The Standardbred breed was well represented in the Pacific Spirit Horse Show at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver, B.C., which ran from August 29 to
September 1.
In the Battle of the Breeds Competition, a team of four Standardbreds led by 21-year-old Fraser Downs trainer Kayla Mills strutted their stuff in four disciplines of Trail Obstacles, Dressage, Jumping and Barrel Racing. Showing off the versatility of the Standardbred breed, the team faced off against other four-horse teams of Quarter Horses, Pintos, Paints and Clydesdales over the course of the four-day competition.
The team consisted of Hinds Feet Hazel and Mills, Allcanadiancobalt and Christa Byrd, Crusty Tormation and Stephanie Wilcox, and Midnight Mary and Camille Webb.
One highlight of the competition for the team took place during Monday’s barrel racing.
“On Monday the Standardbred team took a second and showed what they could do by Midnight Mary running a 19 and 17 second pattern,” said Mills, who was first introduced to riding when she was five years old and acquired her first show horse five years later. “Hinds Feet Hazel was the other one who was in barrels and she ran both times of 21 seconds. She was a couple fifths of a second off of placing fourth.”
The team place fifth overall, but showed promise considering many of the Standardbreds only began their training at the end of the racing season in April.
“We were fifth, but had a blast showing the breed off!” said Mills. “Everyone loved the standardbreds, and crowded around the stalls. We're really just proud to promote the breed and show thousands of people what they really can do after they race. Also to promote our track and what excitement it has to offer!”