It’s all grit, no quit as the Region One Championship continues in Langley, British Columbia, eh?

AQHA Professional Horseman Mario Boisjoli of Gig Harbor, Washington, watches the reining warm-ups as part of his duties as an AQHA steward.

By Randee Fox

I took the scenic back roads from my hotel to the show park today accompanied by B.C.’s breathtaking coastal range and scenic farms. It was a clear and perfect day in the low 80s with a light breeze. The spectators wore hats and were gathered under trees as they cheered on the contestants, much different from Thursday’s low 60s. The mood was festive and friendly.

An official-looking fellow was watching the reining warm-up ring in a blue AQHA shirt. It was Mario Boisjoli, an AQHA Professional Horseman and steward from Gig Harbor, Washington.

Stewards go to shows to emphasize the welfare of the horses in the warm-up ring and randomly check the stabling area. He had with him a list of rules what riders cannot do, such as excessive turning or fencing, excessive spurring or jerking on the reins. I asked him how detailed he can get.

“When does a ditch become a canal? Mainly we are trying to create a cultural shift, increasing awareness and education by having a presence for our exhibitors. In truth, though, it’s caused me to look at a horse show from a different perspective than an exhibitor or a judge,” Mario says. “I end up going to shows and seeing families with a bunch of well-cared for horses enjoying themselves. The positives far outweigh the negatives.”

The all-breed hunter under saddle 4-H class included 22 contestants. The collaboration between Canada Quarter Horse Association and BC’s seven 4-H clubs was a brainchild partnership seeded intentionally by Haidee Landry, CQHA vice president and coordinator of the Region One Championship.

“We wanted to bring more youth to AQHA and to bring more energy to 4-H,” Haidee says. “This endeavor started a few years ago with the B.C.’s CQHA Professional Horsemen giving of their time to the B.C. 4-H clubs. This mentoring alliance has not only brought more youth to AQHA but as well, given the 4-H clubs a big mentoring boost.”

CQHA president Marnie Somers was thrilled to witness this event. Seven British Columbia 4-H clubs competed with 52 contestants and 42 horses. This was their first large show of this caliber.

“We are watching future AQHA contestants right here in the making, eh?” she says.

Okay, in my many conversations today I learned that some Canadians really do say the word “eh?” at the end of their sentences and others say it two or three times in one sentence yet others don’t say it at all. It’s pretty endearing and every time I heard it I nodded in agreement. “Eh?” Yep, I nodded, which seemed like a good thing to do as an interviewer. And it not only reminded me that I truly was in Canada but as well of the five years I lived in Texas when I would find myself smiling and counting the “y’all’s.”

The turnout of reiners was the best that CQHA has seen at a show. Normally there are only two or three. But Friday, they came out hoping to win a prestigious Regional Championship buckle. AQHA and NRHA offered 18 classes with a ton of contestants.

Pat Senger, a 70-year-old Canadian cowgirl, is a self-trained horsewoman who has team-roped for years. Lean, fit and agile, I watched her win reserve in the AQHA Select class, and she didn’t look a day over 40. She has been reining for 10 years. When I went to ask her a question before her run she said with a grin and a twinkle in her eye, “Not now, I’m memorizing my reining pattern.”

After her run, we chatted.

“When I was 19, I paid $75 for a ‘working and riding’ horse,” she says. “That mare bucked me off every day for months, eh? I’m a western rider but I have done some dressage and the detail and refinement really helped my riding.”

The winner of that class was Mary Ann Suzick of Washington. She’s 61 and proud of her age. What really inspired me about both Pat and Mary Ann was their “all grit, no quit” attitude.

I sat and talked to Ben Sawchuck, Gaylene Sawchuck’s father. Gaylene scored high in several reining classes and won novice amateur on Peppys Lil Dunnit.

“I’ve been a groom for 15 years,” Ben says. “My daughter competed at 13 years old in 1978 at Canada’s Quarterama with teams from every province in Canada. B.C. came in second. In those days, a horse and rider did everything from barrels to trail to pleasure to equitation, eh?. I love the Quarter Horse. There isn’t a horse that has a better temperament, versatility and agility. The horses really helped my daughter and grandson with life skills. Riding has given them a great attitude. It’s therapeutic, eh?”

The Friday social included freshly caught salmon, barbecued by AQHA Executive Vice President Don Treadway. Also served was turkey from a turkey farm up the road. This time, I made sure I got some.

It was sure a great day, eh?

To see photos from the Region One Championship, watch the slide show below. Click on the photos to see the captions.

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