MARCH/APRIL 2013 THE RIDER /33 INSIDE


George Coverdale...............33 OQHA News.......................34 OQHA Trainer’s Challenge.......................35 Shannon Burwash...............36 EOQHA News....................37


AREA 3 News ....................37 QROOI News .....................38 Ajax Downs........................38 EHV-1 in Quebec ...............39 Ontario Standarbred Adoption Society ...........39


The Canadian Quarter Horse Association is an affiliate of the AQHA. Annual membership is free to current members of AQHA. To enroll on-line, visit the CQHA web site: www.cqha.ca, and choose


“Membership” section. Choose “Affiliates” to link to provincial Quarter Horse & Racing Association sites. Contact: Marnie Somers, President (204) 834-2479 or email: marnie@horsescoops.com


Ontario’s Horse Industry loses a Founding Member George Coverdale August, 23, 1932 - February 19, 2013


By: Lynda Harrison Sisson With the passing, at age 80, of George Coverdale on February 19, 1913, the Coverdale family lost a much loved family member. The Ontario Quarter Horse world lost a legend.


Already breeding Quarter Horses in 1959, when the Ontario Quarter Horse Associa- tion was formed, George Coverdale became a founding member, serving on its Board of Directors for many years and as its President in 1964, 1965 and 1966.


The first Quarter Horse stallion owned by the Coverdales was Three Kings, followed by Hired Hank, Triple Otoe, and Mighty Imprimis. Their breeding program pro- duced horses that had a tremen- dous impact on the Quarter Horse industry both in Ontario and on an international level with their progeny earning numerous awards in an exten- sive variety of disciplines. George himself was a noted showman who showed many Quarter Horses to top placings.


Barb and George Coverdale with Blair Spedler


moment for George Coverdale was when he was one of the first people to be installed into the Ontario Quarter Horse Associa- tion Hall of Fame, considering it “a great honour”.


George worked both as a farmer and as a Hoisting Engi- neer in the construction industry during his lifetime.


it seems that George also helped out a number of younger train- ers and breeders both by offer- ing his sage advice and by rec- ommending the ones he thought had talent to others.


The family has said that he was a man of the land. He loved farming and his horses and was happiest in the saddle or in the seat of a tractor. From the tributes to George the family have received


One of George’s major accomplishments was to (along with a few like minded friends) launch the great horse event, Quarterama. He served as Chairman of the Quarterama Select Horse Sale for a number of years, as well as on the Exec- utive Committee. He co-chaired the entire production in 1977. Under the steady hands of George and his colleagues, Quarterama quickly grew to be the second largest Quarter Horse show in the world and brought a huge amount of inter- national attention to an increas- ingly growing and thriving Quarter Horse industry in Ontario.


In the late 1960’s George with friends Don Nye and Doug Rapson formed Red Ribbon Sales, holding a number of suc- cessful horse sales at Hay’s Sale Barn in Oakville, Ontario. Co-founded by George, Western World All Breed Horse Show was held for several years in the mid ‘70’s, in the fall, at Exhibition Place, Toronto. Also in the mid ‘70’s, George opened up an entire new market to Ontario’s Quarter Horse Breeders by shipping Quarter Horses to Europe. His first shipment, to Germany, led to him also shipping horses to England, the rest of Europe and South America.


While quite pleased with the horses he’d bred and raised for their show ring successes, he was equally delighted with the ones who had gone to people who have enjoyed owning and riding them.


An especially proud


Jan and Risty Schmidt 2129 Queen Street, R.R. #2, Petersburg, ON, N0B 2H0 (519) 696-2564 Established 1964


schmidt@coolwaterquarterhorses.com www.coolwaterquarterhorses.com


To quote from his obituary: “He was a much loved husband, adored father, cher- ished grandfather, beloved brother,admired uncle and steadfast friend.


George is survived by his devot- ed wife of 62 years, Barbara; his children Debbie (Brian Rapson), John (Kim Boyle), and Robert


Don Nye, Roy Ionson, Bob Tweed, Mick Pettipiece and George Coverdale, 2009. Photos by The Rider


(Tiina Suit); his grandchildren Tyler (deceased ) (Trisha Rap- son), Ashley, Erik, Kara-Lis, Kaylee and Madison; his great- grandchildren Wyatt and Walk- er. He will also be terribly missed by his two sisters June and Anna, his many nieces and nephews, cousins and dear friends.


As expressions of sympa- thy, donations to the Bethel


Memorial Chapel and Cemetery would be appreciated: c/o Betty Essig Village Gates, 25 Hamil- ton St. S. Unit 2, Waterdown, Ontario L0R 2H4. Please sign the Book of Condolences at www.kitchingsteepeandlud- wig.com.


As was his desire a private interment of George’s ashes will take place and there will be a celebration of his life in the


spring when his beloved farm is green and in bloom.”


A man who lived his entire life on the farm where he was born, George Coverdale loved his family above all else and he will be sorely missed.


The Ontario Quarter Horse world has just seen the passing of one of it’s true icons.


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