The third annual Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo is scheduled to open its gates this Friday, kicking off an entire weekend of equine education and fun. This collection of horse enthusiasts and equestrians will gather at the Iron Horse Equestrian Complex between Burlington and Milton for three days of learning opportunities from top coaches in Dressage, Jumping and Hunter disciplines to the excitement of Western riding and Craig Cameron’s Extreme Cowboy RaceTM.
There will be a North American flare this year, especially for those who love the big heavy horses like Clydesdales, Belgians and Percherons, with the running on Saturday, June 9th of the North American Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series at the Heavy Horse Happening sponsored by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA).
Each year, six-horse hitches from across the United States and Canada compete at various events to accumulate points for the Classic Series. Close to two hundred hitches travel and compete at more than sixty qualifying shows in order to build points so that the four highest point hitches in each of three breed classifications can compete for $30,000.00 in prizes at the North American Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series Final Championship.
On Saturday June 9th, the Heavy Horse Happening will be a formal open 5-class competition with internationally renowned judge from Farmington, Missouri, Albert Cleve, officiating. Albert has been breeding purebred Percherons for the past quarter-century, has bred three World Percheron Congress Champions, served on the Executive of the Percheron Horse Association of America, and chaired the World Percheron Congress in 2002, 2006 and 2010. He has judged heavy horse competitions from California and Calgary to Maine and Virginia – and all places between!
There will be seven Ontario teams competing in the five classes at the Heavy Horse Happening including:
Highland View Belgians (Keith Garner); Glencal Farms (Calvin Lipsett Jr.); Peak and Valley Farm (David Zister); David Carson Farms & Auction Services (David Carson); Sandcastle Percherons (Kim Davidson); Stoney Lake Belgians (Randy Robertson); and Resting Spirit Stables (Richard Farrow).
The mission of the Heavy Horse Happening is to educate, entertain and promote ongoing excellence. It is meant to provide the participants with unique opportunities and feedback to help them improve and the audiences with a chance to better appreciate the dedication and beauty of these teams. With his vast experiences and expertise, Albert Cleve will be able to fulfill this unique mandate of the Heavy Horse Happening by providing debriefings after each class on why teams placed in the order they did and which recommended skills and techniques might help improve future showings of each heavy horse hitch.
Since learning more about “horsepower” is front-and-centre at the Heavy Horse Happening, there will be a Junior Heavy Horse Happening held on Sunday June 10th. This special heavy horse event will centre on education, entertainment and excellence for those getting started with heavy horses and those wishing to brush up on their techniques. Sessions and classes will focus on developing particular skills specifically related to driving, halter/conformation and harnessing/decorating. This Junior Heavy Horse Happening will wrap with two competitions to provide young people with an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
If you love living breathing “horsepower,” be sure to visit Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo on June 8, 9 & 10, 2012 at the Iron Horse Equestrian Complex in Burlington, Ontario. The Heavy Horse Happening, including the North American Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series, will take place on Saturday, June 9th. The Junior Heavy Horse Happening will run on Sunday, June 10th. For more information, please visit www.EquineExpo.ca or call 1-800-563-5441.