The Clydesdale Breeders Cup was a new feature of this year鈥檚 Grain Millers Harvest Showdown.
The Cup is a new initiative, explained Delvin Szumutku one of the event鈥檚 organizers. He explained four shows were held over the summer in Nipawin, Swift Current, North Battleford and Austin, MB. At each of the events horses could be entered in the Cup qualifier, with the top two animals eligible to go before the judge Calvin Martin in Yorkton for the ultimate prize.
鈥淭here were classes at each of the shows,鈥� said Szumutku.
The animals had to be bred in Saskatchewan but could have been owned by someone else. The owner of the winning horse was presented $1,000 with an additional $500 to the breeder. Szumutku said in each case the horses in the final were owned by the breeder.
The Cup was supported and sponsored by David Williams through his business Carpet One.
鈥淗is (Williams) grandfather used to have horses and had Clydesdales,鈥� said Szumutku.
The summer classes were open 鈥渢o any gender, any age,鈥� said Szumutku. 鈥淏asically it is about the quality of the horse, the conformation of the horse.鈥�
In the end all the qualifying horses were mares but they ranged from a colt only a few months old to a mare seven-years-old.
In the end some hard work paid off in a win for Linda Banga of Canora, as her seven year old mare Banga鈥檚 Keeva topped the class to take home the first Breeders Cup.
鈥淚鈥檝e been working on this mare since April when the show season started,鈥� said Banga, who was all smiles after the big win.
Banga said having her horses, she had two in the final, ready for Yorkton was not easy, requiring a lot of time juggling between harvest on the farm and a teaching job at Parkland College in the city.
The two mares, which both qualified through the show in Nipawin, are half-sisters, coming from the same mare, but different stallions. Banga said in her mind both are fine horses.
鈥淔or me I like both,鈥� she said, adding the one chosen for the Cup win 鈥溾�� is a really well-balanced Clydesdale mare.鈥� Banga added the mare 鈥渉as had a winning record鈥� having earned a reserve champion ribbon at the Calgary Stampede.
As it was she went to class Thursday and was asked why she had straw on her clothes, having聽stopped to feed her horses on the way to class.
But, she keeps showing her horses for a simple reason 鈥� 鈥渂ecause I love it.鈥� She said she鈥檚 been showing since she was a little girl, and now her young daughter is following her to shows.
Banga said the work with the two mares will continue as she has her eye鈥檚 set on the World Clydesdale Show to be held in Madison, WI. in October 2018.
From the perspective of show judge Calvin Martin, a long-time Clydesdale breeder from Strathclair, MB., the quality of animal in the ring Thursday evening was outstanding.
鈥淎ll these horses are very worthy winners,鈥� said Martin. 鈥淭hey were all brought out in outstanding condition. They were all excellent examples of the Clydesdale breed.鈥�
Martin said choosing the winner, even though there were only seven horses in the ring, was not easy.
鈥淰ery tough,鈥� he said when asked about the decision. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e all been winners.鈥�
Looking at the seven animals Martin said 鈥渢hey all have certain good qualities.鈥�
In terms of his final selection Martin said the mare moved well, with good feet, and nice hocks. In terms of a draft horse he said feet and legs are critical.
鈥淭he saying is no feet, no horse,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey need the feet to grip the ground.鈥�
Martin said whether it鈥檚 pulling farm equipment, pulling such as the EMW Heavy Horse Pulls held in the same arena earlier that evening, or as a riding horse, legs matter most.
The Cup was created to raise the profile of the breed.
聽鈥淲e felt we had to do something to get youth more interested,鈥� said Szumutku. 鈥淎nd, we wanted to come up with something to enhance the breed.
And it worked well. The Cup qualifiers attracted about 40 entries over the summer, said Szumutku.
鈥淨uite a few went to shows who probably wouldn鈥檛 go if the classes weren鈥檛 available,鈥� he said.
Martin said the Cup is a great idea.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a wonderful way to showcase the Clydesdale breed in Saskatchewan,鈥� said Martin. 鈥淢y hats off to everyone (in creating it) 鈥� I think it鈥檚 a very important showcase for Saskatchewan bred horses.鈥�
