for the Cup win “… is a really well-balanced Clydesdale mare.” Banga added the mare “has had a winning record” having earned a reserve champion ribbon at the Calgary Stampede.
As it was she went to class Thursday and was asked why she had straw on her clothes, having stopped to feed her horses on the way to class.
But, she keeps showing her horses for a simple reason … “because I love it.” She said she’s been showing since she was a little girl, and now her young daughter is following her to shows.
Banga said the work with the two mares will continue as she has her eye’s set on the World Clydesdale Show to be held in Madison, WI. in October 2018.
From the perspective of show judge Calvin Martin, a long-time Clydesdale breeder from Strathclair, MB., the quality of animal in the ring Thursday evening was outstanding.
“All these horses are very worthy winners,” said Martin. “They were all brought out in outstanding condition. They were all excellent examples of the Clydesdale breed.”
Martin said choosing the winner, even though there were only seven horses in the ring, was not easy.
“Very tough,” he said when asked about the decision. “They’ve all been winners.”
Looking at the seven animals Martin said “they all have certain good qualities.”
In terms of his final selection Martin said the mare moved well, with good feet, and nice hocks. In terms of a draft horse he said feet and legs are critical.
“The saying is no feet, no horse,” he said. “They need the feet to grip the ground.”
Martin said whether it’s pulling farm equipment, pulling such as the EMW Heavy Horse Pulls held in the same arena earlier that evening, or as a riding horse, legs matter most.
The Cup was created to raise the profile of the breed.
“We felt we had to do something to get youth more interested,” said Szumutku. “And, we wanted to come up with something to enhance the breed.
And it worked well. The Cup qualifiers attracted about 40 entries over the summer, said Szumutku.
“Quite a few went to shows who probably wouldn’t go if the classes weren’t available,” he said.
Martin said the Cup is a great idea.
“It’s a wonderful way to showcase the Clydesdale breed in Saskatchewan,” said Martin. “My hats off to everyone (in creating it) … I think it’s a very important showcase for Saskatchewan bred horses.”
