Canada’s National Arabian Championship … From Vision To Reality

CCANADA’S NATIONAL ARABIAN CHAMPIONSHIP … From Vision To Reality ere was considerable uncertainty for most coming to Canada’s National Arabian Championship September 27- October 2 in Alberta’s Red Deer in terms of what to expect. Successfully putting together a horse show in itself is no small feat, but to take the leap to create your own National level show in eight weeks is a valiant e ort. Canadian owners, trainers and exhibitors have had the odds stacked against them for three years now as a result of the pandemic, but thanks to Tex Kam, Murray Popplewell, Dana Romijn, Bob Wasylyk, Gary Millar and the Carrot River Valley association, who were integral to putting this show on, and an experienced group of volunteers, many with over 40 years of horse show and prior Nationals experience, and a whole lotta’ grit and determination, Arabian horse enthusiasts were excited to have not only a show to nally attend, but a National show at that. ey were once again given the opportunity to vie for the coveted rose garland, and even for those whose rides didn’t quite earn them a top six ribbon or better, every single exhibitor radiated gratitude throughout the week because a group of people felt that they were worth the seemingly impossible task and daunting hours it would take to put on this show. Between the perfect weather and optimistic atmosphere, it was impossible to have anything but a smile as just under 200 exhibitors joined those who stopped at nothing to give them the opportunity to enjoy a National Show in Canada again. “It was most de nitely a feeling of unity and gathering,” says Murray, “there were no VIP sections, as we were all VIP’s.” e decision to hold this new show in Red Deer, Alberta opened the door for many barns who were unable to make the multi-province journey years prior in Brandon, Manitoba. Often deemed as the heart of the Arabian horse industry in Canada as it’s easily accessible and within close proximity to many Arabian horse owners, breeders, and trainers, it is equally close to two major cities, Edmonton and Calgary, and is surrounded by plenty of hotels, shopping and dining options. Westerner Park is just on the edge of the city while providing urban hustle and bustle just minutes away. It also has excellent proximity to two major airports, is four hours north of the U.S. Border, and is at a facility that is scalable to accommodate whatever number of horses enter (within reason). “It is also a facility that we (and many Arabian shows) have rented previously and held events at for many years,’ says Tex, “so, we are very familiar with its capabilities and facility management.” With just two months to plan and execute, 169 youth, amateur and open, dressage, sport horse, halter and all other performance classes, including Ranch Rail and Riding, were available to exhibitors, including fantastic vendors who wanted to see the show to succeed as well. Arabian Horse Times | 174 | Volume 52, No. 12

e Canadian National show has always had a wonderful relaxed, no pressure environment. Exhibitor parties and meet-and-greets almost every day were hosted and organized by local clubs and volunteer committees, ranging from breakfast burritos to a large Mexican Fiesta (complete with a piñata, margaritas and a live country band). e exhibitor party the rst day before the show even started was standing room only, and a local pizzeria fed the entire showgrounds with 60 large pizzas for free one evening, while various musicians played over 2-3 days during the events. e opening ceremonies had a pipe band and aboriginal band to entertain spectators and exhibitors alike, and a co ee cart made early morning rounds to the stalls to ensure all were ca einated and ready to hit the ground running from the moment the arena gates opened.

Among the memory-making moments of the show, a few stood out, including Hillary Booth-Weller and her family from Santa Ynez, who traveled the farthest distance to the show. “I asked her if she could be our ag bearer for our opening ceremonies,” shares Tex. “Not only did she say yes immediately, but her horse, DF Khontraban, had never carried a ag before. ey practiced the night before, opened our ceremonies with the U.S. colors, then showed in and earned a top ten in the Senior Stallions and took the Champion roses in Western Pleasure Open— all back-to-back. Hillary’s mother, Sarah, also won the Western AATR Select on Khontraban. e e ort from this family to help out the show and the desire to compete 2,000 miles from home really stands out among so many great memories.”

Also impressive was Arianna Bell, a young lady who although struggles with severe health problems, continues to show her horses with a smile on her face and a grace rarely seen in today’s world. She impressed many with her courage and strength to compete all year.

Other emotional moments included long-time Canadian breeders, the Ray and Marlene Peets Family, on hand to present a trophy in the Open Western Pleasure class that honored their daughter, Sharlene Peets, who had recently passed away, and Murray shares, “Seeing three generations (grandmother, daughter and granddaughter) all with tears streaming down their faces as the youngest exited the arena wearing Canada’s National Arabian Championship roses … that’s the payday of any show.”

e Arabian horse community is a family, but Canada’s National Arabian Championship show portrayed an unrivaled level of sportsmanship and sincerity to all. A tri-colored ribbon may put a smile on a competitor’s face, but no material item will compare to the lighthearted and hospitable atmosphere that this show brought to exhibitors and supporters alike. Atmosphere, camaraderie, kindness, support, and friendly equals togetherness. Being reunited with Canadian friends for the rst time in several years was sensational, and as horse shows have become far too serious and conventional lately, the opportunity to attend a national level show with such a tranquil environment is one that will have many returning for years to come.

