Draft Horse Update By Bruce Roy, Wild Rose Draft Horse Association, www.wrdha.com
B
rian Coleman, Eaglesfield Percherons of Didsbury, Alberta, has accepted an invitation to judge Clydesdales, Percherons and Shires at 2014 Royal Easter Show. He is the first Canadian horseman ever to receive this invitation. Australia’s national livestock show, the venue for the Royal Easter Show is at Sydney. Respected for his expertise, Coleman was raised near Didsbury on a farm that worked Belgian horses. First employed by Audrey Turner, Stony Creek Percherons of Cremona, Alberta, as a teenager, Coleman fielded her Percheron hitch across Western Canada. He has never looked back. Successful Percheron breeders, Brian and Colleen Coleman, have won signal honours with their Eaglesfield Percherons. Their celebrated black, High Hope Heather, was World Champion Mare at Brandon’s 2004 World Percheron Show, topping 199 registered females from seven provinces and thirteen states. Horsemen across North America employ the Colemans to school, fit, shoe and show their Belgians, Clydesdales, Percherons or Shires. Their client’s horses fill the Eaglesfield
stable. Show horses stabled at Eaglesfield do farm chores each day. Broke to perfection with wind of a greyhound, they are hard as nails. Brian has wheeled champion turnouts shown by Prins View Belgians of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta; Glenview Clydesdales of Harrisville, Michigan; Brian Coleman, an Alberta draft Brian Coleman shares his Greenwood Clydesdales horse judge with international knowledge while judging a Youth of Richmond, recognition. Decorating Class. Michigan; Strawberry McMahan’s celebrated 2S Clydesdale Stud at Lane Percherons Schulenburg, Texas. Employed by Joe Ricketts, of Oconomoc, Wisconsin; Black Hollow founder and CEO of Ameritrade, Coleman Percherons of Mitchell, Nebraska; Cedarfarm Percherons of Ann Arbor, Michigan and Heart assembled the Jackson Fork Ranch’s Six of Percheron Mares, which won countless wins Mountain Shires of Powell, Wyoming. He has in his hands. wheeled World Champion Sixes at Calgary; A judge that is in demand across North Royal Champion Sixes at Toronto; a World America, Brian Coleman’s popular hands-on Champion Clydesdale Six at Madison and a clinics are testament to his skill as a horseman. National Percheron Show Six at Indianapolis. For two years Coleman had charge of Pat
On To Greener Pastures
I remember the spring day like it was yesterday... my mom took me to meet a horse that would change my life forever - it was the day I met Dunny. As mom drove us up the Griffin’s driveway I could see the beautiful red dun standing there saddled and tied to the hitchin’ rail. When I jumped out of the truck and walked up to him and seen those big kind eyes I knew it was meant to be. HCBC 2010 Business of the Year
Over the next week I took Dunny on a few rides and being nervous and timid from past bad experiences, I had never felt so safe and cared for as when I was on his back. It was from that time on I didn’t only have a horse but I had a very best friend. Throughout the many years, Dunny and I were in 4-H and Riding Club. We showed, trail rode, cattle penned (which was his favourite), competed in many games, rode in flags for the rodeo among countless other activities. We won many ribbons, awards and prizes. Although he never really did care for showing, he always put up with it and stood there for countless hours while I groomed and fussed over him. Dunny will always be remembered for opening the trail class gates on his own when he thought I was moving too slow. He will also be remembered for his fine taste in groceries. During his years of retirement mom would drive miles in search of hay that would
pass Dunny’s ‘taste test’. He also thoroughly enjoyed his soaked beet pulp, alfalfa cubes, oats and barley morning and evening. I feel so privileged to have owned such a great horse and although I feel like the lucky one, I know he too felt lucky. We were both meant to meet and take care of each other. Dunny taught me trust, love and what true happiness feels like. He also showed me what hard work really is and helped mold me the person I am today and for that I will be forever thankful. Dunny was around the age of 38. He will be greatly missed by Tootsie, Mia, Diablo and me. We know where he is… the green grass is never ending and he will have an endless supply of oats! Until we meet again my boy... - Love always, Bobbi
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