The World Percheron Congress is coming to the Keystone Centre next summer, drawing hundreds of horses and their owners to Brandon.

“World Percheron Congress is an event which typically alternates between the U.S. and Canada,” explains event co-chair, and President of the Canadian Percheron Association, Donna Swanson.  “There have been a couple of Congresses held overseas; one in England and one if France, and I believe they will be hosting one overseas in the near future.”

“The last time the event was held in the States we applied to be able to host the next Congress and that will happen in July of 2022.”

Bringing this caliber of showcasing the majestic Percheron is quite thrilling for the hosting committee. 

“It’s exciting!  Any time that we can showcase our animals and our breed to the general public and to our neighbors, its exciting, and to compete against some of the best in the world, it’s going to be a terrific event!

 

 

The Percheron is a breed of draft horse that originated in western France.  The breed takes its name from the area in France that it hailed from, the former Perche province.  This majestic animal is usually gray or black in color.  They are well muscled, and known for their intelligence and willingness to work.

Swanson says the World Congress is a place where the horses, their trainers and breeders are showcased on a grand scale.

“They will be shown on halter. So that will be a breeding stock judged basically on confirmation; the way the animal looks, the way they’re put together.  And it will showcase the breeding of specific breeders across the country.  They are also shown in hitches; anything from a single cart up to an 8-horse hitch.”

Between 400-600 horse from across North America are expected to participate in next summer’s event at the Keystone Centre.  “Covid will probably play a role in that.  Hopefully that is long behind us come July of next year.  But we expect horses from right across Canada as well as the U.S.”

“We’re just really excited to be able to showcase horses from our own province as well as from across Canada.  The last Congress was held in Des Moines, Iowa and there were quite a few people who came to that one from Manitoba and we were well-represented.  But quite often the Congresses are held further away and the Canadians don’t get to them,” adds Swanson.

“So, it’s going to be exciting for us to be able to showcase our animals here in this province!  We’re excited to host the World Congress, for sure!”  

The Manitoba Percheron-Belgium Club is hosting the World Percheron Congress July 18-23, 2022 at the Keystone Centre in Brandon.