Tex seconds the notion. “It is a show that harkens back to the day when you socialized with everyone at the show. I believe everything starts at the top, including setting the tone. Our management group is one who subscribes to fun, rst and foremost. To be blatantly honest, we are competing for everyone’s leisure dollar. It’s got to be fun … and we bent over backwards to ensure it was that, as well as competitive and made to feel like a National show of old. e level of camaraderie we saw was unlike any we’ve seen for the last 30 years. It was like when I personally got into the business in the 70s. I joked that even people that don’t like each other, sat around tables all week joking, laughing, and swapping stories like it used to be!”

e show has already con rmed that the 2023 event will be bigger, better and more competitive, and held in the newly remodeled Centrium at Westerner Park–a beautiful, two-tier facility which will only add to the prestigious atmosphere of the show. With the recent lifting of mask and vaccine mandates for non-Canadian citizens, it is hopeful that the 2023 show will attract the U.S.-based farms that have ventured to Manitoba in years prior, while the new location in Alberta can continue to accommodate the Western Canadian supporters who made this show such a great success in 2022.

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2022 CANADA’S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERS

OVERALL WINNERS

1. Luck Be A Lady Toknight .......................................................................................................... 7x Champion/2x Reserve (Sport Horse/Dressage) 2. WT Studebaker .......................................................................................................................... 5x Champion/4x Reserve (Sport Horse/Dressage) 3. DF Khontraban ....................................................................................................... 3x Champion/3x Reserve (Perf. Halter/Western Pl./Specialty) 4. Kanquistador ................................................................................ 4x Champion/1x Reserve (Working Hunter/Hack/Working Western/Dressage) 5. Mega Silver Bucks .................................,............................................................................ 3x Champion/2x Reserve (Working Western/Specialty) Perchance R .............................................................................................................................. 3x Champion/2x Reserve (Hunter Pl./Sport Horse) Solmate ........................................................................................................................................ 3x Champion/2x Reserve (Sport Horse/Dressage)

OVERALL SIRES

1. KM Bugatti ........................................................................ 9 Championships/6 Reserves (Halter/Perf. Halter/Hunter Pl./Sport Horse/Dressage) 2. Surokhan .............................................................. 6 Championships/6 Reserves (Working Western/Sport Horse/Dress./Working Hunter-Hack) 3. Mariachi WA ......................................................................................................... 7 Championships/3 Reserves (Halter/Hunter Pl./Sport Horse) 4. Allionce ................................................................................................ 4 Championships/6 Reserves (Hunter Pl./Specialty/Sport Horse/Dressage) 5. Black Daniels .......................................................................................................................................... 7 Championships/2 Reserves (Saddle Seat)

OVERALL OPEN EXHIBITORS OVERALL AMATEUR EXHIBITORS

1. Todd Ehret ................................................. 16x Champion/8x Reserve 2. Erica Milligan .............................................. 5x Champion/6x Reserve 3. Carson Ehret ................................................ 6x Champion/2x Reserve 4. Sharon McLean .......................................... 3x Champion/4x Reserve 5. Ashley Shan Fyfe-Brown ............................. 3x Champion/1x Reserve Hillary Boothe-Weller ................................ 3x Champion/1x Reserve 1. Arianna Bell ............................................... 8x Champion/2x Reserve 2. Khennedy Leubner ..................................... 3x Champion/5x Reserve 3. Sara Embry ................................................ 4x Champion/1x Reserve 4. Caroline Reid ............................................. 3x Champion/3x Reserve Colleen Kramer .......................................... 3x Champion/3x Reserve

OVERALL OWNERS 1. Arianna Bell ............................................... 15x Champion/3x Reserve 2. Colleen Kramer .......................................... 7x Champion/6x Reserve 3. Susan Fyfe .................................................... 8x Champion/3x Reserve 4. Sarah Boothe ............................................... 4x Champion/5x Reserve 5. Caroline Reid ............................................. 3x Champion/5x Reserve Wanda Leubner ........................................... 3x Champion/5x Reserve

IN-HAND WINNERS IN-HAND SIRES

1. OFW Cutting Edge ....................................................... 3x Champion 2. Sasha Fierce LR .......................................... 1x Champion/2x Reserve 1. KM Bugatti ............................................ 3 Championships/1 Reserve 2. OFW Magic Wan .................................................... 3 Championships

IN-HAND EXHIBITORS IN-HAND OWNERS

1. Carson Ehret ................................................ 6x Champion/2x Reserve 2. Todd Ehret ................................................... 4x Champion/1x Reserve 1. Lisa Denise Chovin ....................................................... 3x Champion 2. Sara Embury .............................................. 1x Champion/2x Reserve

