YOUTH QUEBEC I NATHAN CHRETIEN TROUVER SA V0IE TARDIVEMENT: UN ENTHOUSIASME ENCORE PLUS GRAND!
Nathan Chr6tien, 19 ans, fait partie des quatre membres de
gagner de l'argent autrement. Avec un papa expert, €a devrait etre facile, non? Pas tout a fait, justement. Le pare exige la totale implication du fils, pas seulement la partie financiere: « Tu dois venir m'aider tous les soirs, on entratne, on attele, tu apprends ». La definition exacte du slogan familial: la passion en heritage. Ouf!
Nathan part de zero: ne serait-ce que d'enfiler
la Famille Chr6tien,
6Ieveurs de Percheron et mar6chalerie. Le pare, mar6chal-
totalement neophyte.
ferrant chevronn6 et entratneur de-chevaux,
question n'est meme
la fille, cavaliere de
explique: « C'6tait tres difficile, mais depuis longtemps, j'ai observe
un licou, une bride, il est
Charles, Ie cheval en pcis encore d6bourr6 ! 11
Dressage de haut niveau et instructeur de plusieurs 6Ieves de niveaux varies, tout autant que manieuse de chevaux lourds et « celle sons quj y'a pu rjen quj marche: Mom .I », lsabelle, qui organise et coordonne toute la ferme familiale \dans son ensemble.
mon pare et rna sceur trclvailler les chevaux. En trois mois, mon pare m'a initi€ c]u maniement au licou, au d6bourrage et a I'crttelc]ge: c'€tait assez intensif
comme apprentissage ! » La soison suivante, d6jd, Ie duo faisait son entree dons le n.ng, jusqu'd la fin de la saison, pour finalement arriver 2e c]u Challenge Quebec, chevaux de trois ans.
Meme sons y prendre part directement, au fil du temps, Nathan a quand meme observe et entendu beaucoup de principes g6n€rQux du monde des chevaux.
N6 dons ce milieu, habitu6 a faire ses tdches pour aider la famille, Nathan est un reel sportif dons I'dme depuis touj.ours. Sons vraiment d'int6ret pour les chevaux, il ira jusqu'd demander: « Est-ce que j.'ai 6t6 adopt6, moi? Pourquoi toute rna famille est passionn6e des chevaux et moi, je n'aime que le hockey ? ». La Famille Chr6tien respecte son choix et l'encourage a l'ar6na aux parties de hockey, autant que lui, les suit sur les circuits des concours hippiques depuis toujours.
« Je savais que pour entratner, I.e devais adopter une attitude particuliere », explique-tS£, il, « il faut de la rigueur, de la constance, donner et demander le respect et r6agir au quart de tour tout en restclnt ccllme. Au fond, il s'agit d'appliquer sur les chevc]ux, Ic] meme m6thode avec laquelle on m'c] €leve ! »
D6jd, ceux qui €voluent dons le monde 6quin -ou qui 6levent des enfclnts, sovent que le meilleur gage de succes s'avere lo patience et l'apprentissage d'une 6tape a la fois. Nathan, lui. cl cibsorb€ toute la m6thode et toutes les Stapes en m6me temps, et il a r6ussi[ Si le EREEiiiiiiiiiiii -
cadre 6ducatif
familial I'a haspir6 sur
Un printemps de 2016, alors qu'il est dg6 de 14 ans et installs en famille autour de la table, Eric, son
sa fa€on d'entratner, c'est son sport
pare, raconte qu'il a observe chez un client, un jeune Clydesdale prometteur. Pour taquiner son fils, le pare lui demande a brtile-pourpoint: « Embarques-tu ? ». Sons aucune raison particuliere, Nathan tend l'oreille avec un certain int6ret. Son pare continue: « On investit le montcint de l'achat a deux, on I'entraine, on le revend et on partage les profits: €a te le dit ou pas ? ». Le
pr6f6r6, Ie hockey, qui l'a grandement clid6 a d€velopper
jeune homme, qui connatt la r€alit6 des petits boulots d'€tudiants, voit soudainement une opportunit6 de 28
THE CANADIAN PERCHERON BROADCASTER I VOLUME 79 / 2022
des comportements plut6t difficiles
a adopter pour le commun des mortels: « C'est vrai que les plus
i
Vendu tout de suite apras la Carp Fair, pour completer un attelage de l'Ohio, c'est maintenant une paire de tres jeunes chevaux, que Nathan prepare, a
grands d6fis avec les chevaux, en sont de dosage, de reflexes et de timing. » Arriver a anticiper une
probl6matique avant qu'elle ne survienne, par exemple.
