Welcome to the 2020 edition of the Town of Erin’s Table of Horse and Country magazine! Contents This year’s cover photo features a team of Percherons, a true Canadian heritage icon. Erin was built on the strength of heavy horses such as these for farming and for transportation. We are pleased to still have families in our community who continue to 3 Mayor’s Welcome Message breed and show draft horses. With many working and recreational horse farms, Erin is proud 5 RyanDay Farm: A Family to be known as a horse friendly community. We are home to Legacy many different kinds of equine breeds and disciplines, including race horses, competition show jumpers, rodeo, trail horses and backyard pets. As you drive around Erin, you will pass our many 9 Focus On A Local beautiful horse farms and stables; some offering special events and camps during the summer months. 11 Equine Directory To get a closer look into our amazing equine community here in Erin, I encourage you to visit the Horse Tent at the annual Erin 12 Town of Erin Map Fall Fair. The Fair takes place on Thanksgiving weekend and brings out a large crowd each year. The Horse Tent offers three 13 2020 Equine Events full days of fun and educational activities, with something for the entire family. It includes live horse demos, displays, mini horses, health and wellness presentations, a horse heritage exhibit and 15 Spurred on by a love of much more. Barrel Racing Another wonderful equine experience in the Town of Erin is Angelstone Show Jumping Tournaments. This year they are 19 Lasting Partnerships celebrating their 10th Anniversary and during their summer show season, they host world-class competition and offer a fun spectator experience with free admission for visitors. 21 Building A Dream Thank you for visiting Erin and experiencing the charm. Sincerely, Allan Alls, Mayor, Town of Erin Mayor Alls setting up to do the 2019 Horse Horse & Country Magazine Day Erin prize draw Cover photo: Percheron Pair Photo credit: Christina Handley Publisher: Town of Erin Economic Development Office Published annually. For advertising and magazine submission, please contact: Robyn Mulder, Economic Development Officer t. 519.855.4407 ext 241 email: [email protected] | www.erin.ca Contributors: Designer: Masahiro Design Editorial, interviews, articles: Bridget Ryan Photography: Christina Handley, Bridget Ryan, Jennifer Black, Tessa Wilmott, Norm Betts, Lynn Cassels-Caldwell, Victoria Clermont, Ringside Media, Martin Lamprecht Photo credit: Bridget Ryan Horse & Country | 3 4 | Horse & Country RyanDay Farm: A FAMILY LEGACY Written by: Bridget Ryan On top of the hill, looking eastward down the valley between Hillsburgh and Erin sits RyanDay Farm. Owned by Robert and Jennifer Black, RyanDay breeds and shows Percheron horses, a versatile draft breed known for its strength and even temperament. Photo: Jennifer Black Early morning at RyanDay Farm Horse & Country | 5 Black family: four generations Reginald and Robert Black driving the Masterfeeds six horse hitch at the 1976 CNE Photo credit: Masterfeeds 1977 calendar Photo Credit: Lynn Cassels-Caldwell In 2019, RyanDay Farm foaled eight registered Percherons and is “My grandfather spent his life perfecting the (Percheron) bloodlines. expecting five foals in 2020. Their yearlings, stallions and mares He found a good cross and from them came world champions in both are sold throughout Canada, the U.S., Cuba, England and France. mares and stallions. He taught us all the little things, he taught us They also produce and distribute a premium horse vitamin- about the show ring and horses and how to be around them. My boys mineral supplement. are now learning from their grandfather and it’s a family tradition that we hope to continue.” –Ryan Black Their children, Ryan and Dayna—for whom the business is named, grew up learning about heavy horses. Robert and Ryan Robert and Jennifer embraced the Black family tradition, and have driven up to eight horses at once, and over the years have continued breeding and showing while each had full time careers shown six and four horse teams, singles and breeding classes. off the farm. In 1973, the Black’s six-horse team was hired by Shows are a big undertaking and the entire family pitches in to Masterfeeds to promote their brand at fairs and special events. help. Their grandchildren visit often and will be the fourth This work lasted through the 1970s and ‘80s. generation of Blacks to take up the reins. Robert is an accredited judge, overseeing shows in Canada, the The Blacks’ horse heritage goes back to Herbert Black, Robert’s U.S., and England. He serves as a director on the provincial breed grandfather. In the late 1800s and into the early 1900s, heavy organization and on the Royal Draft Horse committee. Ryan is horses