The final leg of the 2006 Canadian Performance Futurity classes were run with dressage and hunter classes held during the International Horse Show at the Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, British Columbia.
The Thunderbird International Show is an Indoor show that features multiple disciplines such as hunter, dressage and show jumping. It is also host to several qualifiers and championships, and drew contestants from the lower mainland, Vancouver Island, and the British Columbia interior.
Held during Thanksgiving weekend, the show organizers were sure to deliver on festivity during the fun-filled Saturday evening gala, which featured a High Bar Invitational competition, Arabian costume class, dressage freestyle, not to mention a celebrity barrel race.
The Canadian Performance Futurity classes drew Canadian bred entrants in both disciplines of dressage and hunter. Owners and breeders Jennifer and Armin Arnoldt of Dreamscape Farm celebrated the weekend with the top prize in both disciplines. Freelance DSF drew the first place prize in dressage and Mastermind II the top position for the hunter classes.
“We were thrilled with the opportunity to show off our Canadian-bred horses against their peers,” remarked Armin, whose Hessen stallion Freestyle is the sire to the dressage champion.
“The level of competition was good to showcase the top horses that have potential to go on in sport. We are looking forward to next year with the two age groups.”
The Canadian Performance Futurity offered classes in three zones in 2006: Pacific, Prairie and Eastern. Working in a smaller geographical area than the other two zones in the program, the Pacific region is noted for very enthusiastic and dedicated breeding and competition base.
“Despite a smaller number of entries in the Pacific division, the calibre of horses was super,” noted Marilyn Powell, warmblood breeder, stallion owner and president of Canadian Warmblood’s BC chapter. “They were all well prepared and the owners were so enthusiastic. We had numerous inquiries about nominating and entry for next year.”
In 2007, classes will be held in both the four- and five-year-old categories. By offering these classes, which are supported by generous prize money, the program hopes to achieve its goal increasing the demand for Canadian-bred horses, directly from the breeder, at an early age.
More on the Canadian Performance Futurity, including information for nominating horses, can be found at www.Canad ianPerformanceFuturity.com.