« Le cheval donne touj.ours un message d'avertissement une fraction de seconde avant de choisir une action inadequate. 11 faut observer longuement le langage de son corps, d6celer ses intentions et r6agir rapidement de fa€on proactive: c'est exactement ainsi que l'on
nous faire d6couvrir sur le circuit. De plus, il se
s'am6Iiore au hockey ! »
Nathan a pass6 I'6t6 suivant a aider des amis 6Ieveurs de chevaux Belges, a atteler en six. « Si j'6tais encore un peu lent a atteler en simple, crois-moi, en
atteler six r6gulierement est la meilleure pratique pour gagner en efficacit6. Surtout car on me laissait commettre des erreu.rs et les r6parer : c'est la meilleure fa€on d'apprendre. » Comme l'attelage des amis part comp6titionner a New York, Nathan et son pare, sur un haussement d'6paules, d6cident d'amener Charles aux Etats-Unis, oti la competition est assez f5roce. Apres avoir vendu Charles a un client qui s'est manifest6 des sa sortie du ring, pare et fils portent d la recherche de leur prochain d6fi dons leur race de predilection, un Percheron. La paire fait la tourn6e des 6leveurs du
male d6sormais de toutes les discussions et de la planification des meilleurs accouplements avec les meilleures lign6es, dons le but de conserver les meilleurs attributs de la race Percheronne et si n6cessaire, de I'am6Iiorer. « Nathan, c'est un jeune qui aime jouer. Qu'il s'agisse de hockey ou de chevaux, le plaisir du I.eu prime sur tout. L'entratnement? Pas tellement », d6crit Eric. Mais il est comp6titif et brille instantan6ment dons un ring.11
adore presenter, atteler, bref, il est fait pour les feux de la rampe. Moi? Pas tellement. »
La fiert6 qu'il d6gage pour son cheval et leur duo transpire en concours. Mais Nathan lui-meme avoue
pr6f6rer nettoyer les boxes de la ferme plut6t que d'engager le combat avec le comportement d'un cheval recalcitrant : « je ne veux pas me battre avec un cheval lorsque €a devient trop s6rieux. Mais des que j.e mets les pieds sur un terrain de concours, j.e suis prat a gagner. » Ah ? Et s'il perd ? « Bien stir, c'est d6cevant sur le coup, mais le lendemain, c'est termin6, on ne rumine pas, » precise lsabelle, « on se stimule a s'am6liorer et on reprend nos performances au prochain concours. »
Quebec, jusqu'en Illinois. C'est dons un troupeau de
chevaux achet6s a rabais pour revendre au prix de la viande que son pare remarque un specimen d l'encolure int€ressante et au potentiel d'action prometteur. Un autre hongre pas encore d6bourr6 se I-oint donc d I`'€quipe Chr6tien: Kirby, 4 ans, un magnifique Percheron noir.
Pendant trois ans, Nathan 6voluera au meme rythme que son cheval, attellera en simple, puis en double et finalement, en quatre. IIs iront tout rafler sur le circuit
qu6b6cois et ontarien, jusqu'au titre de grand champion au Carp Supreme Percheron finals. « D'une competition a l'autre, j'6tais de plus en plus
excite », raconte Nathan, « et I.'ai ainsi concretement saisi la regle d'Or de
mes parents: avoir du plaisir. Si ce n'est
pas le cos, aucun espoir d'avancer, peu importe le domaine dons lequel on 6volue. »
Eric est aussi tres enthousiaste de voir Nathan joindre les rangs. « Depuis longtemps, il y avait deux postes a combler dons l'6quipe. Le premier 6tait de presenter des chevqux en concours: moi, j'aime entratner mais les competitions ne m'int6ressent que pour faire Ilo fete. Nathan, lui, est dons son environnement lorsqu'il s'agit de performer et de comp6titionner. De plus, aucun de cng``±*` nous trois n'6tait vraiment habile pour vendre, pour n6gocier et se charger de r6colter ce que nous avons sem6 et fait progresser comme cheval, lors d'une transaction. C'est le deuxieme poste qu'il comble, avec son sens naturel des affaires, pour completer et pour optimiser notre 6quipe. Maintenant qu'il a la piqtire, c'est dons l'organisme sons but lucratif la Relive Hippique du Quebec (RHQj
que Nathan investit 6galement temps et efforts. Membre de l'administration de la RHQ, qui incite les jeunes (-25
ans) a participer aux competitions d'attelage et aux THE CANADIAN PERCHERON BROADCASTER I VOLUME 79 / 2022
29
expositions agricoles, avec son entregent naturel, il approche les I.eunes sur les terrains de concours, fait de son mieux pour les inspirer a s'investir dons le domaine et participe aussi a la creation des capsules d'informations: « Par les jeunes, pour les jeunes » Fa€on compl6mentaire de garder les Percherons et tous les chevaux lourds, bien vivants et actuels, dons un monde oil les vieilles traditions tendent a disparattre.
