4/ FEBRUARY 2026 THE RIDER HON. COL. A.W. FINN CD: Founder


BARRY FINN: barry@therider.com Publisher/ Editor/Advertising Manager


GLENDA FORDHAM: fordhampr@rogers.com Entertainment Columnist


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P.O. Box 378, Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 (905) 387-1900 • Email: barry@therider.com Web: www.therider.com • www.theridermarketplace.com • www.barnmice.com


From Our Founder


Remembering January 1972


The Ontario Quarter Horse


Association’s Quarterama chair reported that everything was going well for a very exciting show on March 4-5th. Count Alex Von Svoboda announced that all main committee chair positions had been filled. Reg Bullock,Stallion Avenue, Queen Contest Barb Coverdale and Sue Nye, Commercial Exhibits Doug Rapson, Clinics Bob Sharpe, Horse Sale George Coverdale, Bill Hawkins Enter- tainment and Walter Scott show committee, Aidan Finn, Adver- tising and Promotions. Banquets were the order of


the month..... OQHA on January 29th. at the Holiday Inn at Hes- peler. WHAO annual awards dinner on January 8th. at Binge- man Park Lodge. The Ontario Appaloosa also held their annual election and awards banquet in January.


Peggy Anne Silverthorne,


age 11 years was killed along with her pony were struck by a car on Concession 2 in Niagara- On-The-Lake. Police reported that the pony apparently turned into the path of the car. No In- quest was held.


10,000 lbs. of horse meat


was seized and three men ar- rested in a series of raids in On- tario and Quebec. Police said the operators of the ring were not adhering to Montreal’s horse meat law. They were selling the meat as beef.


The American Horse Show


Association announced the sus- pension of five trainers for a three month period after tests showed their horses had re- ceived drugs before entering the show ring. This is a matter of concern to all horse show asso- ciations and show managers as well as breed associations in Canada and USA. In Canada spot tests were routinely carried


out on jumping horses by the Canadian Team.


Nome, Alaska was one of


the north’s last one horse towns. Tessy, a 5 year old Shetland Pony, was the town’s pet. But no one wanted to own her as the cost of hay was $150.00 a ton and had to be flown in. Tessy learned to look after herself by eating from the towns garbage cans. Rev. Paul Bills became her keeper after residents com- plained to city council.The rev- erend arranged to have Tessy flown to Anchorage for safe keeping, as the town folks had killed the last surviving horse in town and feed it to a dog team that was on display for tourists.


The 1971 US National


Championships for Arabian and Half Arabian horses was held in Oklahoma City. In all 621 state and provincial champions vied for these prestigious champi- onships. The National Cham- pion Arabian Mare was won by Serenity Sonbolah, owned by Serenity Farms in Queensville, Ont. Placing in the top 10 Half Arabian Gelding Class was Pinoak’s Starzam and placing 5th in the western pleasure class. Owned by Warren and Sylvia Whitley of Belleville, Ont. The Grand Champion Futurity Ara- bian Stallion was won by Dalul, owned by Dr. and Mrs. Coles of London Ont.


Agreement has been


reached by The Ontario Quarter Horse Association and the Man- itoba Quarter Horse Association whereby Manitoba assumes ju- risdiction over Ontario from Thunder bay to the Manitoba border.


Larry Hill, president of the


Ontario Appaloosa Horse Asso- ciation formally thanked The Rider in a Letter to the Editor for the coverage and cooperation given for their 10 Anniversary.


I’m a Smarty Too by Hired


Hank and out of Honest Smarty in her first year of showing and in only 11 shows earned an R.O.M. in western pleasure. Hired Hank was owned by the Coverdales of Burlington and the mare by Susan Walker of Burlington.


error, that portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item(s), together with reasonable allowance for signature will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or service at a wrong price, goods or services need not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell. The


THE RIDER IS THE OFFICIAL VOICE OF:


• Eastern Ontario Quarter Horse Association • Ontario Cutting Horse Association • Ontario Quarter Horse Association • Ontario Reined Cow Horse Association


A course to train officials


began at the Humber College. The course, the first of its kind in Canada and was designed to prepare racetrack employees to become racing secretaries, judges, stewards, starters, horse identifiers and handicappers. The cost of the program was $75.00.


Benjy’s Love, a registered


AQHA 3 year old mare, re- ceived a youth Register of Merit. Roy Bonk of Mayflower Farms in Stouffville was the registered owner.


Ralph E. Goodall, Jr. of


Tarzana, California was elected Executive vice-president in the International Arabian Horse As- sociation.


The Ancaster Saddle Club


announced three winter shows. The idea for the show in winter was to help prepare horses for showing at Quarterama. Ray Foster was the chair of the win- ter show committee.


The Canadian Quarter


Horse Association reminded all that they would be holding their annual meeting in New West- minster, BC on 16 and 17 Feb- ruary 1972.


