Shane and Lonnie Brown, of Virden, believe in sharing ranch traditions with anyone who is interested. Putting that in action has become an annual event at their team roping clinic where they share their passion for roping and horsemanship skills with youth. April 13 and 14 saw 24 eager participants, ranging from age five to
Virden brothers share cowhand traditions
Shane and Lonnie Brown like nothing more than teaching a greenhorn to handle a rope
Ex moves to rebuild heavy horse show
The organization says it remains committed to the iconic event
The Provincial Exhibition is beginning the process of rebuilding the heavy horse show at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair after just two hitches competed this year. A meeting held during the fair in late March saw concerns brought forward by 50 exhibitors and draft horse enthusiasts. The goal of the discussion was to come away
Cattle industry rallies around CancerCare
The sector says it’s going to do all it can to raise the ‘PROFYLE’ of the fight against childhood cancer
A recent auction at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair worked overtime — or perhaps more accurately, double time — to raise funds for children’s cancer research. In the end the event raised over $32,000 for this cause, and how that figure was raised is a testament to the charitable generosity of the sector. An Angus
PMU ranchers see cuts
The industry remains a shrinking shadow of its former self
Equine ranchers serving the hormone replacement therapy industry are seeing another round of cuts. The news came March 29, in an official statement from Pfizer Canada and affects a total of five operations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. It results in a 17 per cent reduction in production, which equals 33,000 grams of estrogen. Producers are
Where are all the heavy horses?
The RMWF’s iconic heavy horse show is in serious decline
Just 15 years ago the heavy horse show at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair was so popular that there had to be a draw to determine who would be awarded one of the 16 coveted show slots. Last year however, just eight teams participated in the show. This year there could be even fewer, disappointing
The Clegg Collection Will Live On
Perhaps one of Rollie’s favourite and most valuable pieces in the collection, is the horse-drawn First World War ambulance. It was while restoring the buggy his wife Gladys had driven shortly after they married in the 1940s that rekindled Roland Clegg’s interest in horse-drawn vehicles. He took on that project for his granddaughter in 1975.
Fun On The Milk Run
“We would get home after one of the fairs, and say we weren’t going to go the next day, and the next day would come and off we’d go to the next show. It just didn’t seem right not to go. We were devastated if we didn’t get to them all.” BERTHA BROWN Some folklorists
More Women Are Showing Draft Horses
“Competing in the show ring doesn’t build character, it reveals character.” – LINDA BANGA It takes drive for a woman to compete in the heavy horse world. Just ask Janice Rutherford, a Grosse Isle Manitoba farmer who got hooked on Percherons after marrying into agriculture and moving to the country. “I did not start showing
Harness Maker Never Been Busier
“Right now I’m paying more for the hide on the cow than they’re getting for the whole cow.” – BILL MADSEN, HARNESS MAKER Harness making is a passion for 86-year-old Bill Madsen of Decker, Manitoba. Even though this quiet, modest man lives and keeps to himself, his business is a hub of activity for many
Old-Country Tradition Versus Modern Trends
Few Belgian horses remain in the country that gave them their name – and they must earn their keep. Willie Mertens, an organic farmer in Belgium, is a ready advocate for the draft horse known worldwide for its sturdy pulling power. Mertens owns 12 Belgian horses ranging in age and colour that are used to
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
