Linda Banga of Canora and her seven-year-old mare Banga’s Keeva were victorious in the first Clydesdale Breeders Cup competition at the Grain Millers Harvest Showdown in Yorkton on November 2.
The prize money for the win was $1,000 for the owner and $500 for the breeder. Since Banga does both, she took home $1,500. But she said it was much more than just a payday.
“It was an incredible feeling to win. I have been working on my mares since April, the start of the show season. I had two mares qualify for the Breeders Cup so it was not easy, requiring a lot of time juggling between harvest on the farm and my teaching job at Parkland College in Yorkton.
“I think the biggest reward was having all of my fellow competitors give me a big hug and congratulations on a mare well brought out. I respect my fellow Clydesdale breeders and I appreciated their words.”
Banga had two mares qualify for the Yorkton competition who happen to be half sisters out of the same dam. The mare that won, Banga’s Keeva, is seven years old.
Because she had two entries in the competition, Banga asked Jared Martin, an accomplished showman from Brunthill Clydesdales of Ituna, to show Keeva. Banga said Martin brought out the best in Keeva and guided her to the victory.
“Keeva has a winning record. Her showing career has seen her win senior champion mare at Calgary Stampede, supreme horse at the Provincial Clydesdale Show in Prince Albert, best Canadian mare, best bred Saskatchewan horse and now the Breeders Cup Challenge win.”
Four qualifying events for the Breeders Cup were held over the summer in Swift Current, North Battleford, Nipawin and Austin, Man., attracting approximately 40 Clydesdale entries. Only the top two placings from each qualifier were eligible to compete in Yorkton, creating a true ‘best on best’ event.
Banga said this was a great event for the Yorkton area because it gave people the opportunity to see the top Saskatchewan-bred Clydesdales under the same roof.
She said an important factor in Keeva’s success was condition.
“That means she was well fed, with the right balance of muscle and fat. The only way to get a well-conditioned horse is with high quality feed and physical work. According to Judge Calvin Martin, in terms of his final selection, he said the mare moved well, with good feet, and nice hocks. In terms of a draft horse he said feet and legs are critical. The saying is ‘no feet, no horse.’”
In addition to being a gratifying accomplishment for Banga, she said the victory is an important affirmation that her breeding program is on the right track.
“I am always trying to make improvements to the program, while still keeping crucial qualities like great feet. I respect my fellow competitors and when I take a horse to a horse show it gives me a chance to compare my horse to another and I always go home and make changes so that I can bring out the best horse possible.”
Banga has 11 Clydesdales, including two stallions. The operation is very much a family affair. Her two qualifying mares were off a mare owned by her father Mike Banga from Stockholm. She has been showing Clydesdales since she was a youngster. She said her husband Darcy Korol and their seven-year-old son Ty are very much a part of Banga’s Clydesdales.
“Darcy owns and operates a grain farm and a cow-calf operation, but also dedicates a great deal of time to the Clydes. Show horses need a unique blend of high quality feed, minerals and hay to make them competitive and when I am at work, that responsibility falls to Darcy. Even during harvest, in between servicing machines and unloading grain, he made sure the show mares were in the barn and fed and watered.”
Banga said even though Ty is only seven years old, he already has plenty of experience with Clydesdales.
“He has been around these horses since he was a baby. When he was little he would sit in his walker while I worked on the Clydes. As he got older, we would put him in a safe play area in the barn while I worked and now for the last couple of years he is right beside me grooming horses and leading them to their pens.”
This summer was the first time Ty was eligible to show. Banga said Keeva was his showmanship horse.
“He led her in competition and even drives her in a cart. He always says that his favourite thing about Keeva is ‘when she puts her head on my shoulder and gives me kisses.”
Banga said she has loved working with horses pretty much ever since she can remember.
She said every horse has a unique personality.
“I always try to figure out what makes them happy. When I know what makes them happy I can tailor their training around that. I have many horses that did not like showing so I trained them to be carriage horses or riding horses and sold them to owners where they could enjoy them. I only show the horses that absolutely love going to shows.”
Show horses require a great deal of time and effort, but Banga said she truly enjoys it. The distinctive Clydesdale white hair on their feet demands special attention.
“The only way to keep it growing silky and long is to oil it with mineral oil. I have to oil them every day during show season, while driving them to keep them in show condition. I love seeing them transform from a shaggy horse in the spring to a beautiful shiny animal with white flowing hair in the show season.”
As much as she enjoys the horses, Banga is grateful for the friends she’s made across Canada and the United States as a result of being a Clydesdale breeder.
The Saskatchewan Clydesdale Association organized the Breeders Cup competition, with Carpet One of Yorkton as the major sponsor. Carpet One is owned by Dale Williams, whose grandfather used to own Clydesdales.
