There will be no draft horse show at Canadian Western Agribition this fall.
An April decision by the board of directors to suspend the event also means the North American Equine Ranching Informatin Council draft horse classic sale and futurity is moving after 10 years in Regina to the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair in Brandon next March.
Saskatchewan Draft Horse Association president Janet Blackstock said the province’s draft horse industry is disappointed, but exhibitors had seen the move coming. The industry and Agribition had been discussing the show’s future for a while.
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“The draft horse show has been crowded out by other events to the point that last year our show ran for two or three days before Agribition officially opened and we were all done by Tuesday noon,” Blackstock said in an e-mail.
Many of the show classes were done early in the day before the crowds appeared, she added.
Agribition president Bryan Hadland said draft horses could never be accommodated within the show schedule, mainly because of space.
“I’m not saying it’s dead, but right now with the facilities we’ve got it just isn’t working,” he said.
In a letter to the draft horse industry, Hadland noted that Agribition and the stakeholders reached several conclusions about the show’s future.
The prize money offered to competitors would have to be enhanced to have a “reputable” show.
“This would attract hitches from across the industry, including the U.S.A.,” said the letter.
“These additional entries would add to the excitement and marketability of the event during Agribition. With additional prize money and the attraction of this to the industry, there would be an opportunity to add back much needed prestige to the CWA draft horse show.”
The letter notes all draft horse classes must be held within the show dates to gain that prestige, and that the NAERIC sale requires a well-attended and reputable hitch show to succeed.
“Until finances, facilities and time in the schedule allows, the CWA draft horse show is being suspended,” said the letter.
Agribition lost more than $200,000 in 2010.
Draft horses have been part of Agribition since the show began 40 years ago. Hadland said visitors will still be able to see the large horses throughout the week. One operation has been selected to host daily hitch demonstrations.
The horse pulls will also continue. Blackstock said the lack of a show this year might lead to something good.
“This may ultimately help jolt the draft world into realizing that we have to provide entertainment and educational value to the public at large, not just compete within our little community of interest.”
About 240 horses were entered in the show last year, including those entered in Belgian, Clydesdale and Percheron line classes, hitches and horse pulls.
