70 Years - A Look Back...

1940 - Well known enthusiast, Cliff Latimer, purchases an Arabian Stallion, one of six in Canada. A nine-year-old, 14.3 hands, a bay stallion named Adounad out of Adouba by Hanad., bred by Pomona Ranch established and operated by W. K. Kellogg in California. This stallion was a direct descendant of Hamrah imported by Walter Davenport from Arabia in 1906 and at the time represented one of the great families of Arabian horses.

1944 - Dr. and Mrs. W.G. Newby purchase Ur Arabah, a yearling purebred Arabian filly from Dr. Gordon A. Dutt of Great Falls, Montana. Ur Arabah was light grey, and her sire is Adonis, son of Mirage and out of Curfa by Ribal. She is out of Anah, daughter of Kaaba, a Wrigely Arab, and Medinah by El Buiad. Dr. and Mrs. Newby are the second Chilliwack Valley residents to purchase a purebred Arabian. Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Latimer of Vernon bought Adounad, a Stallion from the Kellog line four years earlier. Newby’s plan to raise purebred Arabians on their farm in Sardis.

1945 - Dr. Newby imports a second Arabian filly from Travellers Rest Arabian stock farm in Franklin, Tennessee, run by J.M. Dickinson. Horadabu is by Crubathan (Famous Polish stallion) and out of Nahrawana.

Sheikh Al Jebal purebred Arabian stallion imported by Chilliwack Arabian Stud Farms Ltd. From Dr. Gordo Dutt of Great Falls, Montana. Kellog Arabian Farm bred him in Pomona, California. His grandsire was imported from Crabbet Arabians in England in 1922. His owners were H.W.A. Vines, Jerry Pringle, and R McK. Watt.

1946 - Dr. W.G. Newby speaks to members of the Southlands Riding Club in Vancouver on “The Arabian Horse.” The club has 300 memberships.

1947 - First registered Arabian foal to be bred and born in British Columbia born Saturday, May 17, 1947. Owned by Dr. and Mrs. W.G. Newby and named Sheikbera, a chestnut colt by Sheikhel-Jebal and out of Ur Arabah.

1950 - Dr. W.G. Newby elected President of the newly formed Arabian Horse Association of British Columbia. Other executive members are Mrs. K. Cullins of Vancouver, first vice president; M. Harrison of Duncan, second vice-president; M. Finlayson of Sea Island, secretarytreasurer; Miss Mollie Latimer, magazine correspondent; and Miss Kay Cullins, press representative.

1952 - Dr. W.G. Newby won third with Nuri Dab in the Native costume class at the Vancouver International Horse Show. Mrs. Frank Shier was riding. Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Latimer also showed their stallion Luriff and took several ribbons home, including the second. They also showed their famous Anglo-Arab, Morrocco.

1953 - Dr. W.G. “Tony” Newby re-elected for the third consecutive year as President of the Arabian Horse Club of Western Canada at the annual club meeting held July 4 at the home of Mrs. Margaret Tretheway of Haney. The club now has four times as many members as when it started and has expanded to include the prairie provinces as well as BC. The club was formerly BC Arabian Horse Association. Also elected: W.B. Harrison of Duncan, first vice-president; Mrs. Margaret Tretheway of Haney, second vice-president; G.A. Sinnsson of Lulu Island, secretary-treasurer; and Miss Daphne Snow of Cloverdale, director.

Dr. W.G. Newby wins a highly coveted Arabian Horse award, the only trophy of its kind to be awarded in North America. His mare Sindrah won the trophy in a class of 14 entries, all members of the International Arabian Horse Association.

1955 - Sinarah, a mare owned by Dr. & Mrs. W.G. Newby of Sardis, won the reserve championship in her class at the Pacific National Exhibition and also judged as best Arabian mare, three years old or over. Dr. Newby’s other mare Lurifa placed fourth in her class, and mare Sheikhara was third in the bridle path hack class placing below Nuri Sinbad, and Ameera both shown by Margaret Tretheway.

