By Laurie Haughton, Chair, CQHA Media, Marketing & Communications Committee

Canada’s Quarter Horse industry has had a lot to celebrate in 2021, number one being that participation at American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and other affiliate national and regional association events began to resume with the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions. As they made their return to the show pen, Canadian Quarter Horse Association (CQHA) greeted these exhibitors by shipping out CQHA merchandise to be handed out at events across Canada. The CQHA Media Team attended many events, posting live to capture the moments and bring our community closer together. 

Many talented horsemen and women from within our Canadian industry were recognized in 2021, among them:

• André De Bellefeuille of Quebec became a National Reining Horse Association Million Dollar owner in October. 
• Alberta horsewoman Lindsey Soderberg–Geiger earned her AQHA open judging card and won her first AQHA World Championship buckle in November, with the 2021 Adequan® Level 2 World Championship in Level 2 Senior Hunter Under Saddle. 
• Jocelyn D’Entremont-McKenzie of Nova Scotia earned her Canadian open AQHA Judge’s certification. 
• Mike Rapley of Ontario became a mentor with AQHA’s Professional Horseman program.
• CQHA Director Brad Bowie’s expertise earned him the honour of announcing at the AQHA World Championship Show in Oklahoma and the National Reining Horse Association Futurity in Las Vegas.

In world class competition, Canadian-bred American Quarter Horses made their breeders proud. CQHA members and exhibitors also captured top accolades at some of the most prestigious events within the Quarter Horse world, both nationally and internationally in 2021. The photographs in this article provide just a glimpse.

Above: Ontario-bred and sired two-year-old First Cold Wave (purple) held off American-bred filly Eye Live for Candy in the 21st annual run of the Alex Picov Futurity Memorial to win $115,290 CAD. At 400-yards for two-year-olds, this is the richest Quarter Horse race in Canada. First Cold Wave, sired by Cold Hard Dash out of Cassies Carver, is owned and bred by Robert Bailey of Oakwood, Ontario, trained by Ajax Downs’ 2021 leading trainer Jason Pascoe, and ridden by Brian Bell. Photo: Clive Cohen/New Image Media

Above: David Ruby of Didsbury, Alberta is the owner of all three team penning horses, winning the 2021 Farnam AQHA World Championship in Level 3 Team Penning title. Rudy rode Mates Gone Wild, a 2012 gelding by Wild Haired Cat out of Martina Mate. His teammates were Remy Greer of Hemet, CA on Jitters Time, a 2009 gelding by One Time Pepto out of Jitters Brown; and James Greer also of Hemet, CA on Sheyken Them Bones, a 2009 gelding by Smooth As A Cat out of Sheyssmartlittlelena. Photo: Shane Rux Photography

Above: Ken and Sandy Kirtzinger of Hay Lakes, Alberta are the owners and breeders of the 2021 Adequan® AQHA Level 2 World Championship Bronze in Level 2 Open Two-Year-Old Geldings. The 2019 Gelding, Skored A Prophet, is sired by Canadian stallion He Shootz He Skorz, out of PJ Prophets Coolskip. He was shown by Sandy Kirtzinger who recently became a CQHA director. Photo: Shane Rux Photography

 Above: April Wooster of Luseland, Saskatchewan and Lemonmade, a 2012 gelding sired by Machine Made out of Zip N, won the 2021 bronze trophy in the Nutrena AQHA Level 1 World Championship Select Amateur Western Riding. Photo: Shane Rux Photography

The Canadian Quarter Horse Association exists to address issues of concern to Canadian owners of American Quarter Horses; to be a communications vehicle for and with Canadian AQHA members; and to promote and market Canadian-bred and/or Canadian-owned American Quarter Horses, both globally and domestically.

To learn more please visit www.cqha.ca or contact our media director Laurie Haughton, by email at  info@cqha.ca or call 613-978-6977.

Main Photo: Originally crowned the Ontario Quarter Horse Queen in 2020, due to the pandemic Miss Darcy Woods had her opportunity to represent her province and Canada as the only Canadian representative delayed until October 2021, when she traveled to Columbus, Ohio to compete in the 2021 All American Quarter Horse Congress Queen Contest. In a dream come true scenario, this young lady, who was born into the Ontario Quarter Horse Association family, won both the written test and oral interview portion of the competition and came back to Canada with the coveted Congress Queen Crown. Photo courtesy of CQHA