SADDLE SEAT WINNERS SADDLE SEAT SIRES

1. Daniels Diva ................................................................... 4x Champion 2. Pumped Up Kix ........................................... 2x Champion/1x Reserve 1. Black Daniels ........................................... 7 Championships/2Reserves 2. GSF Pure Fuzion ................................... 1 Championship/2 Reserves

SADDLE SEAT EXHIBITORS SADDLE SEAT OWNERS

1. Khennedy Leubner ...................................... 1x Champion/4x Reserve 2. Amanda Stannard ........................................................... 3x Champion 1. Wanda Leubner ......................................... 1x Champion/4x Reserve 2. Amanda Stannard ......................................................... 4x Champion

WESTERN PLEASURE WINNERS WESTERN PLEASURE SIRES

1. DF Khontraban ........................................... 2x Champion/2x Reserve 2. Sante Fe Cool ................................................................. 3x Champion 1. Khontroversy PGA ............................... 2 Championships/2 Reserves 2. HJ Gold N Fame ...................................................... 3 Championships

WESTERN PLEASURE EXHIBITORS WESTERN PLEASURE OWNERS

1. Erica Milligan ..............................................2x Champion/1x Reserve 2. Sarah Boothe ............................................... 1x Champion/2x Reserve 1. Sarah Boothe .............................................. 2x Champion/2x Reserve 2. Tatjana Kelch ................................................................ 3x Champion

HUNTER PLEASURE WINNERS HUNTER PLEASURE SIRES

1. PA Palitrinkha ............................................. 2x Champion/2x Reserve 2. About Last Knight ........................................................ 3x Champion 1. Mariachi WA ......................................... 3 Championships/1 Reserve 2. PA Kid Khan ........................................ 2 Championships/2 Reserves

HUNTER PLEASURE EXHIBITORS HUNTER PLEASURE OWNERS

1. Caroline Reid ............................................... 2x Champion/2x Reserve 2. Maegan Friesen ............................................ 2x Champion/1x Reserve 1. Caroline Reid ............................................. 2x Champion/4x Reserve 2. Arianna Bell .................................................................. 3x Champion

SPECIALTY WINNERS SPECIALTY SIRES

1. GSF Grand Slam ......................................... 2x Champion/1x Reserve 2. Halsteads Romeo ......................................... 1x Champion/1x Reserve Im McDreamy CRF ..................................... 1x Champion/1x Reserve 1. GSF Rizing Son ..................................... 2 Championships/1 Reserve 2. Ariberry Bey V ........................................ 1 Championship/1 Reserve IXL Noble Express ................................. 1 Championship/1 Reserve Matoi ...................................................... 1 Championship/1 Reserve

SPECIALTY EXHIBITORS SPECIALTY OWNERS

1. Khennedy Leubner ................................... 2x Champion/1x Reserve 2. Erica Milligan ........................................... 1x Champion/2x Reserve 1. Wanda Leubner .......................................... 2x Champion/1x Reserve 2. Brittany McKenzie ..................................... 1x Champion/1x Reserve Megan Buksa ............................................. 1x Champion/1x Reserve

WORKING WESTERN WINNERS WORKING WESTERN SIRES

1. Megas Silver Bucks ..................................... 3x Champion/1x Reserve 2. SR Ultra Shine .............................................................. 3x Champion 1. Zee Mega Bucks .................................... 3 Championships/1 Reserve 2. SR Get Your Shine On .......................................... 3 Championships

WORKING WESTERN EXHIBITORS WORKING WESTERN OWNERS

1. Sharon McLean .......................................... 3x Champion/4x Reserve 2. Lesley Badura .............................................. 3x Champion/1x Reserve Shaylin Sharpe ............................................ 3x Champion/1x Reserve 1. Sharon McLean ......................................... 3x Champion/2x Reserve 2. Lesley Badura ............................................. 3x Champion/1x Reserve Shaylin Sharpe ........................................... 3x Champion/1x Reserve

SPORT HORSE WINNERS SPORT HORSE SIRES

1. Luck Be A Lady Toknight ........................... 4x Champion/2x Reserve WT Studebaker .......................................... 4x Champion/2x Reserve 1. KM Bugatti .......................................... 4 Championships/2 Reserves 2. Allionce ................................................ 3 Championships/2 Reserves Mariachi WA ....................................... 3 Championships/2 Reserves

SPORT HORSE EXHIBITORS SPORT HORSE OWNERS

1. Todd Ehret ................................................... 8x Champion/3x Reserve 2. Colleen Kramer ........................................... 3x Champion/2x Reserve 1. Colleen Kramer .......................................... 7x Champion/3x Reserve 2. Arianna Bell ............................................... 4x Champion/2x Reserve Susan Fyfe .................................................. 4x Champion/2x Reserve