were needed for working the land on their family farm, also a judge for draft breed shows in Canada and the U.S. which is where Pearson International Airport is now located. The Royal Winter Fair (the Royal) in Toronto remains one of their In 1969, Robert’s parents, Reginald and Helen Black moved from favourite show venues and in 2013, Robert was recognized for Brampton to a Wellington County dairy farm, where they sixty-five consecutive years of showing there (1948 to 2013). Last continued their interest in registered Percherons. Reg and Helen year, RyanDay’s MRD Valentino’s Lance, won the prestigious became known for breed development, specifically their Royal Winter Fair, 2019 Senior Stallion championship. Over the Blackhome line. The horses provided them with continued years, they have earned many ribbons, prizes and championships, learning, a break from the milking and farm work, and a place to however, they say it is the people and the love of the breed that connect with other horse people. motivates them to continue. Reginald, Ryan, Jacob and Robert Black RyanDay six-horse hitch driven by Ryan Black Photo Credit: Lynn Cassels-Caldwell Photo Credit: Lynn Cassels-Caldwell 6 | Horse & Country Showing is a huge commitment of time, energy and expense. The heavy horses require a tractor-trailer and driver, space for nine heavy horses, the wagon, harness and show gear. Many pre-show hours are spent training the teams. Preparing for the Royal (and all shows) includes: PERCHERON HORSE ■ Checking, cleaning, oiling and polishing all the show tack; The Percheron horse breed originated in the former province of Perche, in western France. The horses are often black or ■ Transporting the horses into Toronto on the preceding grey in colouring, but can also be chestnut or sorrel. A healthy Wednesday; foal weighs about 150 pounds and a mature animal weighs ■ Washing and wrapping all the horses on Thursday. It takes a 1,800 to 2,000 pounds. An average height for an adult is 18.2 ‘pit crew’ of at least four to five people another two hours to hh (hands high). That’s 73 inches or about six feet! The roll and prep their manes, groom the horses to be show- Percheron is also called a draft horse and includes other heavy ready and tack them up after the washing has taken place; horse breeds such as Belgians, Clydesdales, Canadians, Gypsy Vanners and others. Heavy horses are used for showing, ■ Showing in various classes all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday; logging, farming, sleigh and carriage rides, parades, and mounted patrol. Occasionally, these gentle giants are involved ■ Ship back home to Erin/Hillsburgh, Sunday night. in dressage and eventing competitions. RyanDay takes part in four to 10 shows every year, wrapping up their show season after the Royal in November. Then, the horses’ shoes are pulled off for the winter, and they are on vacation until spring. The owners are not. The stable work, feeding and horse- care of these gentle giants continues every day, seven days a week. Big horses, big hearts, it is a labour of love. The RyanDay family legacy continues. SIX-HORSE HITCH A six-horse hitch is made up of three horse teams: the wheel team in the back, the swing in the middle and the lead team at the front. Owners and drivers strive to put together teams that are similar in breed and colour, size, stride and head carriage (how the horse holds their head). These attributes help a team work together in unison. Robert Black and champion horse Photo Credit: Lynn Cassels-Caldwell Horse & Country | 7 8 | Horse & Country FOCUS ON A LOCAL Interview by: Bridget Ryan Photo credit: Submitted photo Joanne Milton, owner of Rustic Meadows in Erin, is a dedicated horse-woman who started her equine journey as a young girl in Northern Ontario. She moved to Toronto to study Equine Studies at Humber College and then worked in the racing industry. Joanne was a licensed Standardbred trainer. She’s also a breeder and continues to offer lessons in Joanne Milton riding reining, sidesaddle and general horsemanship. side-saddle on Vanna Joanne has shared her hands-on experience and passion for horses with the local community for over 35 years. Horse & Country | 9 Focus On A Local interview continued from Page 9. Tell us about your first pony: What disciplines or horse sports do you take part in? I got Rusty for $225 from a friend of the family at age sixteen. This price included Coaching: My mother was a teacher, so it the saddle, bridle and all the grooming tools. just seemed natural that I would want to He was a 12 to 15 year old Quarter Horse. educate and pass on my love of learning. I strive to develop ‘thinking’ students that What was the most important horse have the tools to work through problems memory for you? Why? on their own.