Quarter horse show biggest in years

They came from as far away as Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Minnesota, and Ontario—and they looked great.
That shouldn’t be surprising since the Borderland Quarter Horse Association is dedicated to showing, breeding, and promoting one of the most magnificent horses in the world—the quarter horse.
Slightly smaller in stature than thoroughbreds, quarter horses still have the fine, chiseled lines of their cousins, but have more powerful, compact muscles, which are well-defined in the best of the breed.
And the 54 taking part in the BQHA’s show in Emo on Friday through Sunday were some of the best.
Prized for their speed and strength, quarter horses comprise almost all of the horses on the rodeo circuit, where their agility, intelligence, and steadiness make them ideal mounts for everything from barrel racing to steer wrestling.
But last weekend, it was all about show and not go.
Barb Roulston of Kenora was there with her daughter, Kristen, and their eight-year-old gelding, Jae Brownburn. Roulston said her horse spends most of the time training to stand correctly, respond to the halter and rider, and staying out of trouble.
“He spends most of the time in his stall or learning his routines,” noted Roulston. “The only time he gets to run around is in the winter. That’s his vacation time.”
Since so much is invested in these horses and their appearance, they cannot be allowed to run free, where they may be injured or cut. That’s also why there only mares and geldings were at the Emo show.
“Stallions tend to get into trouble,” Roulston noted.
The result is an animal that is extremely people-friendly and predictable.
Although there’s a great deal of time and money invested in showing horses, Roulston said it is well worth the effort.
“We’ve had Jae Brownburn since last April [2002],” Roulston said. “Just in the 20 shows we’ve done since then, we’ve probably increased his value by $10,000.”
That value may have jumped again since Jae Brownburn was awarded grand champion in the open halter class at the BQHA’s show, which was sanctioned by the American Quarter Horse Association.
But members of the BQHA also did well over the three days. Alana Wieringa, showing Bell Popper, was Grand Champion Youth Mare under all three judges.
Kayla Caul, riding MCR Cat Zkan, placed first in Youth 14-18 Western Pleasure on Sunday, Michelle Beck (Dancing Lady) placed first in Senior Trail on Friday and Saturday, and Kali Wieringa (Tylers Barbie Doll) placed first in Youth 13-and-Under Western Pleasure on Friday.
High point awards for the weekend were based on a cumulative total of all points for the three days, earned in halter, showmanship, hunt seat, western performance, and trail.
In addition, grand champions were determined in the four halter classes.
The show also featured a beef barbecue on Saturday evening hosted by Tru-Line Construction of Emo.
Here is a list of the winners:
•Open Halter (AQHA Geldings)—1. Kristen Roulston of Kenora (Jae Brownburn) 2. Rosanne Read of Thunder Bay (Slippin Zippen) 3. Jessie J. Godin of Murillo (Freddie Mercury)
•Open Halter (AQHA Mares)—1. Donald MacKenzie of Dugald, Man. (Kasea Tardee) 2. Alana Wieringa of Emo (Bell Popper) 3. Debra Seppelt of Minnesota (Baron Deeann)
•Open Junior Horse—1. Scott MacKenzie of Dugald, Man. (LJ Rosebud) 2. Kayla Caul of Devlin (MCR Cat Zkan) 3. Debra Seppelt of Minnesota (Baron Deeann)
•Open Senior Horse—1. Rosanne Read of Thunder Bay (Slippin Zippen) 2. Leanne Beck of Devlin (Hot Red Rodder) 3. Kristen Roulston of Kenora (Jae Brownburn)
•Novice Youth—1. Michelle Young of Sioux Lookout (Coosa De Ville) 2. Katherine Adams of Thunder Bay (Made It To The Dance) 3. Angela Bone of Thunder Bay (MM Conclusives Kassie)
•Novice Amateur—1. Kerri Aniol of Red Lake (Check Stop) 2. Heather Pryde of Emo (Shes A Lil Sharp) 3. Karen Obie of Dryden (Seekin the Win)
•Amateur—1. Rosanne Read of Thunder Bay (Slippin Zippen) 2. Kristen Roulston of Kenora (Jae Brownburn) 3. Kerri Aniol of Red Lake (Check Stop)
•Youth 13 and Under—1. Amanda Wittak of Roseau, Mn. (BMQ Windsong) 2. Kali Wieringa of Emo (Tylers Barbie Doll)
•Youth 14-18—1. Leanne Beck of Devlin (Hot Red Rodder) 2. Kayla Caul of Devlin (MCR Cat Zkan) 3. Jessie Godin of Murillo (Freddie Mercury)
•Yearling Lunge Line Futurity—1. Kathy Johnston of Thunder Bay (KWL Forever Cool) 2. Kathy Johnston of Thunder Bay (Dondies Sun Bar) 3. Kayla Caul of Devlin (Ima Cool Playmate) 4. Heather Pryde of Emo (DC Country Gal).