Richest Draft Horse Futurity In North America

Lone Oak ’05 Caitland, a Percheron mare bred, owned and shown by equine ranchers Lone Oak Percherons, of Birtle, Manitoba, emerged victorious at the NAERIC Draft Horse Classic held in Regina, Saskatchewan recently. The two day competition was held November 17 and 18, 2007, in conjunction with the Canadian Western Agribition.

Caitland, a two-year-old mare, was solid in the competition, scoring two seconds and a first under three judges in her halter class, a string of firsts in her rail class, and a first, second and third place respectively in the pattern class. Scoring is by way of a panel judging system, and when the points were tallied, Caitland walked away from the pack with a total 85 points, enough to put her right into the winner’s circle.

“It’s pretty exciting,” commented Jim Lane, on winning the richest draft horse futurity in North America. “I’ve been a part of this Futurity since it started back in 2001 and this is the first time I’ve been out on top.”
Lone Oak ‘05 Caitland received a cheque for her earnings in the amount of $6,544.00 as well as an additional $1,576.25 for her breeder, Jim and Darlene Lane, Lone Oak Percherons of Birtle, Manitoba. They are equine ranchers that breed quality Percheron horses and Friesian crossbreds under the Lone Oak prefix.

In order to become involved in the NAERIC Draft Horse Classic Futurity program, breeders must buy 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 one-half the selling price of the foal, is guaranteed to go back into the purse which will be paid out in their two-year-old year.

Eleven two-year-olds made the journey back to compete in the futurity this year. Judges were Mr. Wayne Deans of Inwood, Ontario, Mr. John Cundell of Ottawa, Ontario, and Mr. Dave Adams of Lime Springs, Iowa. The first division was the halter or line class.

When the points were tallied, Lone Oak 05 Caitland and Bar RB Baxter, a Belgian gelding owned by Tom Lane, Birtle, Manitoba, and bred by neighboring equine rancher, Robert Berry, were sitting neck and neck with 28 points a piece.

With a sweep of first placings in the rail division, it became evident that Caitland was the favorite to win, but anything could happen in the pattern class. There were some strong showings in the individual pattern division, that demonstrated how well broke these young horses were. Caitland proved once again that brains and beauty CAN come in one package as she aced the course, clearly making her the overall winner.

Following the presentations to the two-year-olds, the NAERIC Draft Horse Classic Sale got underway. Don Peacock of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, conducted the sale, with Bruce Roy of Cremona, Alberta, on pedigrees.

The high selling foal of the sale was a Percheron stud colt, Paramount Knight Train, consigned by David Bailey of Calgary, Alberta, and sold to Harold Blackburn of Wisconsin for $12,750.00.

High selling Belgian foal, Bar RB Suri, owned by Robert Berry, Birtle, Manitoba, was purchased by Rocky Bar Ranch, the DenBroks of Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, for $6,900.00.

The top Clydesdale, Willow Way Hector, was consigned by Wes Gordeyko of Ohaton, Alberta, and was sold to Steve Gregg of Cargill, Ontario, for $6,000.00.

There were 31 lots sold at the Sale for an average of $3,856.45, which brings the total purse to an all-time high. In 2009, the two-year-olds will come back to compete in the Futurity for a total of $50,235,00 with 1st place prize money worth $10,047.00!

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.

Source: www.naeric.org