The $20,000 Western Canadian Young Horse Finals were held during the Rocky Mountain Classic III at Anderson Ranch in Calgary, AB, from September 1-5.

Liz Ashton made the trip from her home base in Victoria, BC, worthwhile by claiming the Seven and Eight-Year-Old Western Canadian Championship. Riding Vibrance, her eight-year-old chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding, Ashton dominated the competition to claim the title.

“He is an extremely talented jumper,” said Ashton of Vibrance, an American-bred horse by Burggraaf and out of a Calvados mare. “He has come up through the young horse series, as much as there has been a young horse series in the west. He did his first CSI2* Grand Prix one week before the Western Young Horse Championships at the Rocky Mountain Classic, and I am hoping that by next year, he will be a legitimate grand prix horse. He’s a pretty special horse.”

Ashton bought Vibrance as a backed four-year-old, sight unseen, and calls him her ‘internet horse’, explaining, “Three nights in a row, his picture popped up on my computer when I went on an horse sales site. I said to my husband, “I think this horse wants me to buy him.” I bought him off his breeding, and he has been one of the best horses that I have ever had. He’s a cocky little know-it-all, but so self-assured. He is a real trier. He digs deep every time. I am sure that he is going to be a phenomenal horse when he gains more knowledge.”

Ashton operates EqSport Enterprises in Victoria, BC, where she has six horses of her own as well as approximately 20 belonging to students. She made the trip to Alberta in order to compete in the Western Canadian Young Horse Finals.

“I loved it,” she said of the three-day championship format. “I think it rewards consistency. Everyone can have a bad day, so holding it over three days levels the playing field a bit more. This is my second time making the trip to compete at Anderson Ranch and John (Anderson) does a great job. They build to spec, and it is a great place for a developing grand prix horse. John has certainly raised the profile of the Young Horse Series in the west. We produce as good of horses here that are produced anywhere; the horses just aren’t getting profiled. The breeders need to get on board and support the Young Horse program, and really get it going in the west.”

Ashton enjoyed an illustrious career as a three day eventing competitor, winning Team Gold at the 1978 World Evening Championships in Lexington, Kentucky, and has both eventing and show jumping horses in training.

“Good riding is good riding,” says the 60-year-old equestrian athlete. “Eventing is a phenomenal sport, and so is show jumping. At my age, it is easier to do show jumping.”

Another horse from British Columbia won the Six-Year-Old Division. Lokomotion, a bay Hannoverian stallion ridden by Gary Brewster, won the Six-Year-Old Division of the Western Canadian Championships. By Lordanos and out of a Landsieger I dam, Lokomotion is owned by Laurel McLaughlin of Pemberton, BC, who imported him from Germany as a youngster.

“I was very pleased with his performance,” said Brewster, who is showing Lokomotion for the second season. “He comes to life when he walks through that gate into the ring. He is pretty laid back and he has super temperament and ability.”

The Reserve Six-Year-Old Championship title went to Zapatero, a chestnut Dutch Warmblood stallion owned and ridden by Nicole Gergley. Zapatero is by Tangelo van de Zuuethoeve out of a Voltaire dam.

Quidam Blue, a grey Hannoverian stallion ridden by Enrico Suessenbach, won the Five-Year-Old Western Canadian Young Horse Championship. By Quidam’s Rubin and out of a Come On dam, Quidam Blue is owned by Ute Brinkmann of Equitop Farm in New Norway, AB, who imported him from Germany as a youngster.

“We are very proud of him, he did great,” said Brinkmann. “He is really easy going, and always wants to do the job. We bought him at the Hannoverian stallion licensing in Germany and let him stay there for a year to pass his performance tests. We imported him in the winter of 2009, and he already has some nice foals on the ground. He will hopefully be a grand prix level jumper; he definitely has what it takes. His job is easy for him.”

Ashton took the Reserve Championship title back to Victoria, BC, after placing second overall with Cando, a bay Canadian Warmblood gelding by Carthago Sun I. Traveling back to Alberta to compete at Anderson Ranch was something of a homecoming for Cando, as he was bred at the neighbouring St. George’s Stables by the Selinger family.

Enrico Suessenbach also topped the Four-Year-Old Division, this time piloting Phyline, a bay Westphalian mare owned and bred in Canada by Gerrit and Ute Brinkmann. Phyline is by Portland L and out of a mare by Ajuyk Prince.

“This was her first show, so we are really proud of her,” said Brinkmann. “We own her sire, Portland, as well as her dam. We imported both of them, but Phyline was home bred in Canada. We are really excited to develop her, she is very easy-going and the only thing she is lacking right now is strength. She is simple, she does what she is supposed to do, and is happy to do it. Hopefully she will be a grand prix mount as well. You can never say for sure, but both she and Quidam Blue certainly have the talent.”

Of the Jump Canada Young Horse Series, Brinkmann said, “It is really good for Canadian breeders, we really need it here. I think that the Canadian horse industry has too few opportunities to get young horses out. Because of the climate, the show season tends to be shorter, so young horse classes are very important.”

The purpose of the Jump Canada Young Horse Series is to encourage the development of young show jumping talent and to give Canadian breeders additional incentives to breed superior show jumping prospects. Competing on a level playing field, the horses are divided according to age and jump at a level suited to their development. This careful development allows the horses to gain valuable experience and advance to the higher levels of show jumping competition with confidence. The Jump Canada Young Horse Series also gives prospective buyers for the hunter and jumper markets an opportunity to view a large group of prospects in a competition setting.

The 2010 Jump Canada Young Horse Series is truly national in scope with competitions being held from coast to coast. The National Young Horse Finals will take place at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament held from September 22-26 in Palgrave, ON.

For more information on the Jump Canada Young Horse Series, please visit http://www.equinecanada.ca/jumpcanada/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=88&Itemid=3.

Western Canadian Young Horse Championships – Calgary, AB

Seven and Eight-Year-Old Division
Horse/Owner/Rider
Champion Vibrance Liz Ashton Liz Ashton

Six-Year-Old Division
Horse/Owner/Rider
Champion Lokomotion Laurel McLaughlin Gary Brewster
Reserve Zapatero Nicole Gergley Nicole Gergley
3. Kumano Jan Ash-Gross Eric Martin

Five-Year-Old Division
Horse/Owner/Rider
Champion Quidam Blue Ute Brinkmann Enrico Suessenbach
Reserve Cando* Liz Ashton Liz Ashton
3. Contado Ute Brinkmann Enrico Suessenbach
4. Rochambeau* Torie Klassen Torie Klassen
5. C’est Samurai Sun* Margie Morstad Andrea Harris
6. Aflame* Judy Meikle Tamie Phillips

Four-Year-Old Division
Horse/Owner/Rider
Champion Phyline* Ute Brinkmann Enrico Suessenbach

NOTE – The star * beside a horse’s name denotes that it is Canadian-bred.

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