15-year-old Pat Pattinsons and her horse Golden Imp will be competing at the International Horse Show in Vancouver. She is the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Bill Pattinson. Mrs. W. G. Newby will be at the show as well, presenting the trophy on Friday to the winner of the Arabian costume class. The trophy was donated by the Arabian Horse Association of Western Canada.

1956 - Professor Grant McEwan, noted Calgary judge, comments about the All-Arabian display at the Chilliwack 84th annual exhibition that “The show has made Arabian history!” The show was considered the first of its kind to be staged anywhere in Canada by the Chilliwack Progress. Over 70 horses competed in 32 different classes. Three or four entries came from the states, but 19 others that were expected to appear were refused entry in Canada because they had not been vaccinated against sleeping sickness.

1957 - An all-Arabian horse show is planned again as it proved outstanding last year, Mr. E.J. Vowles manager of the Agricultural Association reports. Horses from Washington and Idaho are expected to attend the second All-Arabian Horse Show at the Chilliwack Fair. Plans for the show were announced at the Arabian Horse Association of Western Canada in the Haney annual meeting. The elected President of the club is Dr. W. G. Newby of Chilliwack. Other officers are Mrs. Tretheway of Haney, first vice president; Tim Rolph of Haney, second vice president; Gus Finnsson of Sea Island, secretary-treasurer; Mrs. Gus Finnson of Sea Island, director; Mr. Francis of West Vancouver, director; and Mrs. Bourquin of Vancouver, assistant secretary. The association now has 109 memberships covering Vancouver Island to Saskatchewan.

Show voted “Good as Last Year.” G.A. Finnson of Richmond showed his purebred Arabian Stallion Victory Day II and his daughter the mare Victory’s Coronatta. Victory Day II was the grand champion of the show, and Coronatta was reserve grand champion of the show. Last year the two horses reversed their positions. Dr. C Wallace Roehr of Bellevue Washington’s purebred Nafir was also rated outstanding. Two other strong showing exhibitors were Dr. W.G. Newby and George Martin. There were 61 entries compared to last year’s 70, but the general consensus was the show was more successful than last year. Senior judge from Calgary Clem Gardner told The Progress he was surprised to see so many good horses and admitted that he had never judged so many Arabs and “didn’t know where else in Canada you could see so many.”

1959 - All Arabian horse show is moving to the PNE and Dr. W.G. Newby expecting to enter six horses. Breeders and owners from Alberta to California are expected to take part. This year’s PNE is labelled a “Salute to the Orient.” Co-sponsors of the show are the 173 members of the BC division of the Arabian Horse Association of Western Canada. Labelled the greatest singleday All Arabian Horse Show in Canada and the Pacific Northwest and will be the top opening day feature at the PNE.

1964 - The Chilliwack Progress does an article on Mr. & Mrs. James Crossley and their breeding farm Pleasant Shade Farm in Sardis and the “Strange-Sounding Names” of their horses. Mrs. Crossley is quoted as having said: “the Arabian is ‘the most versatile horse there is.’” At this time Jarvan was their stallion standing stud. Jarvan took second placed in the three-year-old colt class at the Cloverdale All-Arabian Show and fourth in a halter class at the Yakima Meadows All-Arabian Show – This was Jarvan’s second time being shown under saddle.

1965 - Johnny and Hildegard Wiens bring a two-year-old grey stallion to Brookwood Arabians. Trejur, who was purchased from Stockton, California for a four-figure sum, will breed four mares this year— two from Newby’s farm. His father currently earns a stud fee of $600, and a brother in California has a stud fee of $500. The Wiens searched 10,000 miles over 12 months looking for this stallion, and he is now the pride of their stables.

Arabian stallion Javan has another successful show career bringing home 13 ribbons (12 of which were for performance classes) at the Kalispell, Montana show, and the Calgary National All-Arabian shows. Research Note: I can list the classes and places he earned if wanted/needed.

