October 2, 2007

Fort Langley, British Columbia – This year marked the second anniversary for the Canadian Performance Futurity, and once again, Thunderbird Show Park in Fort Langley, British Colombia, showcased the classes for the Pacific Zone. Seeing expansion in the program, classes for five-year-old horses were now offered in addition to the previously held four-year-old classes. Additionally, jumper classes were also held for the first time in this zone, in addition to the hunter and dressage classes.

Running all three disciplines at one event allowed some of the young horses to be cross entered with ease. One such horse was Formation, a four-year-old Canadian Warmblood by Formaat and out of a Consul mare. The young stallion finished in top place in both the dressage and hunter classes. “This is our second year at Thunderbird with the program”, said rider Susanne Paulson-Suerink. “I am personally so excited about this young stallion I am riding for Rafter 5 Ranch. For such a big horse, he is so easy to ride and extremely willing.” Formation was licensed for breeding at the time of the competition, and went on to complete the Stallion Performance Test a few weeks later, to achieve full breeding approval.

Other veteran participants were Jennifer and Armin Arnoldt of Dreamscape Farm, breeders of Freelance DSF. This five-year-old Westfalen claimed the winner’s cooler in the dressage class for the second year in a row. “We are very pleased with the program and excited about the promotion of young Canadian bred horses in the performance ring”, enthused Jennifer. Freelance is by Freestyle, an approved stallion owned by Dreamscape Farm, and out of Bianca, by Uniform.

While Dreamscape was hoping for the same results in the Five-Year-Old Hunter classes, they had to take second place to a new performer. The elegant Porsha K, took the honours under rider Jack Hammond for owner Pam Metal. The Canadian Warmblood mare by Popeye K and out of a Libero H daughter was bred by Karneef Equestrian Farms of Ontario, a familiar name in North America’s hunter circles.

The jumper classes were held in conjunction with the Canadian Jumper Development Series. This series has taken a foothold in eastern Canada and is being ramped up in the western parts of the country. Its challenging format is run under similar criteria set out by the world’s strongest show jumping programs.

Four-year-old Canadian Warmblood, Magnum, claimed the winner’s prize for owner and breeder Beach Grove Stables. Magnum, is by Vulcaan and out of an Argus mare.

Panache was the victor in the Five-Year-Old Jumper class. The Canadian Warmblood gelding by Pour Gagne bred by Dr. Heather Lynn Smith-Oberten of Alberta, was ridden by Rodney Tulloch for owner Laura Penikett. The pair went on to challenge the same class in the Prairie Zone, in the following weeks.

Marilyn Powell, Pacific Zone representative for the Futurity commented on the venue: “This big summer show gave the horses great exposure, with some of them entered in the regular hunter and jumper divisions. Spectators were amazed that such young horses were so steady at such a busy venue.” She indicated interest from other trainers and professionals was a sign that the classes would become more and more competitive in the future, and continued with her thanks for to the show organizers, “The management at Thunderbird went over and beyond to accommodate us and make sure everything ran as scheduled.”

The Canadian Performance Futurity, which is open to registered and Canadian bred horses, is funded in part by the Canadian Breeders' Initiative Fund (CBIF). CBIF supports Canadian breeders of horses for the FEI disciplines, providing financial assistance to initiatives which profile multiple breed registries, with a preference to Canadian organizations. The CBIF is administered by Equine Canada and funded with charitable donations.

More on the Canadian Performance Futurity, including information for nominating horses, can be found at www.CanadianPerformanceFuturity.com.