That’s how it was in our January Issue 1972!


My Turn We lost a lot of horse In-


dustry Pioneers in 2025. Not too many of us left. I write this col- umn to keep all that was in peo- ples memories. Speaking of memories, Recently I had lunch at Sunny Side Up in Dunnville sitting right beside me was none other that Butch Miller and his cousin. Talk about a small world. The Western and English


Horse Industry did not just hap- pen. We have long and varied history and The Rider has it all recorded. So if anyone wants to write a book let us know as we are the only source. We had lots of upstart horse publications all trying to set the horse world on its ears and they all fell by way- side. We are the ONLY print horse publication left in Ontario. Please keep in mind that


the Pioneers should be remem-


bered. Newspapers are here for- ever, maybe in ones and two’s but on the internet stories are here today, gone tomorrow. We still have a lot of back is-


sues of The Rider that will be in- ventoried once again, we will then offer any extras For Sale. Enough to cover packaging and postage. If you are looking for a back


issue let us know and we will watch for it. I try not to be too political


but our friends to the south have become less than friendly. The US administration is attempting to Annex Canada make it a 51st


• Ontario Reining Horse Association • Ontario Trail Riding Association • Quarter Racing Owners Of Ontario, Inc. • Western Horse Association Of Ontario


State. They want to take Green- land by force. Greenland’s aborig- inal community are the same as ours. Do you really think that we or any other self respecting coun- try want to be part of a country that have at least one or two mass Shootings a week or Special Agents,


somewhat like the


Gustapo of Germany? A political system that is at war with each other. Until the political situation improves in USSA I have no rea- son to go there. It has been a long wait but


the grocery stores are now selling grapes from Peru and South


Africa. 2026 is here and we need to


be ready for this new show sea- son..


Remember you are responsi-


ble for looking in on your elderly of sick neighbours… if you are unable to please contact the police for a wellness check.


Aidan Finn CD Founder of The Rider 1970


Honourable Kentucky Colonel Member OQHA Hall of Fame Member Can-Am


Equine Walk of Fame Obituary: Chuck Ornstein Ornstein passed away surrounded by his fam-


ily after a brief illness. He was a cowboy to the end. He was riding


his horse Shinner in October - doing spins, playing tag with his granddaughter on Missy and coaching Allysa on Willow. He will be remembered through the memories he created and the knowledge he shared with anyone who was lucky enough to cross his path. Chuck was a horseman all his life and enjoyed


many facets of the equestrian world. He and his late wife, Linda, built a beautiful home and equestrian facility in Collingwood for their 2 daughters and many quarter horses. Chuck shared his love of horses with his family, friends and boarders. He was a founding member of EXCA in On-


tario and a certified judge. He was recognized for his fairness and consistency in judging. He was an accomplished skier and instructor


at Osler Bluffs Ski Club. He also enjoyed boating and fishing on Georgian Bay. He did everything to the fullest - especially


being a friend. Let’s all be thankful for the time we got to spend with such a great cowboy- even if it was too short.


Obituary: Douglas “Doug” MacDougall


SHAWVILLE, Quebec October 17, 1954 - January 4, 2026


Dougall are saddened to an- nounce his sudden passing on January 4, 2026 at the age of 71. Son of the late Roland Mac- Dougall and the late Beulah Mac- Dougall. He is survived by his wife of 49 years Jane Duff Mac- Dougall, his daughter Jaime, son in law Kyle Richardson (the late Danny Moore), daughter Jenna, his beloved grandchildren Hud- son Moore and Ella Richardson, as well as his brother Terry Mac- Dougall (Janey) his sister Jill McBane (Charlie Taylor) and


Douglas “Doug” MacDougall Obituary The family of Doug Mac-


many nieces and nephews. ` Doug was a long time Bell Canada employee and horse trainer and enjoyed showing and


The Rider welcomes letters on any subject but reserves the right to edit them for brevity and clarity. Letters of 200 words or less are more likely to be published.


Visit Fergus on his website at: http://www.fergusthehorse.com


All letters, including those sent by E-mail, must in- clude the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number. Reach us by E-mail: barry@therider.com


held on January 10, 2026 at the Ladies Hall at the Shawville Fair- grounds. In lieu of flowers, dona- tions may be made to the Pontiac Arena Fund. Please note your ad- dress and send to pontiacarena- fund@gmail.com


Opinions expressed in this


newspaper, including those in Letters To The Editor, are those of the authors


and not necessarily those of this publication.


a straight shooter and was not shy to tell you what he thought. We never had to wonder what he was thinking. A Celebration of Life was


raising Quarter Horses. He loved volunteering at Shawville Fair and was a long-time director and volunteer for Eastern Ontario Quarter Horse Association. He was a devoted member of JJs Cof- fee Club. One thing about him he was


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