Percheron Congress brings best of breed to Brandon

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This article was published 20/07/2022 (1182 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Percheron breed is marching along in all its polished, braided glory, according to those keen on securing the future of the French draft horse.

The finest examples of the breed from across North America are calling the Keystone Centre home this week for the 2022 edition of the World Percheron Congress, showing off years of work in breeding, conditioning and training to each other and the public.

The event started on Monday, and mares, foals, geldings and stallions are being put through their paces all this week. Events involve showing off their versatility as a breed, from single carts, multiple horse hitches, plowing, log skids, barnyard pulling, English saddle and even barrel racing. The humans showing horses are also being put to the test in competitions for decorating, showmanship, judging and a costume class.

Delegates from Spain, France and Germany were also expected to come and take in the spectacle.

The congress was going well, even though COVID-19 restrictions added extra hurdles in planning and delivery of the show, said Ivan Strain, marketing and advertising chair for the Brandon edition of the event. Ongoing restrictions at the border meant some American teams couldn’t participate unless vaccine requirements were met. However, they did have teams from as far east as Pennsylvania, south to Oklahoma and many more from across Canada.

In previous comments, Strain said youth and children are especially important to the breed’s survival, as they will be the ones carrying on the breeding, training and showing. A majority of the teams and barns showing are families with multiple generations participating. This is important because it is getting harder to keep people interested in breeding and showing draft horses, he said, due to expenses and time invested in getting them ready for shows.

Even without a pandemic, holding an event like this is getting tougher, he said, as breed-specific shows are becoming redundant. Many horse shows across the country showcase several breeds and classes.

“My wife was watching a show last week and there were 34 hitches in it, with Clydesdales, Belgians and Percherons,” he said. “These are nice because you can go to a divided show and have something for each breed, then throw them all together. It gives more variety for the spectator. It’s not a big spectator sport to begin with, watching horses go around a ring, but for those who appreciate the draft horse, it’s exciting.”

The Percheron is a draft breed originating from France developed more than 500 years ago to pull heavy carts and wagons, as well as for agriculture pulling plows. They have become known for their strength, calm temperament and agility.

Despite COVID-19 restrictions at the border, American teams that chose to participate didn’t report many issues. Chad Zubrod of Zubrod’s Percherons in Oklahoma said there weren’t many issues and they were eager to come not just to present, but to see how other stables were breeding and training their horses.

He pointed out not many people focus on draft horses like in the past, but those who are part of this are keen on producing the best quality horses for the sake of improving them in speed, strength and performance.

Everyone spends four years trying to breed and train their best horses for the show, and no matter where it is being held, stables will travel to them.

“We really wanted to come because there are some differences in how they are bred in Canada and the United States,” Zubrod said. “Down where we are, there is a real focus on athleticism and forward motion. In Canada, they still breed them for their strength.”

The problem with being in one region and breeding for specific attributes is people get stuck in a narrow line of traits, he explained. To go to shows and travel to different regions, Zubrod gets to see how others are breeding Percherons and why. They can see how others are developing their bloodlines and hopefully, plan with fellow breeders to modify all bloodlines.

For Zubrod, his family has been breeding and showing Percherons for generations. He loves the breed because they are very athletic and versatile. They may not have the raw power of a Belgian draft, or the endurance of a Clydesdale, Zubrod said, but they can do everything very well. He added that temperamentally, they can be more emotional than other draft horses, but they are still the best heavy horse breed in his opinion.

Despite the pandemic and other issues that held up the congress, the show will go on, Zubrod said. The congress voted on Monday night to have the 2026 instalment in Minnesota.

The World Percheron Congress is held every four years on a rotating circuit across Canada and the United States.

The last instalment held in Brandon was in 2004.

The 2022 World Percheron Congress wraps up on Friday.

» kmckinley@brandonsun.com

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