Glenn Randall of North Hollywood, California, brings his purebred Arabian horses to the PNE for chariot races. Randall is considered the master trainer in the world and is also known for training the horses for the movie Ben Hur as well as Roy Roger’s horse Trigger.

Mr. and Mrs. James Crossley of Pleasant Shade Arabians have added Rasadia to their farm along with her seven-month-old filly. She was purchased from the Kelly Ridge Ranch in Oakland, California. Rasadia is a dark, dappled grey, five-year-old mare and was quoted in the Chilliwack Progress as having “the true ‘classic’ Arabian” look and possessing a “true ‘floating’ trot and extremely high tail carriage.” She is the half-sister to the yearling stud Mahrab also owned by the Crossleys. The sire of both horses is Abu Rasyn who is one of the few remaining sons of Raseyn, considered to be the top foundation sire of Arabians in North America. Rasadia’s filly, Feysaida, is sired by Feyriba, the grandson of Raffles.

1965 Tre-jur & John Wiens

1965 Martha Freimuth & Raffi

1965 Faye Crossley & Javan

1972 - Patrick Newby & Lu Gazelle

1973 - Margaret Korver & Teaylo Knight

1974 - Jody Crawford & Brookwood

1977 - Grace Duxbury & Toneel of Arn

1970 - Chilliwack International Horse Show has the largest entries ever, with 550 horses entered. The most outstanding horses at the show were the grand champion palomino mare Gold Tender Bar owned by Dr. V.J. Dyck, grand champion half Arabian mare Regal’s Nanciah owned by Janie Gibson, grand champion Anglo-Arabian owned by Rosemary Ballam, and the high point all-around half Arabian, Regal’s Nanciah.

Janie Gibson wins three first with her half-Arabian mare Regal’s Nanciah at the Canadian National Arabian Horse Show in Calgary. Janie is training with Doug Henry and, under his guidance, broke and trained Regal’s Nanciah by herself. They came in first in the stock horse competition, native costume, and owner-rider English pleasure mares but also came in second in western pleasure mares, owner rider western pleasure mares, and English pleasure stake championship and then third place in western pleasure stake championship, fourth in English pleasure mares, and sixth at halter mares three years and over.

Rosemary Ballam wins three events at the Abbotsford Fair Horse Show; purebred and half-Arabian

1972 - The 1972 BC All Arabian Horse Show at the PNE ended in a tragic note when a fire raced through two barns at the Exhibition race track, killing at least 30 horses and injuring unaccounted other animals. According to June 7, 1972, Chilliwack Progress at “9:45 pm, while the evening championship classes were in progress, an explosion was heard by some spectators. Sirens wailed through the road between the racetrack and Agrodome, and through the North windows, hundreds of terrified horses could be seen wildly galloping over the track by the light of the burning barns. Arabian exhibitors emptied stalls and loaded horses and tack as quickly as possible so the panicked thoroughbreds could be brought into shelter. Many Arabian owners worked far into the night with racetrack officials, trainers, and veterinarians, attempting to calm, exercise, and care for the stricken animals.”

More than two hundred horses attended the eighth annual Arabian encampment in Vernon, a record for the show. Horses from all parts of British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon came to participate.

The undisputed star of the 1972 Canadian National All Arabian Horse Show at the Edmonton Gardens was Patrick Newby on his eleven-year-old chestnut mare Lu Gazelle. She won every high point award for which she was eligible at the show. In the 18 classes, she was entered, she earned eight first place ribbons and trophies, six seconds, one third, and two fourths. For the first time in the history of Canada’s largest Arabian horse show, a single horse and rider won high point trophy for stallion, mare or gelding, gaining the most points in halter and performance in the show. Her participation in the show was a last-minute post-entry as she originally came along to act as a companion to Bill Ballam’s Anglo-Arab, Victory’s Reina.

