MTR Anuthagenuinenic scored another genuine win for Clint Christianson at Canadian Western Agribition in Regina.
The horse, owned by Christianson and his wife, Susan, of Bracken, Sask., was named Canada’s Greatest Cowhorse after competition in the bridle division during the Nov. 21-28 Regina farm show.
Christianson and Anuthagenuinenic had already won the event twice, the last time in 2007 before the competition took a hiatus last year. He has also won aboard Pepinics Paradise.
This year, Christianson also rode Tazboonian Rebel to first place in the competition’s hackamore class. Harold McLeod of Brookdale, Man., owns that horse.
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“It’s always been a good show for me,” Christianson said between events.
The Christiansons travel to 25 to 30 shows a year promoting their horses to prospective buyers. They train 20 horses and run 300 black cows with their two sons, Lochlan, 10, and Kade, eight.
Christianson said his success always depends on the horse.
Anuthagenuinenic, known at home as Sherman, has the bloodlines and presence that make him a great cow horse.
“He has a big heart and lots of try,” he said. “They’ve got to want to play the game.”
He generally knows within a few months of working with a horse whether those qualities exist, particularly if the horse is older.
In the cow-horse competition, the bridle class is for horses older than five and the hackamore class is for younger horses.
The horses compete in three events: herd work, reining and fence work.
The competition is similar to the ranch horse event except cow horses do not have to be entered for sale.
This year, the event drew five horses in the bridle class and four in the hackamore class.
Christianson said the competition’s hiatus last year likely contributed to the low entries. Organizers also dropped the steer stopping part of the competition.
Still, he’s happy to win.
“You want to win no matter what you’re riding,” he said. “It comes down to who has the good horse and a little luck, or a lot of luck.”
Christianson said he has no secrets to success but a lot of experience. He was a pasture rider in the federal pasture program and managed a grazing co-op before moving back to his home ranch 10 years ago.
There is a lot of support among competitors, he added, and they share tips.
As a veteran, Christianson said he is willing to help those coming up behind him.
“Older trainers helped me over the years,” he said.
“They’re there to help you if you’re there to listen.”
Christianson also rode two horses in the ranch horse competition and two prospect horses.
