By Teresa van Bryce, Manager HIAA
The fall season is upon us and we in the horse industry all know what this means: big competitions, horse sales, trade shows… and furry horses.
September alone sees the Spruce Meadows Masters, the Canadian Supreme, and the Western Regional Dressage Championships, to name but a few.
The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society held its annual yearling sale on August 28 at Northlands. The sale was a great success with 141 horses offered and 112 sold for a total of over $1.2 million and an average of $11,016. The top selling horse sold for $60,000.
This demonstrates a continuing confidence in the racing industry, partially sparked by the new racing facility at Balzac being “back on track” after a one-year delay, and by the announcement that the Thoroughbreds will race at Stampede Park in 2008.
CrossIron is scheduled to be up and operating for the 2009 season. The facility will feature a one-mile Thoroughbred track, seven-furlong Standardbred track, 10 barns with a total of 1200 stalls, 60 hot walkers and backstretch dormitories for 120 staff.
In addition to the racing facilities, the site will house the Olds College “Canadian Equine Centre for Innovation”, both a five-star and a three-star hotel, a 4-5,000 seat theatre, a nine-acre infield area for outdoor concerts and events, and CrossIron Mills, a 1.2 million square foot shopping mall.
Construction on the first barn began in late September, with a new barn being built every three weeks. The development of the Standardbred track is underway and the footings for the main buildings are in place. It is estimated that the new facility will nearly double the racing handle in the Calgary area by 2010.
The new site will also accommodate Quarter Horse racing with a 440-yard chute. The Alberta Quarter Horse Racing Association held its Canada Quarter Horse Cup Auction in September. Fifty-two yearlings were offered for sale and 38 sold for an average price of $4,268. The top-selling horse sold for $27,000. Horses purchased through the sale are eligible to run in the annual Canada Quarter Horse Cup Futurity, which offers a purse of $100,000.
Sales still to come include the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association with its annual yearling sale from October 5 to 7 at Northlands; the Alberta Quarter Horse Breeders Group hosts its 34th annual Fall Select Sale during Farmfair International in November; and the UFA Roundup Ranch Horse Competition and Sale is scheduled for November 3 at the Lloydminster Exhibition grounds.
Getting Started with Horses
Based on the enthusiastic response from the attendees of the first “Getting Started with Horses” seminar at Spruce Meadows in May, six more seminars are scheduled for the fall.
Industry experts Ron Anderson, Les Burwash, Muffy Knox, and Kippy Maitland-Smith, will be in Lloydminster, Edmonton, and Grande Prairie on October 23, 24 and 25, and Calgary, Red Deer, and Lethbridge on Nov 14, 15 and 16.
If you know someone interested in getting started with horses, send them to www.albertahorseindustry.ca for more information.
Horse Breeders & Owners Conference
The 26th annual Horse Breeders and Owners Conference is scheduled for January 11 to 13 in Red Deer. Sponsorship opportunities are available and include exhibit space at the event. Please email hboc@albertahorseindustry.ca for a sponsorship package.
Alberta Horse Industry Distinguished Service Award - 2008
Each year since 2000, the Alberta Horse Industry Distinguished Service Award has been presented in recognition of an outstanding individual who has made a significant contribution to the continued development of the horse industry in the province. Deadline for nominations is November 15, 2007. Visit www.albertahorseindustry.ca for more information.
Alberta Horses…
All ways
Each month, as part of Eye on the Industry, we feature an Alberta horse who has had an impact on Alberta’s horse industry. This may be a champion of competition or a champion in some less public way.
If you have or know of a horse that is a fine example of an “Alberta Horse”, tell us why, send us a photo and each month we’ll feature one horse that stands out from the herd.
SR Sweet Chicolet
Sired by Alberta stud Chics In The Male and out of Alberta dam SR Sweet Music, Chicolet is true blue Alberta-bred.
She was the champion of the 2001 Canadian Supreme CS Open Derby, the 2002 Blackland Slide Nitro Class, the 2003 Blackland Slide RC Beginner Class and the 2003 SRHA Novice Horse Non-Pro, and also has several Reserve Championships to her name. She’s earned her National Reining Horse Association Certificate of Merit and over $11,000 in prize money.
Although a reiner at heart and a serious competitor, Chicolet is also one of those horses you can put anyone on, take for a trail ride, chase some cows or even play a little polo. In 2004, Chicolet performed another very important role for her owners, Clay and Jenn Webster. She carried Jenn to their wedding ceremony at the Webster Ranch.
The bride was very nervous when she mounted up in her voluminous white dress, but Chicolet carried her into married life as though she’d done the job many times before. Perhaps she knew she’d been included in a significant family event.
At nine years old in 2006, Chicolet began passing on her many excellent qualities to a new generation of horses with her first foal, Mo Skeeter. She is bred to foal again in 2008 but there’s apparently no plan to end her show career.
Chicolet’s multi-tasking ability and sweet nature have ensured her a place in the home and hearts of the Webster’s for a lifetime.