coll6gial en Sciences de la nature, dons le but de d6crocher le titre de docteur en chiropratique. Ses objectifs a court et moyen terme? Se d6marquer a la Royal Agricultural Winter Fair a Toronto, ainsi qu'au Congres Mondial du Percheron, rien de moins. EE]
±±._E_--!!EI=E==-±EIEEffi
En plus de l'6quipe des Aigles de Berthier depuis plus d'une dizaine d'ann6es, le parcours scolaire occupe aussi une grande'place dons l'emploi du temps de Nathan Chr6tien.11 poursuit son cheminement acad6mique
FINDING HIS PATH TARDILY: A GRAND ENTHUSIASM!
Ir=, at a customer during the day. To tease his son, the father then asked sarcastically, -Are you in?" Without any valuable reason. Nc]than is listening with interest. His
father continues: -We purchase the horse together, we Nathan Chr6tien, 19 years old, is the
train him, then we sell him and spilt the profits: are you in or not?" The young mcin who understands the reality of
youngest of the
students' jobs see cin opportunity to make some money in a different way. With cln expert father it should be easy right? Not exactly. Dad is expecting his son to get involved completely, notjust the financial part of it: "You need to come clnd help me every nights, we train, we hitch and you leclm cllong the way." The exact definition of passing on the knowledge. Phew!
Chr6tien family,
Percheron breeder and farrier. His father experience blacksmith and horse trainer, his sister, high level
dressage equestrian and instructor to many different level students, just as much as a heavy horse handler and "the one to whom which handle all the
Nathan is starting from the first step. If not for putting a halter on, a bridle he is totally neophyte. The horse named Charles is not even green broke. "It was very difficult, but since I can remember I
logistic to make sure everything goes forward; Mom!". Isabelle organises and coordinates the family farm in its whole.
have observed my dad and my sister work with horses. Over the next three months, my father initiated me at handling the halter, at breaking and hitching: it was real intense learning!" The next season, the new duo was entering the show ring right up until the end of the season to finally come in 2nd at Challenge Quebec in the threeyear-old class.
Born in this environment, accustomed to helping with chores, Nathan is a real athlete in its soul since the very beginning. With not much interest with the horses he even would go as far as to ask; "Was I adopted? Why is it that my family are all passionate about horses and all I love is hockey?" The Chr6tien family respect his choices and encourages him at the Arena during his hockey games, just as much as Nathan follows the family on the show circuit since the very beginning.
Over the years, even though Nathan did not participate in the shows, while observing and \ overhearing c] lot of people talking about the generakir\as` principles of the world of horses.
"I knew that in order to break a horse, I needed to adopt c] particular attitude" Nathan explain, "you need to be rigor, constancy, to give and
expect respect clnd react quickly while staying calm. In the end, I need to c]pply to the horses
the same method that was use by my mother
and fc]ther to raise me!" Spring of 2016, Nathan then 14 years old, the family Already everybody that evolves in the equine world is all settle around the table for their meal, Eric, his father, or that raises kids. knows that the best successful way is recounts that he had observe a high prospect Clydesdale 30
THE CANADIAN PERCHERON BROADCASTER I VOLUME 79 / 2022
of
to be patient and learn one step at a time. In which case, Nathan, had to absorb all the methods and steps all at once, and, has succeed. If the education surrounding that Nathan was familiar with might have inspire him on the way to train Charles, it was his favorite sport, hockey, that enable him to developpe the right attitude that is difficult to achieve for the common people. "It is true that the biggest challenge while training horses, is one of the right dosages, reflexes and timing." For example, to come to anticipate a problem before it even arises.
