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2009 NAERIC Draft Horse Classic Sale and Futurity

by Brenda Hunter

Rose Hill Nicole II, a Percheron mare bred, owned and shown by Rose Hill Percherons, Gordon & Shannon Ruzicka and family of Viking Alberta , emerged the overall winner at the NAERIC Draft Horse Classic futurity held recently in Regina , Saskatchewan .  The three day competition was held November 21, 22 and 23rd, 2009, in conjunction with the Canadian Western Agribition .

It was anyone’s guess as to the outcome of the competition.  This year saw the return of the most ever two-year olds to the event with a record 17 horses exhibited.  The two-year-old mare consistently placed in all three divisions which proved to be the key to her 1^st place overall finish.  She scored sixth in her halter class, a fifth in the rail class, and a solid first in the pattern class.  Scoring is by way of a panel judging system, and when the points were tallied, ‘Nicole’ had secured enough to put her right into the winner’s circle and earn her breeder/owners a substantial paycheck in the process.

“What other show can you go to with one horse and one cart and win that kind of money, even in 10^th spot.  Not even your six-horse hitch prize monies are paying like that,” said Ruzicka.   “It is just a really great program and a good place for breeders to showcase the horses they raise.”

Ruzicka has been part of the program since its inception and has personally won the futurity at least four times, with two out of the four times being with home-bred horses.  He believes that it is a great opportunity for draft horse exhibitors to move up the ladder, as the futurity grows and evolves.  “It is a great challenge to get a horse ready – it really forces one to do your homework and put the effort into a horse to get it ready to come back.  It is a neat game to be played in the draft horse industry.”

The owners of Rose Hill Nicole II, Gordon & Nicole Ruzicka, received a cheque in the amount of $9,557.00, as well as Gordon & Shannon receiving an additional $2,877.50 for being her breeder.  The Ruzickas breed and exhibit Percheron horses under the Rose Hill prefix, and are well-known in North American draft horse circles.

In order to become involved in the NAERIC Draft Horse Classic Futurity program, breeders must purchase a membership into the program in order to consign their foals to the sale.  Foals that are then sold through the sale in Regina , and all horses purchased, receive eligibility to return in two year’s time to compete for the total futurity purse.  A minimum $1,000 or thirty-five percent of the selling price of the foal, is guaranteed to go back into the program.  This year, the NAERIC Draft Horse Classic welcomed a new member from the United States , making it truly a North American futurity in all aspects.  Harold Blackburn of Columbus , Wisconsin consigned two foals to this year’s sale, along with bringing his two-year old back to compete in the futurity.

A new addition to this year’s futurity was the lady division.  An additional $2,500.00 purse was paid to the top four hi-point lady drivers.  Eligible lady drivers had to be the registered owner or co-owner of the horses they exhibited and had to be exhibitor of the two-year-old in all components of the competition.  This program was over and above where they actually placed in the entire futurity competition.  On Monday evening, Karen Gardiner of Virden , Manitoba exhibiting a Belgian mare, Fran-Way Marissa, co-owned with Kelvin Siemens of Kola, Manitoba was presented a cheque in the amount of $1,000.00, for her first place finish in the lady division, in addition to the cheque she received for her sixth place finish overall in the futurity.  Other placings in the lady division were Traci denBrok in second, Janine Gregg placing third, and Jaquie Ruthven ( Fargo ) was fourth.

Judges for the event were Mr. Craig Grange of Delmar, Iowa, Mr. Travis Shaw of Jordan , Minnesota and Mr. David Carson of Listowel , Ontario . The first division was the halter or line class.  When the points were tallied, Lone Oak 07 Brooke, a Percheron mare bred and owned by Jim Lane, Birtle, Manitoba was sitting in first place  In the second portion on the futurity, there were some strong showings in the individual pattern class, that demonstrated how well broke these young horses were.  Rose Hill Nicole II was a definite first in the pattern which changed the overall placings significantly going in to the rail division.  Creek Side Supreme a Belgian gelding owned by Tom Lane emerged victorious on the rail, as everyone awaited the final tally.  In the end, it was Rose Hill Nicole II that came out on top.

Monday afternoon was the NAERIC Draft Horse Classic Sale.  David Carson of Listowel , Ontario , conducted the sale, with Bruce Roy of Cremona , Alberta , on pedigrees.  The high selling foal of the sale was a Belgian filly, Creek Side Unique, consigned by Tom Lane of Birtle , Manitoba , and sold to Jason Bexson of Carstairs , Alberta for $8000.00.  High selling Percheron foal, Westbank Ugo, owned by John Ruzicka of Viking, Alberta, was purchased by John Ruzicka and Jason Bexson, for $4,500.00.  The top Clydesdale, Willow Way Jett, was consigned by Wes Gordeyko of Ohaton, Alberta, and was sold to Bill Prins of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, for $4,500.00, and the first ever time a Shire, Gladwin Jubilee Kane, was offered on purchase by Jason & Val Bexson of Carstairs, Alberta and was purchased by Jason & Val Bexson and Brian & Colleen Coleman, Didsbury, Alberta.  There were 25 lots sold for an average of $3,222.00.  In 2011, the two-year-olds will come back to compete for a purse worth over $35,000 with 1^st place prize money of $7138.50!  As well, the lady division will continue with the additional $2,500 purse being awarded to the top four ladies!  

That evening, the following presentations were made to top ten placings in the futurity:

The excitement in Regina continues to build year after year, as a heightened awareness of the draft horse industry comes to the forefront of the Canadian Western Agribition.  With events such as the NAERIC Draft Horse Classic Sale and Futurity, the promotion of draft horses in Western Canada is proving to be stronger than ever.

About NAERIC

The North American Equine Ranching Information Council (NAERIC) is a non-profit association of equine ranchers that  serves its members, the horse industry and public as an agribusiness resource by providing the latest information and research on all aspects of the equine ranching industry, including ranch management, horse care, breeding practices and innovative marketing programs.  For complete information, visit www.naeric.org.

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