Bill Prins raises Belgians.
His trainer, Zephrin LaRiviere, likes Percherons.
That’s how Prins ended up spending $8,500 on Rose Hill Omega, a Percheron filly, at the eighth annual draft horse classic sponsored by the North American Equine Ranching Information Council.
The sale stood as the high point of the event held during Canadian Western Agribition but doesn’t likely mark a breed switch at Prins’ Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., farm.
“I bought her with my employee,” Prins explained.
He said buying a Percheron wasn’t so difficult for a Belgian breeder considering the reputation of Gordon and Shannon Ruzicka, the Viking, Alta., breeders who consigned her.
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The foals sold at the classic are eligible to return as two-year-olds to compete in futurity classes and a share of the purse. Prins said his new acquisition should do well then.
And if it doesn’t?
“I’ll still have potentially a very good breeding mare or hitching horse,” he said.
“You gotta go home and do your work.”
Twenty-one foals sold in the classic for a total of $83,300 and an average of $3,966.67.
The top selling Clydesdale was Willow Way Izzy, a female consigned by Wes Gordeyko of Ohaton, Alta., and purchased by Tom Lane of Birtle, Man., for $4,500.
Belgian stallion Creek Side Titan, consigned by Lane, topped that breed’s sale at $7,100. Rocky Bar Ranch from Esterhazy, Sask., purchased the horse.
In the futurity, Percheron gelding Ju-Ly Gritt, owned and exhibited by Lyle Brown of Lenore, Man., took top honours and a share of the $23,020 purse after competing in line, hitch and pattern classes.
Next year’s payouts will be $47,785.
