For those who have a passion for the heavy horse, you'll want to take in the World Clydesdale Show now taking place at the Keystone Centre in Brandon.
The World Clydesdale Show is held every four years at different locations around the globe. For Brandon to host this world-class event is very special, this being the first time where owners, breeders and riders of this magnificent breed are showcasing their prize-winning favorites here in the Westman Region.
Calvin Martin is an owner and breeder of Clydesdales in Strathclair, Manitoba, and Co-Chair of the 2023 World Clydesdale Show. The Martin family and Clydesdales are synonymous in Strathclair, as well as in draft horse circles around the world, for raising their quality Clydesdale horses.
"It's a very big show, and I liken it to the Olympics for Clydesdales," shares Martin. "This is the first time it's ever been in Western Canada. It's the pinnacle, the ultimate, of the Clydesdale fraternity when it comes to the show ring, and if you can come to the Show here and do well, win and say you've won the world championship, that's a great feather in your cap!"
Close to 80 exhibitors are participating in this week's event, travelling in from across North America. There's also strong representation from the Westman Region. Contenders will be competing in a variety of classes, from heavy-horse hitch classes and costume classes to novelty classes and farm team classes.
A favorite among the class competition is the riding classes.
"We've got quite a variety of riding classes," explains Martin. "That's something that has become very popular and unique now in the heavy horse business, and particularly Clydesdales, so you'll see them doing dressage, you'll see them jumping, you'll see them racing barrels, you'll see all of that!"
In addition to participating in horse class events there is also the heavy horseshoeing competition, where farriers in teams of 4 heat raw steel to bendable temperatures, form a horseshoe and then shoe a horse - each team vying for the fastest farrier at the World Show!
The Keystone Centre is well-known for its arena space to showcase horses in action through a variety of events, such as the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, and last year's Percheron Classic.
Martin says the Brandon facility is perfect for a number of reasons. "There is the location as Brandon is central to North America and easy to get to but there's no doubt about it that the Keystone Centre is one of the best facilities on the continent for this type of show," he says, "and exhibitors come from all across North America!"