"A horse will always give you a warning a
During his 3 years course, Nathan will
evolve at the same pace as his horse, first by starting to hitch him single, then double to finally hitch
a 4-horse hitch. They will sweep up at all
the horse show in Quebec and in Ontario. Even to bring back the great title of Carp Supreme Percheron fi.nals.
"From one competition to the other I was getting more and more excited" recalls Nathan, "I have thus concretely comprehended my parents' golden rule: to have fun. If this is not achieved,
there is no hope of advanceinent, no matter the field in which you want to evolving in."
fraction of a second before he chooses an inappropriate action. You need to observe lengthily the horses body language, detect his intentions and quickly react in a proactive
Sold soon after Carp Fair Kirbyjoined and
completed an Ohio hitch. Nathan is now working with a young
manner: this is exactly how you do it in hockey!"
Nathan then spent the next summer helping his Belgian
breeders' friends hitch a six-horse hitch. "lf perhaps I was still a little
slow hitching a single horse, believe me, regularly hitching
6 horses hitch was the best practice to gain efficiency. Especially since they let me make errors and gave me the opportunity to correct them: This is the best way to learn." As their friends leave to go and compete in New York, Nathan and his father, on a shrug of the shoulders, decides to bring Charles to the Unites States, where the competition is fierce. After selling Charles to a customer that manifested himself the moment that Charles came into the ring, father and son are on their way to find their next challenge in their preferred breed, a Percheron. The father and son team begin their search tour with the Quebec breeders, right up in Illinois. It is amongst a heard
of horses purchases at rebate, destine to resale for the meat market that his father spots an interesting specimen with great neckline and potentially with great action.
Another gelding, not even green broke, j.oins the Chr6tien team: Kirby, 4 years old a magnificent black Percheron.
pair of horses that he is preparing to introduce to the circuit this upcoming year. To top it off, he mingles with all the discussion and the planning of the breeding with the best bloodline in the hopes to conserve and better the predicates of the Percheron breed, and if necessary, to improve it.
"Nathan is a young man that loves to play. Whether
it's hockey or horses, the fun of the game comes first no matter what. Training? Not so much". Eric describes. But he is competitive, and he shines ih!the ring. He adores
presenting, hitching, to put it shortly, he does everything for the limelight. Me? Not so much."
The pride he exudes for his horse and their duo transpires in competitions. But Nathan confess that he would prefer to clean box stalls at the farm then` to
:,ndgoan9teLnaants|:ufiggg|:#:Leocr::cjLr:::E:jhnagvsege[%RA:§£: serious. But the moment I set foot in the ring I am ready to go for the win." Oh? And if he loses?-``Of course, it's
disappointing at first, but the next day, it's all over,I don't stew over it," Isabelle specifies, ``we stimulate to better our selves for the next competitions and we learn from our performances."
Percherons have a full broad forehead, a straight face, and a full prominent eye. They also have a 'strong jaw and refined ears that are very animated, giving their owners a reflection of their current emotional state! yls THE CANADIAN PERCHERON BROADCASTER I VOLUME 79 / 2022
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ri
the celebrations at the end of the day. As for Nathan, he's in his element when comes time to perform and compete. Also, none of us are very good when it comes time to sell, to negotiate and to reap what we have sown and what we have improved in our horse, while dealing. This is the second part that he fulfills to complete and optimise our teain. Now it's with the Relive Hippique du Quebec (RHQ) organization that Nathan invest time and effort. Member of the organization administration board, which urges
youth (under 25 years old) to participate in hitching competitions and agricultural Fairs, with his natural interpersonal skills, he gathers all youth members in the ring, he does his best to invest himself and participate to information documentaries: "For youth, by youth"
a complementary way to keep the Percheron and all heavy breeds active and going in and world where old traditions tend to disappear. Not only his hockey team the Berthier Eagles fill a spot in his life for a over a decade now, his academic occupies a large part of Nathan Chr6tien's time. He
Eric is also very enthuse to see Nathan join the ranks. "For a long time, there where two posting to fill in their
team. The first, to show the horses in competition: me,I prefer the training, the competitions only interest me for
32
continues his collegial cicademic path in Natural Science in the hopes to clchieve a chiroprcictic doctorate. His
short and long-term goals? None of the less, to stand out at the Roycll Agricurfural Winter Fair in Toronto, and at the World Percheron Congress.
THECANADIAN PERCHERON BROADCASTER I VOLUME79/2022