This weekend the Dunmore Equestrian Centre is hosting its inaugural All Breed Horse Show that will offer free weekend entertainment for all equine enthusiasts. The show kicks off Saturday morning at 8 a.m. and is free for spectators and will be held in the new indoor ranch arena.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
This weekend 28 horses are entered to compete in the Dunmore Equestrian Centre’s inaugural All Breed Horse Show that will offer free weekend entertainment for all equine enthusiasts.
The show kicks off Saturday morning at 8 a.m. and organizers say it will be structured similarly to the Medicine Hat All Breed Horse Show.
“We have classes starting at eight o’clock with halter showmanship, western pleasure, we’re doing reigning freestyle ranch classes and then we end on Sunday with the speed events – barrels, poles and keyholes races,” said Shirley Tryhorn, organizer.
Saturday there will be classes for everyone, including pee-wee short stirrup, rookie rider and novice rider walk, trot and canter as well as classes for seasoned show enthusiasts.
The free weekend event will also include a 50/50 draw and silent auction, beer gardens and food trucks.
“It’s just a great way to have people enjoy their horses and showcase their talents on their horses,” said Tryhorn.
The inaugural horse show is sanctioned by the AEF Wild Rose circuit, and participants will be able to collect points toward the circuit. However, organizers are aiming to join the Cypress circuit next year and fill a gap after the Town of Shaunavon lost its All Breed Horse Show.
“Medicine Hat, Swift Current, Eastend, Maple Creek and all those shows collect points and have a year-end award,” says Tryhorn. “So we were hoping to kind of make up for that show.”
So far 28 horses are entered into this weekend’s show, and applications are still open until midnight tonight over Facebook.
“That has our prize list that outlines all the classes that are available, as well as the patterns for different classes that they may want to compete in,” said Tryhorn.
Contestants can also join as the show is occurring this weekend but will have to pay a late registration fee.
The main show will occur inside the new Dunmore Equestrian Indoor Ranch Arena that includes bleacher seating for parents, coaches and fans, a multi-purpose area and indoor restroom.
The outdoor arena will be used for a trail course that is part of the show.
“A course where people put their horses through different obstacles and then the main show is inside the arena,” explains Tryhorn.
The new arena was also used during the Heritage Gather, which showcases Indigenous culture and western heritage and includes a pro rodeo, Indian Relay Racing and several ranch rodeo events.
This September, the Dunmore Equestrian Society is hosting an official grand opening ceremony for the new arena that will occur alongside the Little Britches Rodeo.
“We are trying to promote more events at the centre, and just to show that we’re not just roping and barrel racing. We are going to have different events like horse shows and maybe cowboy challenges,” said Tryhorn. “We’ve had a lot of interest in our ranch classes for the horse show, so we are thinking about maybe doing a ranch horse competition, just to get people to know that the arena is for all purposes, it’s for all disciplines for horseback riding.”
The society says they would not be able to put on this weekend’s horse show without the support of local community sponsors.
“We have had a huge response from businesses in the community that have sponsored our show and have stepped forward and helped to make this actually happen. It was a really good response from the community and I’m really happy with that,” adds Tryhorn.
