The Wild Rose Draft Horse Association (WRDHA) is a group of Draft Horse enthusiasts who banded together in 1994 with the goal of giving all Draft Horse enthusiasts in Alberta a strong presence. The Association has been holding Draft Horse sales annually but over the past two and a half years the sale had been cancelled, but the association is proud to announce that the 27th sale will go ahead this year on May 13 and 14.
The sale will be held at the Cow Palace in Olds, Alberta, and will feature purebred Belgians, Clydesdales, Percherons, and Shires as well as Draft crosses and other breeds. The sale will also have auctions on tack and equipment such as collar caps, hames, driving bridles, harnesses, eveners, Windcharger Heritage Farm Equipment, etc.
If it is wagons and buggies you are looking for, the sale will feature delivery wagons, buggies, 2 wheeled carts, prairie schooners, wagonettes, cutters, and wagon wheels, plows, etc. The sale will also offer a supper on the first day.
Wild Rose Draft Horse Association member Bruce Roy is known all over North America and is what some call an icon in the world of Draft horses. Roy was celebrated for being the longest-serving volunteer for the Calgary Stampede where he was an announcer for the Draft horses for 60 years.
Roy says the Draft horse is making a comeback.
“The market for Draft horses is above and beyond, I know of a Percheron mare that sold for $90,000 and a Belgian gelding that sold for $137,500 in the United States. This sale will also offer online bidding because there will be breeders from across the continent,” stated Roy. “The future of the Draft horse has never looked better, who would have thought they would make such a comeback, how the world turns!”
For more information on the sale or to enter you can contact Barbara Stephenson at 403-933-5765 between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or visit www.wrdha.com.