By Chris Gould / CWHBA
Photography: Courtesy Canadian Warmblood

With Covid restrictions lifted in Canada during 2023, many studbook activities returned to normal. However, CWHBA decided to extend, for one more year, the experiment using a video format.

It had several advantages. First the same judging panel with international experience could be used to give consistent adjudication.
Second there was more fexibility regarding location and scheduling of the inspections. In a country as large as Canada this is a very important consideration. To ensure a fair and consistent evaluation a senior inspector was present at each site and the videos – which were not edited – were taken following a set protocol.
In 2023, using this video format, seven stallions were evaluated from Alberta and British Columbia, with six being licensed and one asked to re-present in 2024. The inspection panel consisted of Hakan Wahlman (Finland), Chris Gould, Janine Olsen, Jennette Coote from Canada, and the onsite inspectors Marilyn Powell (BC) and Cathy Chalack (AB). Chair Janice Tyndall provided oversight, and Victoria Kendall acted as secretary
The quality of stallions presented was impressive, with jumping bloodlines being predominant. Alongside the imported stallions were two home-bred Canadian Warmbloods: a positive endorsement of the viability of the Canadian breeding program. Interestingly all seven stallions were bays.
Champion stallion was Messi AO (Zambesi - Gilona AO) imported and owned by Brittany McCully. At five this Heartbreaker grandson has already made an impression in the jumper ring at Spruce Meadows, and is clearly an athletic horse with valuable genetics to contribute to the Canadian Warmblood gene pool... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
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