CRAIG | Are you ready to hear the thunder of horses’ hooves? Did you miss seeing them at the stock show this year? Are you longing to see a horse event because you miss seeing the Great American Horse Drive go through Maybell? It is time again for the ninth annual Moffat County Horse Power Draft Horse show in Craig, Colorado, hosted at the Moffat County Fairgrounds June 4-6.
The annual draft horse show in Craig is expected to be bigger and better than ever June 4-6. | COURTESY PHOTO
This year, the draft horse show has gotten a little bigger with the addition of the North American 6 Horse Hitch Classic and Classic Cart. In 1987, Dr. John Weber of Live Oak Plantation in Ocala, Florida, presented the Classic Series idea to a number of dedicated draft horse breed representatives, as a way of promoting and marketing the draft horse, as well as increasing premiums paid to participants competing in six horse hitch classes. From that initial meeting, the Classic Series mushroomed into 60 shows that are qualifiers for points accumulation, with almost 200 six-horse hitch owners earning points towards becoming one of 12 finalists. The 2019 Classic Series World Finals purse amounted to more than $100,000. Hitches come from all over the United States to show.
Moffat County will see a few hitches from Colorado, but also some from Idaho, Utah, California, Kansas and Wyoming. The Memorial Day weekend shows are the first on the books for most of these hitches. They just finished selling horses, buying horses and having babies, and now it’s time to get on the road and go show off those beautiful animals.
To bring these draft horses to Craig, each Classic Series qualifying show must pay out a minimum of $2,500 in premiums. This has helped to pave the way for a new standard in the draft horse industry. Many top venues now pay premiums in excess of $5,000 per six-horse hitch class. What they win barely covers what they spend on travel, feed, and labor, not to mention the harnesses for each horse, and the trailers and vehicles to haul the horses, supplies and crew to the events. The hitch show world is not for the lazy; it’s early to bed and early to rise. The horses need fed and groomed, and stalls are cleaned three times a day. Harnessing and preparing for a show begins about an hour or two before the show even starts.
The three breeds that compete for the North American Six-Horse Classic series are Belgian, Percheron and Clydesdale/Shires. The North American Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series and its “Final Championship show” has grown to be the “Triple Crown” of draft horse competitions, stimulating growth and interest in all of the draft horse breeds. You can learn more about the series at [email protected].
It is our goal to promote the draft horse breeds and to exhibit them to the public, as well as bringing the six horse hitch and classic cart competitions to Craig. This qualifying show usually happens in Denver in January at the National Western Stock Show. Due to COVID, this show and the Big Thunder show in Loveland were canceled and they are needing little shows to step up so that they can get their qualifying points for this year. We took this as a great opportunity for our little community to acquire a show of this magnitude. We hope to have people from surrounding communities come to the show to watch. We are praying for good weather and to be cleared from the COVID-19 cloud.
Show times are are June 4 at 6 p.m., June 5 at 5 p.m. and June 6 at 10 a.m. Tickets are sold at the Craig Chamber and at the gate.
There are also several ways to be a sponsor. A $1,000 sponsorship would be like having your own six-horse hitch for the week. Your banner will be displayed on the back of the wagon all week, you will be invited to have dinner with the team and present the banner personally and will get to ride out on the hitch of your choice when it leaves the arena each show. If you would like to sponsor or would like more information on this event, please contact Mardi Anson at 970-629-2380.
There will be up to 10 teams of fancy six-horse hitches that come to Craig. Each team has 8-10 people with them to help. This will mean lodging, eating and shopping. These teams show up in town on June 1 with their horses and crew. Shows do not start until Friday evening, which gives the teams time to look around and explore Craig.
Let us know you are coming! Check us out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MCDrafthorse
HOPEWEST PRESS RELEASE | Special to the Herald Times
