Three judges. Six trainers. Three breeders.
That was the line up for the ready to be broken nine halter broke colts at the revamped Daines Open Trainer Challenge, an event brought back to the Innisfail area last week after a one-year hiatus.
The three-day challenge was a key event at the 40th annual Ivan Daines Friends and Heroes Country Music Pick-Nic, held at the Daines Ranch from Aug. 10 to 12.
And organizing the event this year Sundre's Kade Mills, a horse trainer and clinician at Lowondow Stables, and a past two-time winner of the Daines challenge.
“This is our first year trying to start it back up. It is similar to the big show they have in Red Deer, so yes, we will be having it every year now,” said Mills. “We've changed a little bit of the layout, and made it more for the trainers to show off their skills and more to allow people to do what they do at home.
“So if someone in the area is looking for a horse trainer they can come here and see the skills of the people they are thinking about of sending their horse out and paying for training,” he said.
Mills said the colts are all about three to four-years-old and come from three Central Alberta breeders - Moon Valley Quarter Horses, Ace of Clubs Quarter Horses, and Warren Russell Performance Horses. He pointed out the competition over the three days was broken down to three one-hour sessions and one 30-minute session before the finals on Friday (Aug. 12).
“We are going to teach them to handle the pressure of being rode for the first time, and teach them control from their back, and for the finals we will have obstacles, such as a bridge, and opening a gate and a ride around the arena. They will be judged on those as well,” he said. “The winning horse will be the one who has overcome the most and has learned to understand how to connect with the trainer and future rider throughout the three days.
“This is typical of the way horses are trained at home. It is sped up a little bit. The trainers are picking and choosing the things that they need to get done for the challenge,” he added. “But it's a good preview for the people that want to see how we train.”
And for those who took in the challenge at the Daines Ranch and came away impressed with any of the colts, they had the opportunity to take one home. Mills said all the colts were up for sale from the breeders, and are typically sold at a cost of between $3,000 and $5,000.
“If you think a good horse lasts you 15 years, it is a good deal,” said Mills.
When a prized colt is brought back to its new home, chances are good there will be a new round of training to prepare for big time performance competition, like reining, cutting, or even rodeo.
“These horses all have the potential to go on in any direction,” said Mills.
For full results of last week's event at the Daines Ranch go to the ‘Daines Open Trainer Challenge' Facebook page.
Kade Mills
"The winning horse will be the one who has overcome the most and has learned to understand how to connect with the trainer and future rider throughout the three days."
