By Chris Gould / CWHBA
Photography: CWHBA
The recent passing (February 24) of former National Chair Charmaine Bergman elicited widespread requests for some form of formal recognition of her long service to the Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association.
The Board was quick to acknowledge her significant contribution by announcing that the Young Breeders Fund will henceforth be called the Charmaine Bergman Young Breeders Fund.
Charmaine's work with the CWHBA spanned more than 20 years and included her roles as Saskatchewan Chapter President, National Secretary and Treasurer, Senior National Inspector and, of course, National Chair. She became an International Young Breeders Championship Judge for the 2017 Championships hosted by the CWHBA at Spruce Meadows in Calgary and she accompanied the Canadian Young Breeders Team to Austria for the 2019 event.
Charmaine’s passion in life was definitely horses, horses, horses. Her first horse was acquired in Victoria, BC, where she grew up. She even managed to wrangle a pony for her younger brother Kirk. From then on there was no turning back, and she chased her dreams with enthusiasm. Volunteering, running events, shows and clinics...
A charismatic 4H leader
Away from horses Charmaine had a career in radio broadcasting that took her from the west coast to northern Canada and finally to Saskatchewan, where she met her husband, John, and they settled down to farm. In John's words “One horse quickly became five and Apex Farm was born. Along with horses, Charmaine became a 4H Leader, helping many youngsters learn about the equine world. Many weekends the yard would be full of parents and kids, enjoying the horses and other animals on the farm. Two ponies were a special attraction and people driving by would stop, and Char would cheerfully saddle them up and take kids for rides. The smiles from the kids were payment enough for her.”.. To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
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