Ferrier, Sean Elliott, humorously defines blacksmiths who compete like this: “People pay us to shoe their horses all week long and then, on the competition weekends, we pay someone to let us shoe their horses and then we ask one of our peers if we did a good job.”

This year will see the first of such competitions at the Orangeville fairgrounds as part of the Destination Equitation series of events that is happening all next week. In year of firsts as far as this week of events is planned, Destination Equitation invites anyone and everyone to learn about the richness of just how “horsey” this region is. Organizer Michelle Harris told me that they had spread the wealth of experiences over the eight days “because there is just too much to cover in one weekend.”

Horse breeds of every kind and many approaches to equine sports are supported by a huge number of people in this area. Not all of them will be able to show their stables, give demonstrations or advertise their contribution to the overall society, but they are still there.

What the public can know is what individual stables can show.

There are two weekends and the week in between to this event. This Saturday and Sunday will include a parade in Orangeville of some of the local horse breeders, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, along Broadway. How many times recently have horses paraded on Broadway?

Following this auspicious beginning, there is a series of delightful opportunities to visit and experience the equine world in this very neighbourhood. On Saturday, there are competitions at the Fairgrounds and a Trillium Championships at the Caledon Equestrian Centre in Palgrave. Additionally, private stables, normally not open to the public, invite visitors to their premises all around the neighbourhood.

The Fairgrounds will be a hive of demonstrations and workshops about horses. On Sunday there are additional events – and the forging competition.

The organizers approached Sean Elliott, who was vice-chair of the Calgary Stampede for five years and has organized numerous international forging competitions.

The winnings comprise both cash and Montana gold and silver belt buckles. There are three basic levels: novice or junior; intermediate (working ferries who like to compete as well), and the open competition consisting of those who are “serious about competing hard core,” as Mr. Elliott explained it.

There is a list of competition details of the classes for each level, which mentions the Eagle Eye, Speed Forging, Forging Class “A” and “B”. Each level has separate details for every class. Obviously, entrance fees apply but all fees go back into prize money.

Mr. Elliott runs a tight ship.

Judging the competition is always a ferrier peer. In this case, it is Dave Ferguson, CJF. TE., from Maryland, a man of 25 years experience, who is past president of the American Ferriers Association.

During the course of the week, there are several happenings at stables throughout the area. On Wednesday, September 15, the beautiful Deerfield Farms, on Duffy’s Lane in Caledon, is hosting a day of the “Art of the Horse” with demonstrations and a workshop about drawing and photographing horses.

Thursday and Friday offer forums on the future of the equine world in Ontario and other matters on the matters of caring for horses.

Finally, on Saturday,

September 18, the whole equine world opens up seeks mayoralty again with the Autumn Classic at the Caledon Equestrian park, a Canadian horse show and BBQ put on by Running Fox Equestrian Products at the Fairgrounds. This day there is, as well, a public circuit tour of public stables where one might learn to ride or board a horse.

It is a fantastic chance to visit and see the splendid world of your equine neighbours. Horses are beautiful, kind, interesting and not everyone has the chance to be involved with them. This is the chance to at least visit them close at

hand.

For more information, mayoralty in Amaranth visit www.horseinthehills. ca

To enter the forging competition, call Sean Elliott at 519-826-1122 or 1800-332-9744.

Mr. Elliott assures us that within a few years, it will be an international

competition and then “World Class.” Amaranth