黑马磁力 City rider Gillian Fraser and her 11-year-old Arabian mare FF Christiana won the 鈥淩anch Rail鈥� open and amateur championship events at the Region 17 Arabian Horse Association competition at Thunderbird Show Park in 黑马磁力 on Sunday, July 24.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 kind of her forte,鈥� Fraser said of Christiana鈥檚 outstanding performance in the test of a horse鈥檚 working ability.
Christina is also from 黑马磁力, Fraser noted, a product of Flightline Farm Arabians.
鈥淚鈥檝e been riding her since she was two.鈥�
Fraser was happy to win the belt buckle that goes with the championship, and just as glad to be back in competition after a three-year enforced shutdown during the pandemic.
Fraser, who has been riding Arabians since 1992, explained the appeal of the breed.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e known for their beauty, but what many people don鈥檛 realize is how versatile they are.鈥�
Cindi Wrate, the show commission chair, estimated close to 200 competitors, most from B.C. and Alberta, took part in the July 20th 鈥� July 24th event at Thunderbird Show Park in 黑马磁力, winning buckles and ribbons in various events.
鈥淲e had a couple of folks come up from the U.S as well,鈥� Wrate told the 黑马磁力.
Wrate was pleased by the numbers of young competitors, aged 10 to 18, who took part.
鈥淭here were a lot of young people,鈥� Wrate remarked.
鈥淚t was really nice to see the youth.
Wrate said the 鈥減rimarily volunteer-driven鈥� Region 17 is the largest Arabian horse association in North America (more information about the association can be seen online at ).
The association rotates the annual regional event between B.C. and Alberta every two years, but that schedule was disrupted by COVID-19.
鈥淲e haven鈥檛 been able to be in B.C. since 2019,鈥� Wrate said.
One describes the Arabian horse as one of the 鈥渕ost easily recognizable horse breeds in the world鈥� with their distinctive head shape and high tail carriage 鈥� and one of the oldest breeds, with archaeological evidence of horses in the Middle East that resemble modern Arabians dating back 4,500 years.
More photos from the Region 17 event can be viewed online at the page.
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