Heavy horses, draft horses, whatever you call them, they were the horsepower behind pioneer settlement on the prairies, and they still have a healthy fan base.
If the growing interest in the draft horse show at Northwest Territorial Days in North Battleford is any evidence, Percheron, Clydesdale and Belgian enthusiasts are indeed increasing in number and encompassing all ages.
In the recent past, the draft horse show was attracting about 20 horses annually. Last year the numbers were up, although still less than 30. This year, 60 horses were entered in the show.
Draft horse show committee chair Erin Mitchell believes one of the reasons the show in North Battleford is growing is the great family fun atmosphere of their show.
"Showing draft horses, in my opinion, is a great family activity," says Mitchell, "and it is great to see multiple generations getting involved."
Mitchell raises draft horses with her parents and has been showing horses since 1985. She's been on the draft horse committee for the last 10 years and is a director on the executive of the Saskatchewan Draft Horse Association, which is dedicated to the idea that "heavy horses make for light hearts."
The draft horse community is one that has become what Mitchell describes as a "family of choice."
As an example, she points to Rob Fargo and Mort Seaman, who were both at the NWTD show last week. They've been friends for 35 years. Seaman was the oldest exhibitor at age 83 and has been showing Percherons for 33 years. He keeps at it because his family enjoys it.
Mitchell says there are several members of the group she considers family and with whom she has developed closer relationships than with some of her own relatives.
"We have travelled to shows with them and have had that same common interest for decades," says Mitchell.
She adds, "It is a very tight-knit group that really does all they can to help each other out."
On the committee for NWTD this year, in addition to Mitchell, were Albert Duhaime, Emma Duhaime, Wilf Perlinger, Marie Perlinger, Marcel Duhaime, H. Don Heidel, Kathy Heidel, John Sack, Louise Sack, Calvin Sack, Tom Pain, Connie Button and Colin Mack.
Not only did they have a high calibre of entries, says Mitchell, but of judging as well. Darwin Krebs from Didsbury, Alta., has been on the committee for the heavy horse show in the Calgary Stampede and has been judging for 10 years.
The draft horse show in North Battleford took place over three days, with sponsorship from approximately 70 businesses and individuals from throughout the region.
Wednesday, Aug. 13, there were halter classes for all breeds, at which reserve and grand champions were named, as well as the Best Clydesdale on the Grounds.
Grand Champion Stallion was Duhaime's Cole of Duhaime's Belgians. Reserve Champion Stallion was Battle River Magnus of Battle River Ranch.
Grand Champion Female was Fargo's Memorable Tovah of Fargo's Clydesdales. Reserve Champion Female was Boulder Bluff Faith, also of Fargo's Clydesdales.
Grand Champion Gelding was Duhaime's Nightingale of Duhaime's Belgians. Reserve Champion Gelding was Al, entered by Darren Seaman.
Fargo's Memorable Tovah was honoured again as Best Clydesdale on the Grounds.
Showmanship classes were also held. First place in junior showmanship (6-13 years) went to Jordan Telfer of Sanguine Clydesdales. Junior showmanship (14-18 years) winner was Adam Duhaime of Duhaime's Clydesdales.
A feed team race had been planned but was cancelled due to a lack of time. A feed team race is a timed event in which teams drive through a course stopping at three feed stations to pick up and drop off feed.
Thursday there were harness class events for best dressed team won by Mort Seaman with Shane and Levi, team of registered mares won by Fargo's Clydesdales, lady driver won by Pauline Duhaime of Duhaime's Belgians, senior driver (60 and older) won by Albert Duhaime of Duhaime's Belgians, junior driver (6-13 years) won by Jordan Telfer of Sanguine Clydesdales, junior driver (14-18 years) won by Adam Duhaime of Duhaime's Clydesdales and four abreast, won by Mort Seaman and Bryan Scott.
There was an eight-horse hitch demo by Sanguine Clydesdales.
In the harness classes, there were events for mens cart won by Fargo's Clydesdales, light draft team won by Darren Seaman and heavy draft team won by Bryan Scott.
Harness classes on Friday featured six-horse hitch won by Sanguine Clydesdales, four-horse hitch won by Mort Seaman and Bryan Scott, unicorn hitch (three horses) won by Sanguine Clydesdales, two-horse tandem won by Sanguine Clydesdales, junior cart (6-18 years) won by Jordan Telfer of Sanguine Clydesdales and ladies cart, also won by Sanguine Clydesdales.
The day ended with a parade of champions and finale.
Northwest Territorial Days Draft Horse Show 2014 exhibitors:
Sanguine Clydesdales of Summerberry - Harvey MacFarlane and family;
Duhaime's Clydesdales of Vawn - Marcel and Annette Duhaime and family;
Duhaime's Belgians of Paynton - Albert and Emma, Pauline and Nichole Duhaime;
T & C Clydesdales of North Battleford - Tom Pain and Connie Button and families;
Lindequist Percherons of North Battleford - John Sack and family;
Back Road Percherons of rural North Battleford - H. Don and Kathy Heidel and family;
High Plains Clydesdales of Scott - Don and Caroline Cey and family;
Battle River Ranch Clydesdales of Marsden - Mitchell family;
Amethyst Clydesdales of Marsden - Erin Mitchell;
Darren Seaman of Choiceland;
Mort Seaman of Choiceland;
Bryan Scott of Melfort;
Fargo's Clydesdales of Kennedy - Rob and Kathy Fargo and family.
