Horses have been an important part of my life for a long time. My Grandfather came out from Ontario, and settled in the Cupar, Saskatchewan area. My Dad was born at Cupar, and as a young man moved to the Porcupine Plain area.
Dad was very involved with horses. He enjoyed them in many ways - whether it was for farming, dray work, or pioneer events at the Western Development Museum. He also rode at community pastures, and in later years enjoyed helping others across Canada and the U.S. show their horses.
Dad’s involvement with the Western Development museum was extensive, and like so many of his other horse related activities, it involved us kids as well. Dad and Joe Phelps were responsible for the organization of the Pioneer events put on by the WDM (and the 150 - 200 horses that were involved) in the 1950’s and 60’s.
I was raised in the Porcupine Plain area, and my involvement with horses began very early due to Dad's involvement in so many horse related activities. I started pasture riding in the fall of 1961. I rode at different pastures in Saskatchewan until 1968 when I became the manager at the PFRA pasture at Medicine Hat, Alberta. I later transferred to Hobbema, and then in 1974, I started ranching in the Winfield area. I continued riding at different pastures until the 1990’s.
In the spring of 1974, Winston Curtis and I started a Horse Pull at Liberty, Alberta. Dad had sent pulling rules from Washington, along with the suggestion that we start a pull at Liberty. In the fall of 1978 or 79, I had heard that there was going to be a Horse Pull at Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, Saskatchewan. When I contacted the man in charge, he spoke as though they were going to cancel the pull due to a lack of entries. I mentioned that there were nine teams in our area that could attend, and asked if that would be enough to ensure that the pull would continue. He enthusiastically responded that it would, and so we made the trip to Regina. Over the years, I have pulled in many places, and met a lot of interesting people.
Another area relating to horses was my involvement as a horse logger. I had a contract with Sun Pine Forest Products using horses to selectively log and clean up diseased and dying trees at Sundre, Alberta. As well as the actual logging, I've held schools teaching people about horse logging. The photo at the right was taken at one of those schools.
The photo on the left was taken on an elk hunting trip in the mountains. The trip lasted four days so we used a four horse hitch to pull a wagon with all of the necessary supplies. If you stop by sometime, I can show you more photos of this trip. It was quite an interesting time.
The photo on the right shows my daughter Kim with a team of horses on the rake. It was quite a natural fit that my family would learn about horses as well, and I’ve enjoyed spending time with them while working with the horses.
As you will have seen by now, horses have been a major part of my life. In addition to the areas mentioned above I’ve done some showing, been a 4-H and clinic instructor, coach, and done many other things involving horses. I’ve enjoyed all of it. Stop in sometime, or give me a call, and I’d be happy to visit with you in more detail about one of the most interesting animals there is.
Walter & Verna Hughes
Box 261
Preeceville, Saskatchewan, Canada
S0A 3B0
Phone: (306) 547-2799
Email:
bear.creek@xplornet.com