1973 - Chestnut gelding, Sagr of Luk-aKuk Farm in Sardis, is the first purebred Arabian horse in the district to earn the legion of merit award. Ron Whittaker, President of the Arabian Horse Association of BC, presented the award at the BC All-Arabian Horse Show. Dr. and Mrs. W.G. Newby received the announcement by a letter from Ralph Goodall, the executive vice-president of the International Arabian Horse Association. Sagr received his plaque and the traditional bright horseshoe of flowers in a moving ceremony with his handler Pat Newby. 420 of the 85,000 horses in Canada and the US were up for the award, which was established by the International Arabian Horse Association to distinguish those horses who have achieved an outstanding record in the show ring in both halter and performance. So far, Sagr is the only legion of merit champion to have won so many points at his advanced age of seventeen. In 1972 he was the BC champion high point English pleasure horse and BC high point gelding at halter. In Arabic, Sag means “The Little One.”

1974 - Mrs. I. Brian wrote a letter to the editor of the Chilliwack Progress complaining that there was too “much publicity being given to the handful of people who show Arabian horses and half Arabians.” She claimed in her letter that “most people are more interested in reading about a horse that jumps, works cows, in a show, or goes in a trail horse class, or does something besides stand in a halter for a judge to look at.” The progress did not respond to her letter, but they did include an editor’s note that stated they were never reluctant to print horse show results regardless of breed. They also said that “some people are far more willing to co-operate by providing accurate and interesting accounts of major shows which they attend.” They ended by including that “if it isn’t available, we can’t print it!”

1975 - John Stewart’s mare Mrang foals a bay colt by Khemosabi, who was a top show horse standing in California. This was the only colt sired by Khemosabi in Canada.

1978 - Pacific Royal, purebred Arabian gelding, won the top US National Champion Arabian gelding award. The six-year-old gelding is owned by Duncan Moore and his daughter Vicki of Sardis. Over 90 horses were competing in the national champion gelding class. The gelding was flown by plane from Seattle, Washington to Louisville, and was shown by Ron Paletek of Vantage Point, Washington. He is stabled at Reed Training Stables in Chilliwack.

1979 - Day Drifter places first in his halter class of Anglo-Arabian geldings at the Cloverdale International Horse Show. He is owned by Rosemary Reed and was shown by Brenda Driediger. He also placed first in Anglo-Arabian English pleasure. At the same show, Azrak’s Superstar, owned by Tom York and shown by Brenda Driediger, came first in halter of purebred Arabian geldings and was champion purebred gelding of the show. Rufaiya Mara, owned by Lisa Corrigan and shown by Brenda Driediger, came first in half-Arabian mares at halter and was champion half-Arabian mare of the show. 1981 - Day Drifter, ridden by Rosemary Reed and owned by Verlie Ballam, placed as reserve national champion in half-Arabian western pleasure at the US National Arabian Horse Show in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Day Drifter is a five-year-old blood bay by Sir Drift and out of Victory’s Reina and has now qualified for his Legion of Merit.

1982 - Canadian National Arabian Championship Horse Show held at the Stampede Corral in Calgary celebrates the 25th anniversary of Canada’s foremost horse show. Sur Kef, a purebred grey gelding owned by Dr. Tony Newby and ridden by Patrick Newby, placed Top Ten native costume, Top Five in purebred Arabian show hack, and won the Canadian National Champion purebred native costume. Sur Kef, by Tre-Jur and out of Marabella, is the first locally bred and trained horse ever to win a Canadian National Championship. VP Moondust, owned by Jean Kelly and shown by Craig Reed placed in Canadian National Top Ten, half-Arabian mares, and La Falara, owned by M and D Maltby and trained by Tom Berry was Canadian Top Ten purebred western pleasure, amateurowner to ride.

1987 - Ray and Milly Tresierra of Dragon Place Arabians sold Black Saron and Black Angel to buyers in England for their farm’s first overseas sale. DP Black Sarong is by Black Mamba, and out of Driftwood Sarika and DP Black Angel is out of Black Smoke and by Black Lace. The new owner Ann Cleave reported the horses were exactly what she ordered and that black Arabians are even rarer in England than they are in North America.

1989 - Bill Ferg & Azark Flashdance