Wellington Co. Gypsy Horse’s mare, Sasha and her trainer and rider Kendra Taylor of Fergus were chosen recently to be part of a four breed team selected by Heartland’s Amber Marshall for the just-for-fun barrels and poles competition at the March CanAm.
That involved a day trip to London to promote the Gypsy Vanner Horse breed and the highlight was competing alongside Marshall’s team in CanAm’s Horsepower All Breed’s competition as part of the Equine Extravaganza show.
The CanAm’s western-based barrels and poles competition was a marked departure from the four year old mare’s core dressage discipline.
As a three year old, Sasha competed with Taylor in the Conestoga Canadian Dressage Riders and Owners Association (CADORA) shows and finished the season by winning the 2011 overall champion in the walk-trot test.
This year, Taylor intends to compete with Sasha in the more rigorous silver competitions of Caledon dressage. Despite her youth and the composure that comes with dressage training, when Sasha sensed the excitement in the audience and the opportunity for a head to head race with another breed, she stepped on the accelerator.
Relatively new to North America, Gypsy Vanner horses were bred by the Romany travellers of England to pull their family caravans. Can Am provided the opportunity to showcase the breed’s versatility.
Wellington Co. Gypsy Horses is south of Elora and has bred, trained and sold Gypsy Vanner horses since 2008.
