Ranch Horse Competition at Agribition

November 2014 marked the 44th year of Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, Saskatchewan. Agribition was started by a volunteer group of cattle producers whom wanted to showcase and promote the Canadian Beef Industry to the world.

Canadian Western Agribition has worked to be one of the top cattle shows in North America and volunteers continue to be the backbone of the event.

Canada’s Premiere Select Ranch Horse Competition and Sale came to fruition in 1991. Gordon Stephenson championed the cause, as the committee chairman. Stephenson, President of Canadian Western Agribition, at the time, previously served as the General Manager. With the help of auctioneer Harvey Peters and a number of volunteers the first ranch horse committee was born. The focus; showcasing and selling ranch broke geldings consigned by ranchers, at a show for ranchers.

Gordon mentioned, “Harvey and I selected the horses. We travelled to where they were, from Northern Alberta to Manitoba, over 3 or 4 days. Doug Wilkinson was a big help in getting it started. The demonstration and sale was originally held at the beginning of the week. We wanted people to attend throughout the week, as the Commercial Cattle Show and Sale was at the end of the week. Dr. Grant Royan, original sale veterinarian and current committee chairman commented, “People were literally hanging from the rafters at that first demonstration and sale in the Winter Fair Building.” Success meant larger facilities; the following year the show and sale would move to the Stadium and eventually the Brandt Centre.

The venue has not been the only change to the show and sale. Chore horse teams and team roping horses were added to the sale catalog over the years. Canada’s Select Ranch Horse Competition and Sale has lived up to the motto “Change is constant.” Changes have included; classes of horses, a competition versus a demonstration for sale horses, prize money, rules, and volunteers.

Barry Clemens, past committee chair and owner of Beaver Creek Ranch and Horse Centre, is credited with adding prospects to the sale listing. Prospects; 2 and 3 year olds, must be started on cattle at time of selection and may be shown in a snaffle bit, bosal or bridle. Unlike ranch horses, prospects do not have a competition, but rather a demonstration prior to the sale.

Canada’s Premier Select Ranch Horse Competition and Sale, is open, pending selection, to registered and grade mares or geldings, and registered stallions and mules, 4 to 15 years old. Owners nominate horses for selection. The past number of years, a sub-committee of selectors would travel to two or three central locations. Horses would be viewed completing elements of the competition pattern. Selectors then take their recommendations to the main committee for final selection. Selecting horses takes time and money, not only for the selectors, but consignors.

New for 2014 was the incorporation of video selection. Owners filled out nomination forms and were contacted on how to upload the video of their horse, completing the modified competition pattern. The selection committee reviewed the videos and presented their recommendations to the committee at large.

Selected horses, the morning prior to the competition and sale are subject to a veterinary inspection. Dr. Larry Hanson and his capable staff of Sherwood Animal Clinic, Regina, SK conduct the exams. Sherwood Animal Clinic has a large equine focus; soundness and pre-purchase exams, surgery and equine reproduction. Dr. Hanson and his family raise and race Standardbreds and many of the staff are involved in the equine industry. Dr. Hanson noted, “Owners are taking their horses to veterinarians for soundness exams prior to nominating.”

The ranch horse competition is made up of a number of elements, with an allowed time of 9 minutes to complete the pattern. Leading the horse into the ring, contestants must ground-tie and pick up all four of the horse’s feet. Prior to mounting they remove the bit and re-bridle. Mounting, they ride to the rail, pick up and replace a slicker. From there contestants complete a modified reining pattern. This leads to cow work. Nodding to release the yearling, they must box the bovine at the end of arena, before turning the animal once each way down the fence. After the fence work contestants pull down their rope, tracking and roping the yearling. Roping is the biggest obstacle for most contestants, as five thousand eyes do not help the nerves. Once the “cow critter” is roped it is stopped and tracked out the gate.

Contestants head to the far end of the arena to pick up the rope for the log drag. Upon returning the log to the roping box, they move to the stock trailer. Opening a gate from horseback to enter the pen containing the trailer, contestants dismount, loading and unloading into the trailer. Returning to the center of the arena they await the judges and announcer to relay the score.

Announcers and judges, for Canada’s Premier Select Ranch Horse Competition and Sale, continue to be some of the best in the business. Cow horse trainer and horse show announcer, Ron Anderson, has called the action and read pedigrees.

Glen Gabel, AQHA and Angus breeder has brought his distinctive voice to mike, as current announcer and pedigree dictator. Points have been awarded by some of the most respected horsemen in Western Canada. Judges have comprised of cow horse trainers; Les Timmons, Kevin Pole and Kevin McCutcheon, horse breeder and veterinarian; Dr. Blaine Picard, ranch rodeo contestant and Soderglen Ranch Manager; Scott Lees.

Harvey Peters, and his staff, presided over the auctioneering and ringing at the first sales. Canadian Champion Auctioneer, Brad Stenberg from Kronau, SK has been chanting numbers since the early 2000’s. Brad and his team, consisting of Greg Frick of Sabre Quarter Horse Ranch at Whitewood, SK, do a tremendous job of catching bids from the far reaches of the Brandt Centre.

No sale is complete without buyers. Canada’s Premiere Select Ranch Horse Competition and Sale strives to make it easier for buyers. A Show and Sale Office is parallel to the sales ring and preferred buyers seating has been added.

