Christine Baker Worked to Put Canadian Sport Ponies on the Map
Courtesy of Tracy Hanes
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Christine Baker
Christine Baker of Ottawa, ON, is a small woman who didn’t feel comfortable handling large horses, so she turned to ponies. “I wanted a pony with equivalent movement, type and quality to a warmblood,” she said. That inspired her to start Branley Ash Sportponies, a breeding operation that utilizes top German Riding Pony (GRP) bloodlines to produce Canadian Sport Ponies (CSP).
Though Branley Ash has been in business for just a few years, it scored some impressive achievements in 2019. Branley Ash’s Deja D’Or, an imported five-year-old Westphalian stallion that is CSP licensed, was US 2019 National Dressage Pony Cup (NDPC) First Level Champion at the NDPC and Small Horse Championship Show, held July 19-21 in Wayne, IL. They also won the 5yo Futurity and were named overall year-end NDPC First Level Open Champion in the United States, which represented a first for a Canadian-owned pony with a Canadian rider – Emmanuelle Lord of Pakenham, ON.
Additionally, the first pony of GRP lines that Christine bred, Canadian-born Branley Ash Dynasty (Dimension AT/Dornik B/Dressman I), became the first CSP stallion to be licensed by Europe’s Westphalian registry in 2019. The 2017 red dun colt had a very successful year showing on the line and will begin his career under saddle in 2020 with Nicki Van Wyck of Prescott, ON.
“I’m really excited to be able to bring home the quality of pony that we see in Europe and be able to produce them here,” said Baker. “For Deja D’Or to be NDPC First Level Champion and Five-Year-Old Futurity Champion at the Annual show was such a thrill! He had not competed at First level before, so for those two scores alone to make him NDPC Year End Open First Level Champion in the USA is incredible.”
Christine continued, “Branley Ash Dynasty is one I hold dear to my heart – he is the first CSP I bred, and was imported in-utero from Germany, but born right here at home in Ashton, ON. For him to have grown up to be the quality I am looking for in a stallion is amazing and far exceeded my expectations for myself as a new pony breeder. The Westphalian association had nothing but great things to say about him and what they foresee he will bring to the future of Sport Pony breeding in North America, both for the hunter breeders as well as dressage. He is owned jointly with my friend and rider, Nicki, and I know they will be a force to be reckoned with in the show ring in the very near future.”
Sharon Forbes-Hanks Earned the American Quarter Horse Association Select All-Around Amateur Title
Photo Credit: Shane Rux
Sharon Forbes-Hanks of Pilot Mound, MB, became not only the first Canadian, but the first international exhibitor in history to win the All-Around title at the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Select Amateur World Championship Show presented by Adequan®.
The distinction placed Sharon at the top of the world’s largest, single-breed world championship horse show, open exclusively to amateur exhibitors age 50 and over. From Aug. 27 to 31 in Fort Worth, TX, she strut her stuff with her 10-year-old Canadian-bred American Quarter Horse mare, Hot Little Asset (Protect Your Assets x Hot Pretense). A Reserve World Championship in Showmanship, third in Horsemanship and Hunt Seat Equitation, fourth in Performance Halter Mares and ninth in Western Riding culminated in 50 points to secure the AQHA Select All-Around Amateur Title.
“It was a great honour for me to be the first Canadian and international exhibitor to win this award,” said Sharon. “The competition at the AQHA Select World Championship Show is very intense, with so many talented horses and riders. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been given the opportunity. I have amazing support from my husband, Glen Hanks, and my trainers, John and Jill Briggs.”
Sharon added, “The significance of winning the award with a Canadian-bred horse is that she is only the second one to win any All-Around award at a World Championship show. The vast majority of AQHA horses are bred in the USA, and with the challenges of our climate and a limited number of trainers, most Canadian horses do not have the opportunity to compete at the highest levels. It is extra special for our family, since my parents owned Hot Lil Asset’s dam and grand dam!”
Catriona Kozijn Brought Home an American Morgan Horse Association Gold Medal
Photo Credit: Howard Schatzberg
The highest equitation honours for juniors competing on a Morgan are the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) Gold Medals, which are decided through a final competition at the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show in Oklahoma City, OK.
On Oct. 12, Catriona Kozijn, 19, of Leduc County, AB, became the first Canadian to win any of the six medal titles (Saddle Seat, Hunt Seat on the Flat, Western Seat, Dressage Seat, Hunter Seat Over Fences, Reining Seat) since their inception in the 1970s. She captured the coveted Western Seat Gold Medal aboard Boxford Twist and Shout (Futurity’s Noble Twist x Nemours Gay Lady), her 15-year-old Morgan gelding who won EC’s title for Morgan Horse of the Year in 2018. After a rare tie in the Western Seat Finals led to a run-off, Catriona and Boxford Twist and Shout were unanimously declared victorious.
“Initially, when they first called my number as the winner, I was overwhelmed with joy, amazement and pride for what my partner, ‘Twister’, and I accomplished,” commented Catriona. “I am filled with joy and honour to get a chance to compete on the big stage representing Canada and EC in front of and against some of top horses and equestrians in the Morgan world. On a personal level, winning this medal means the world to me. In terms of representing my country, I knew I could use this win to help inspire others and promote the Morgan – and horses in general – in my community and even across the nation.”
Sam Walker Became the Proud Owner of the Washington International Horse Show Equitation Classic Trophy
Photo Credit: Shawn McMillen Photography
If you’ve lost Sam Walker, it’s a pretty safe bet that you can find him in the winner’s circle!
On Oct. 26, the 17-year-old phenom from Nobleton, ON, made sure that everyone knows he’s one to watch by becoming the first Canadian to win the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) Equitation Final, sponsored by the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund. Riding the 12-year-old warmblood gelding, Waldo, owned by Missy Clark and North Run, Sam showed off his consistency over three challenging phases: a hunter phase, jumper phase and final work-off. A total score of 278 proved untouchable, and he became the first Canadian to wrap his hands around the WISH Equitation Classic Trophy, donated by Mr. and Mrs. G. Ralph Ours, III.
Sam adds this trophy to a collection of big eq wins, having become just the fourth Canadian to claim the prestigious ASPCA Maclay National Championship in 2018, then winning the CET Medal Final just a few days later. He was also the 2017 Jump Canada Medal National Champion in 2017 and Reserve Champion in 2018.
Congrats to all four equestrian trailblazers for their impressive achievements in 2019!