by Terry Bullick
For the Heintz family of High River, cutting horse competitions are more than a sport – they’re a lifestyle. Members from several branches of the family tree attended the 25th annual Wrangler Cutting Horse Futurity in Calgary from October 10 to 16.
Grandfather Roger Heintz, credited for starting the family’s passion for cutting horses, made the final round in the Open Derby category. His son Guy appeared in several professional categories. Guy’s wife Moneca and daughter Maria competed as non-professionals in the futurity.
Moneca’s twin sister Josanne was also there, running a tradeshow booth for a line of cosmetics she and niece Maria sell. Cousins from both sides of the family were scattered throughout the audience at the Stampede Corral. Grandma Doris Heintz (Roger’s wife and Guy’s mother) was one of the few missing family members: the 71 year old was competing in a seniors’ barrel racing event in Medicine Hat.
Maria Heintz can’t remember a time when her family wasn’t immersed in cutting horses and cutting horse competitions. “I started competing at 11 and by the time I was 15, I had won 19 cutting horse competitions,” says Maria, whose proficiency with horses and her quick, direct smile contributed to her being named Calgary Stampede Queen in 2001. And in 2005, she qualified for the Western National Finals on her seven-year-old horse Color of Calico.
At this year’s Wrangler Futurity, Maria finished 17th on her three-year-old horse Soyawannabuyadually in the first round of the Non-Pro Futurity.
A slight muscle injury later in the barn threatened to hamper Soyawannabuyadually’s ability in the second round, but Maria coaxed the horse to a seventh place finish in the second round, and an eighth place overall finish in the category.
Maria was content with the result, recognizing this is Canada’s largest cutting horse event and she was up against some of the sport’s best.
As Maria relaxed after her rides, her mother revved up for hers. Moments before Moneca Heintz made her final ride of the day, she recalled how she “stumbled” into the equine sport. She and her twin sister Josanne had just finished high school in Copenhagen, Denmark, and decided to travel through Canada. A year after returning home, they immigrated to Canada. Shortly after, Moneca married Guy.
“I had never been around horses before,” confesses Moneca. “My husband taught me everything.”
Together she and Guy have built their own ranch, the Rafter H Ranche, located south of High River, AB.
Today, Moneca is as comfortable around horses as she is around her family. She rode one of the family ranch’s three stallions, Smart Peppy Ote, to a 15th place finish in the Non-Pro Classic category.
The passion the Heintz family has for cutting horses runs a little deeper in Guy, whose life’s work has revolved around them.
He breeds and trains cutting horses as well as competes in cutting horse events, often riding in a number of categories and on a number of different mounts in events across the western half of North America.
At the 2006 Wrangler Cutting Horse Futurity, Guy’s name dotted the results listings. He rode Cats Highclass Kitty (owned by Thomson Livestock of Magrath, AB) to a third place finish in the finals of the Open Futurity category, earning $6,566.36.
Plus, he rode All Reddy Laddie (owned by Cole Redhorse LLC of Shelby, MT) in the final of the Open Futurity class.
In the finals of Open Derby class, he rode Miss Docaboon (owned by Barry Shane of DeWinton, AB) to a seventh place finish and Solanos Smart Chic (owned by Brian and Vicki Braun of Beechy, SK).