Preferred buyers seating is setup, around the sales ring, complete with cash bar, to help loosen the purse strings. Ten dollars buys a seat to watch the sale up close and personal. Some balk at buying a seat, until they learn money is forwarded to the Canadian Western Agribiton Scholarship Fund. (Students whom have shown, in any aspect, at Agribition are eligible to apply for funds to pay for post-secondary education.) Buyers from the floor are entered for a buyers draw. Prizes have included; a saddle donated by Cowtown Western Wear, equine products from Merial Canada Inc. and rodeo tickets to the sold out Friday night performance of the Canadian Cowboys Association Finals. Previous years buyers will receive a ticket for complimentary seating, in the mail prior to the next year’s sale. Runners catch up with individuals purchasing from the main stands, as no buyers numbers are handed out prior to the sale.

Money talks, in the competition or sale. Sale results from 2014 had 10 lots of ranch horses sell for an average price of $6850.00. The high seller, Ronaldo Pablo, a bay gelding consigned by Dave Freeland of Edmonton, AB sold to Shelly Peck of Big Valley, AB for $15,900. Prospects sold 7 lots for an average price of $3,242.86. Jim Rickwood of Biggar, SK consigned the high selling prospect, WKK Blue Berry, a grey gelding, bought by Rocky Ross of Botha, AB for $4,500.

Rocky, a team roper and many time Canadian Finals Rodeo qualifier, was the high volume buyer, purchasing two ranch horses and a prospect for a total of $19,400.

Sale results from 2008 to 2013 showed 74 lots of ranch horses bringing an average price of $7,318.59. Walter Dutchak of North Battleford, SK consigned the highest seller in 2008; Smartpeptodesire, a red roan mare, traded for $25,000.

Prospects, during that time, averaged $4,145.15 on 64 lots. 2008 again saw the highest seller, a palomino filly, You Shur Caught Me, fetch $7,000 for consignors Mel and Rae Huber of Montmartre, SK. Horses have traded to the west coast of British Columbia, east to Nova Scotia, to northern Alberta and down to North Dakota.

Sponsors have changed over the years, but 2014 marked 15 years for Merial Canada Inc as title sponsor. Merial manufactures and distributes products such as Eqvalan Gold and Panomec horse wormers, the equine antiinflammatory Anafen , gastric ulcer drug Gastrogard and equine vaccines Imrab and Recombitek West Nile.

Canada’s Premiere Select Ranch Horse Competition and Sale committee has comprised of ranchers, community pasture managers, auction market reps, animal pharmaceutical reps, horse breeders, trainers, traders and veterinarians.

Diversity has brought unique ideas to the table. Committee members are open to suggestions and routinely seek input from peers to improve the competition and sale.

The Ranch Horse Competition has been referred to as “The Dale Clearwater Show.” Likely due to the fact the accomplished trainer has piloted horses to 12 championships since 2000. The Hanley, SK trainer has won in excess of $60,000 since his first CWA competition. Dale started his training career, from humble beginnings as a community pasture rider.

Feedlot pen riders accustomed to riding into a pen of fall placed bawling calves, may find it daunting to ride into the Brandt Centre with 12,000 eyes focused on them. Pen riders and pasture cowboys need a nudge of confidence to compete against guys like Clint Christiansen, Rod Thiessen, Cain Quam, Peter Gonnett and Kevin McCutcheon.

To entice new entrants the committee started offering a Rookie Class in 2011. The class was open to individuals whom had never competed in the Ranch Horse Competition. Entrants, in the rookie class, compete for top prize of $1000 and a buckle. As an added confidence booster, their score was added to the open category for an extra chance to win. The inaugural winner, Carrot River, SK pasture rider, Darryl Friesen, placed 6th overall. Tyler Darroch of Yorkton, SK followed the next year with a top 10 open class placing. Lakeland College, Western Ranch and Cowhorse graduate, Steven Miller rode away with the 2013 rookie buckle and extra $1000 for an open class 4th place finish. Lorne Davey, Wilkie, SK won the 2014 award and placed 3rd in the ranch horse for $1500, winning $2,500 and a buckle.

Highlights of Canada’s Select Ranch Horse Competition have been many. In 2002, Dale Clearwater entered a mule. The crowd was on their feet, when heading down the fence, the yearling cut in front of and under the mule. The surefootedness claim of mules rang true that day. There was not a dry eye in the house, at the 2006 event, when 88 year old Cyril Ross completed his run. Grandson Chad Ross said “We video-taped his run and he received a standing ovation.

We replayed the video at his funeral, where he received another standing ovation.” The 2009 competition saw father and son going head to head. Logan Delinte was 12 years old when his grade gelding Bucky, outbid his dad Greg’s mount.

Bucky put $5,600 towards college tuition.

New for 2015 is the Limited Open Competition Class, replacing the Rookie Class. Contestants are eligible to enter the Limited Open Class if they have won less than $3,500 in CWA Ranch Horse Competition earnings. Payouts are to fourth place. The winner receives $1,000 plus a buckle, with $750, $500 and $250 paid out 2nd to 4th respectively. Contestants in the Limited Open Class will have their score count towards the Open Class. For example, a contestant could win the Limited Open ($1000+buckle) and the Open ($3,500) for a $4,500 payday. The committee is confident this new format will see more pasture cowboys, feedlot riders, women and youth enter the competition.

Since the inception of Canada’s Premiere Select Ranch Horse Competition and Sale, similar shows have popped up across Western Canada. Writer Charles Caleb Colton is credited with penning the phrase, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”

For more information on Canadian Western Agribition and Canada’s Premiere Select Ranch Horse Competition and Sale go to www.agribition.com Lee Verne Sinclair is a 15 year committee member of Canada’s Premiere Select Ranch Horse Competition and Sale, retired bronc rider, western artist, professional sales representative and aspiring wordsmith.