Eryn Butterfield traces part of her success in equestrian events to a summer several years ago when she was battling a prolonged bout of fever.
During that summer, she forged a close companionship with a Quarter horse gelding named Zips Legacey at her family’s hobby farm near Dugald, Man.
“When we first broke him, I was sick and he basically babysat me,” said Butterfield, who has since earned an American Quarter Horse Association amateur supreme championship. “As my dad always said, he was the saviour of my summer.”
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Butterfield and Zips Legacey won the AQHA Amateur Supreme Championship in 2004. It is a prestigious title awarded only 25 times in its history and only three times to Canadians.
Butterfield credits her chestnut gelding for much of that success. She describes Zips Legacey as a quick learner with an even temperament, two traits that make him quite versatile.
“Trail is very relaxing (with him). Pleasure is very relaxing, but if you take him in barrels and poles you’d better be ready to hang on and go. He gets excited and it’s like he becomes another horse.”
To win an AQHA championship, an exhibitor must earn 50 or more points with one horse, in five or more shows or contests and under five or more different judges, according to Marnie Somers, president of the Canadian Quarter Horse Association.
At least 15 of the points must be earned in amateur halter classes and a minimum of 20 points (five points in each of four categories) must be earned in amateur performance events.
Butterfield is the breeder, trainer and owner of Zips Legacey. The 11-year-old gelding is sired by Zips Dynasty and out of Mexpressive.
“Because of our history together, my dad won’t sell him,” said Butterfield, 25, who is studying agri-business at Assiniboine Community College in Brandon.
“We just decided to keep him. He’s part of our family.”
Butterfield is studying at ACC for a career in animal nutrition or financial services. However, horses will always be an important part of her life.
She currently is training another horse, a half brother to Zips Legacey, with the hope of earning another championship one day.
“The hardest part is finding a horse that can do everything.”
She already has an impressive list of accomplishments to her name. Besides the amateur supreme championship, Butterfield also holds an AQHA Amateur Championship and an Open AQHA Championship.
She and Zips Legacey earned a total of 71 AQHA amateur points in nine events while competing between June 1999 and August 2004.
