by Rhianne Weghnnar

Managing a world class horse show that remains profitable and well-attended year after year is an accomplishment worth discussing, just as I did with Dean Thomson, this year’s National Quarter Horse Show manager.

I was able to catch up with Thomson on Day 3 of the week-long event held August 21 to 26 in Red Deer, AB, to discuss the changes and progress of the annual show.
continue reading "A World Class Quarter Horse Nationals"

Gary Brewster of West Vancouver, BC, emerged the winner in the Western Division of the Jump Canada National Talent Squad Series following the final event held August 25 at the Thunderbird Show Park Summer Festival in Langley, BC.

In the opening event of the Western division, the $10,000 Spring Welcome Grand Prix at the Thunderbird Show Park Spring Classic, Brewster piloted Watermark, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Gail Le Nobel, to a fifth place finish and followed up by earning 10 points in two different Grand Prix events at the Thunderbird Summer Horse Show in mid-August.
continue reading "Brewster wins Western Division Talent Squad"

The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame and Museum in Amarillo, Texas, reopened to the public on June 9 after a 15-month renovation.

Expanded from 36,000 square feet to 44,000 square feet, the facility has added several new attractions, including the Champions Gallery, which features an interactive searchable film database of American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) champions, and a three-tiered timeline exhibit that integrates historical events and AQHA and American Quarter Horse breed milestones.
continue reading "AQHA Hall of Fame & Museum re-opens"

During the first weekend of August, competitors gathered at Amberlea Meadows in Edmonton, Alberta, for its Summer Dressage Festival. The event also ran the Prairie Zone’s Canadian Performance Futurity Dressage classes for the second year, with an increase in the number of horses vying for the cash prizes.
continue reading "Canadian Warmbloods win Prairie Zone’s Performance Futurity"

Traditionally clad polo players battled it out with the cowboys on July 29 at the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site.

Barbara Kwasny and Virginia Holmes (daughter of William Holmes, a member of the old Geebung Polo Club) present the Bar U Cup to the winners of the “Cowboy vs. Traditional” players game. Representing the Calgary team are Cathy Buttler, Granger Nimo, Rob Peters, and Wallace Gallup.

Photos courtesy K.R. Gallup

Show jumper Eric Lamaze, of Schomberg, ON, became only the second Canadian in history to win the world’s only million-dollar show jumping competition.

As he was presented with a cheque for the $325,000 winner’s share in the CN International at Spruce Meadows, Lamaze spoke to the crowd of more than 60,000 enthusiastic fans. He told them that his great mount, Hickstead, “loves to hear you make noise and clap over every jump.” The 39-year-old Lamaze was treated like a rock star by autograph-seeking fans as he tried to leave the arena.
continue reading "Lamaze Wins Big at CN International"

by John Lewis

Riding a half-halt correctly is vital for all levels of training and competition, yet for some reason large numbers of riders never seem to master it or realize its importance.

In most cases, they are confused about what the half-halt really is supposed to achieve and, to a greater extent, about the term itself, which is something of a contradiction.
continue reading "The Half-Halt made Easy"