Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Regina will once again be turned into the Arabian horse capital of Canada, when the 49th Canadian National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show comes to town from August 21 to 26, 2006.
Affectionately known as "The Royal Red," this week-long event is remarkable not just because it features top-level horse show competition and a commercial trade fair that draws more than 25,000 spectators and brings in approximately 1,000 horses from Canada and the United States. It is remarkable for the unparalleled international exposure it gives the Saskatchewan horse industry.
This is why Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food financially supports the show, according to Director of Livestock Development Greg Haase.
"It attracts people and horses from all over North America. This is viewed as one of the most important livestock events to come to our province. It is international in scope. It is our way of participating or supporting that. It showcases the top end of the Arabian breed."
"The Royal Red does a ton of things for Saskatchewan," says Bill Hutchinson, the chair of the Royal Red Host Committee. "First of all, we shouldn't forget the economic contribution. It contributes roughly $10 million to the provincial economy each year. If we are successful in securing another five-year contract, that is another $50 million or so into the local and district economy. So it is tremendously powerful from that perspective. But it does a lot more.
"One of the things that I am happiest about is that it puts Saskatchewan, in general, and Regina, in particular, on the world map. This truly is an international-calibre competition; the finest of its kind in the country and it is one of the top handfuls of Arabian horse shows on this continent. The best horses in the world compete here each and every year."
Hutchinson says the vast majority of Americans who exhibit and who come to ride and to do the horse-training and -handling are new visitors to the province who might not come here otherwise.
"It is also a great source of pride for the equine industry in Regina and all over southern Saskatchewan. Every year we have Saskatchewan owners showing and riding their own horses. In fact, a couple of years ago, there was a real Cinderella story... absolutely marvellous. A youngster from Maple Creek in the Junior Amateur Owner-To-Ride Class, who competed with her own horse that she bought, trained and rode in the show, won a National Championship against competition from all over North America. It was fabulous! What a great story!"
During the show, the barns take on the flamboyant colours of stables from around North America. Banners unfurl, benches and plants are artfully displayed in a symphony of landscape productions intended to celebrate the oldest known breed of riding horse.
The people who own such noble animals take great pride in their relationships with them. They will spare no expense. Inside the barns and outside, sod is brought in; lumber is purchased to build walls and partitions; furniture is rented; light fixtures are installed, and soon, a horse- and people-friendly indoor environment emerges. People set up luxury dining rooms, living rooms with television sets, playpens for children. Within metres, a rider puts bandages on the feet of his horse; another adjusts her breeches and boots, while yet another climbs on her mount and heads to the ring.
"Royal Red City" is not only an amazing display of grace and elegance: it is a temporary settlement with distinct rules of behaviours. The golf cart becomes the vehicle-of-choice to shuttle among barns, show rings and RVs.
"Royal Red City" comes with various amenities. Vendors of straw, hay and wood shavings are conveniently located on site. A sheltered sitting area is established and daily newspaper dispensing boxes are brought in to occupy the more leisurely moments of these honoured guests on the grounds.
"It is real joy for us local folks to walk around the grounds and ask these passionate horse people what they think of Regina," says Hutchinson "Why do they like coming back here? Their answers are: "people are extremely friendly everywhere"... "we go to a restaurant and people are very polite"... "when the show is hosted in other cities, sometimes nobody watches us in the ring. Here they cheer for us".
No wonder they keep coming back.
For more information, contact:
Greg Haase
Director, Livestock Development Branch
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-5190
Bill Hutchinson
Chair, Royal Red Host Committee
(306) 584-1739
Regina will once again be turned into the Arabian horse capital of Canada, when the 49th Canadian National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show comes to town from August 21 to 26, 2006.
Affectionately known as "The Royal Red," this week-long event is remarkable not just because it features top-level horse show competition and a commercial trade fair that draws more than 25,000 spectators and brings in approximately 1,000 horses from Canada and the United States. It is remarkable for the unparalleled international exposure it gives the Saskatchewan horse industry.
This is why Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food financially supports the show, according to Director of Livestock Development Greg Haase.
"It attracts people and horses from all over North America. This is viewed as one of the most important livestock events to come to our province. It is international in scope. It is our way of participating or supporting that. It showcases the top end of the Arabian breed."
"The Royal Red does a ton of things for Saskatchewan," says Bill Hutchinson, the chair of the Royal Red Host Committee. "First of all, we shouldn't forget the economic contribution. It contributes roughly $10 million to the provincial economy each year. If we are successful in securing another five-year contract, that is another $50 million or so into the local and district economy. So it is tremendously powerful from that perspective. But it does a lot more.
"One of the things that I am happiest about is that it puts Saskatchewan, in general, and Regina, in particular, on the world map. This truly is an international-calibre competition; the finest of its kind in the country and it is one of the top handfuls of Arabian horse shows on this continent. The best horses in the world compete here each and every year."
Hutchinson says the vast majority of Americans who exhibit and who come to ride and to do the horse-training and -handling are new visitors to the province who might not come here otherwise.
"It is also a great source of pride for the equine industry in Regina and all over southern Saskatchewan. Every year we have Saskatchewan owners showing and riding their own horses. In fact, a couple of years ago, there was a real Cinderella story... absolutely marvellous. A youngster from Maple Creek in the Junior Amateur Owner-To-Ride Class, who competed with her own horse that she bought, trained and rode in the show, won a National Championship against competition from all over North America. It was fabulous! What a great story!"
During the show, the barns take on the flamboyant colours of stables from around North America. Banners unfurl, benches and plants are artfully displayed in a symphony of landscape productions intended to celebrate the oldest known breed of riding horse.
The people who own such noble animals take great pride in their relationships with them. They will spare no expense. Inside the barns and outside, sod is brought in; lumber is purchased to build walls and partitions; furniture is rented; light fixtures are installed, and soon, a horse- and people-friendly indoor environment emerges. People set up luxury dining rooms, living rooms with television sets, playpens for children. Within metres, a rider puts bandages on the feet of his horse; another adjusts her breeches and boots, while yet another climbs on her mount and heads to the ring.
"Royal Red City" is not only an amazing display of grace and elegance: it is a temporary settlement with distinct rules of behaviours. The golf cart becomes the vehicle-of-choice to shuttle among barns, show rings and RVs.
"Royal Red City" comes with various amenities. Vendors of straw, hay and wood shavings are conveniently located on site. A sheltered sitting area is established and daily newspaper dispensing boxes are brought in to occupy the more leisurely moments of these honoured guests on the grounds.
"It is real joy for us local folks to walk around the grounds and ask these passionate horse people what they think of Regina," says Hutchinson "Why do they like coming back here? Their answers are: "people are extremely friendly everywhere"... "we go to a restaurant and people are very polite"... "when the show is hosted in other cities, sometimes nobody watches us in the ring. Here they cheer for us".
No wonder they keep coming back.
For more information, contact:
Greg Haase
Director, Livestock Development Branch
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-5190
Bill Hutchinson
Chair, Royal Red Host Committee
(306) 584-1739
Comments