Qu'Appelle Valley Horse Pull Club

The first pull competition for the 2012 season was put on by the SDHPA at the Tisdale Rambler Rodeo.  Five teams, teamsters and evener people from the QVHPC pulled into Tisdale Saturday March 21.  17 teams pulled the sled to packed stands.  The results are as follows:

Light weight – 1^st  Brian Martin, John Martin & Cody & Red pulling a weight of 8000; Middle weight – 1^st Wayne Nagy, David Lockert & Colonel & Clyde pulling a weight of 7000 lbs  Heavy weight 1^st – Norman Vertefeuille, Earl Kashmere & Ned & Kon pulling a weight of 8000 lbs.  This the first time in memory (and some memories are old) that a light weight team pulled the same weight as a heavy weight team, but a further distance.  Congratulations Brian!  All participants had a great time and a safe trip home.

 People have started to put a lot of focus on tracing their ancestry, finding their roots or just seeing if their uncle Mark was really a famous pirate!  How many do you know of that can trace their beginnings back to the time of Julius Caesar?  I know some; however, they are all four legged friends - the Belgian horse members of the Qu’Appelle Valley Horse Pull Club.  The Belgian breed of today can be traced back to the Middle Ages.  At that time it was known as the Brabant and then the Flanders Horse.  These horses carried knights into battle. Maybe King Arthur rode a Brabant!  The European Brabant is the foundation of the Belgians we see today.  During the years there have been many changes. Although changes to confirmation and color have occurred, their gentle, willing attitude remains. Today’s Belgians are not as massive as the original Brabants were; and the legs aren’t as feathered.  From browns, blacks, grays, roans of that time, today we see mainly sorrels and roans.  Of course there are always exceptions!  War lances and heavy armour have been replaced by wagons and pull competitions.  Wayne Nagy, a QVHPC member has a team of roan Brabants.  Come to a competition and see them in action.

The North American Belgian Championship in Brandon will be like a huge family reunion.  I’m sure the exception of color will apply there.  If you are planning to enter the competition the deadline is May 15, 2012.  There will be no actual times available until the entries have been received.  The dates of events are as follows -- Thursday July 19^th is the horse pull auction.  It is at 8:00 pm.  The Light weight division pulls Friday morning; Middle weight is in the afternoon.  The Heavy weight pull is Saturday morning.  The North American Belgian Championship has a website (www.nabcvii.com).  If you have any question please call Gerald Hendry, President of the Canadian Belgian Association at 306-781-3379, or Norman Vertefeuille at 306-731-3108.

Duval on June 21 is the next pull for the club.  The schedule is on the website and the coming events of Show Trail has the dates listed also. July is a very busy month for the club. Come out and watch the gentle giants!

To book the club for your next event or if you would like information about the club, please contact Norman Vertefeuille @ 306-731-3108 or e-mail QVHPC@yahoo.ca.  You can also leave us a message on the website at   http://qvhpc@yolasite.com 

“Preserving Our Draft Horse Heritage

   By Moving Forward

One Load At A Time”

Qu’Appelle Valley Horse Pull Club

 By Wilma Olmsted