Halley Ruzicka is a third generation heavy horse exhibitor who can be seen driving the gentle giants or catching up on homework at the family’s stalls.
The 14-year-old from Viking, Alta., won the youth aggregate award at the Calgary Stampede heavy horse show after excelling at grooming, showmanship, decorations and driving.
“I grew up around them,” she said.
She never feels nervous around the behemoth Percherons that her family shows across North America, she added.
The Ruzicka family and their partner, Jeff Berger, are preparing for a busy show calendar this year. The next stop is Vermilion, Alta., followed by trips to Lloydminster, Indiana and Iowa. A winter event is included at the National Western Stock Show in Denver in January.
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Supreme horses were selected from the grand champion Belgians, Clydesdales, Percherons and Shires on the final day of the Stampede show.
A panel of four judges selected a Clydesdale named Danny from Express Ranches of Yukon, Oklahoma as the best of the breeds.
The best Canadian bred horse was from Willow Way Clydesdales and shown by Allan and Eloise Gordeyko and Wes and Kristen Gordeyko of Ohaton, Alta.
The Gordeyko family has been in the horse business for 45 years, raising 90 Clydesdales and growing grain. Kristen Gordeyko said the family has won big in the past when they bred and showed the 2011 world champion mare.
This year’s champions are:
- Champion mare: Duhaine’s Belgians, Paradise Valley, Alta.
- Reserve: Mundies Belgians, Red Deer, Alta.
- Champion stallion: Mundies Belgians
- Reserve: Prins View Belgians, Sturgeon County, Alta.
- Champion mare: Allan and Wes Gordeyko, Ohaton, Alta
- Reserve: Allan and Wes Gordeyko
- Champion stallion: Derek Cey, Scott, Sask.
- Reserve: Frank Pfannenstiel, Powell, Wyoming
- Champion mare: Gary Young, Mona, Montana
- Reserve: David Bailey, Madden, Alta.
- Champion stallion: Garth Klein, Rock Creek, B.C.
- Reserve: Jim Lane, Birtle, Man.
- Champion mare: Gord Campbell, Fawcett, Alta.
- Reserve: Dale and Maxine Campbell, Dawson Creek, B.C.
- Champion stallion: Arlin Wareing, Blackfoot, Idaho
- Reserve: Lindsay LaRiviere, Stony Plain, Alta.
barbara.duckworth@producer.com
