HEULE REININ HORSES

BY JENN WEBSTER

Family Goals

The power couple behind Heule Reining Horses (Abbotsford, British Columbia) could not be any more dedicated to the reining horse industry. Hubert and Cara Heule and their two young daughters, Harlyn (age 10) and Addie (age 6) have lived and worked throughout North America and South America striving to improve their pursuit of reining excellence with every step.

Prior to moving home to Canada, the Heules worked for HDC Quarter Horses in Argentina, Hubert and Cara were in charge of setting up the enterprise’s breeding and training operation. They lived there for three years and sought out the best reining prospects for the operation that they could find.

This included ARC Gunnabeabigstar NRHA Futurity Champion and earner of $539,457 – which Hubert picked out as a yearling from the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity sale and Stepping On Sparks which they purchased from Andrea Fappani. Following a decade-long career managing HDC Quarter Horses, Hubert took his clients to the elite status of NRHA #1 Owner.

The Heule’s first daughter, Harlyn, was born in Argentina and she is now 10-years-old.

“My family is from British Columbia,” says Cara. “Once we had had Harlyn we realized how important it was to be close to family.”

That’s when Hubert and Cara decided to pack up and head home to Canada.

Their second daughter, Addie was born in Canada and she is now six-years-old. Heule Reining Horses are now situated in Abbotsford, British Columbia at Cornerstone Ranch. Located just a few miles from the USA/CA border, Cornerstone Ranch boasts 50+ stalls and an expansive indoor arena. It’s an excellent place to provide the Heules and their horses, and their clients with all the tools they need to achieve success.

Their primary focus is building and promoting the sport of reining in British Columbia. Hubert has continued to prove himself for having a great eye when it comes to selecting horses for his customers and has carried on successfully showing, selling and managing top performers.

One of those such horses is Shining In Town, owned by Jennifer Neudorf. With lifetime earnings exceeding $202,000, this palomino stallion better known as “Chubbs” is a NRHA Non-Pro L4, 3, 2, 1 Derby Champion. Chubbs is sired by Hollywoodstinseltown (Hollywood Dun It x Miss Tinseltown x Great Red Pine), the winner of $178,156 and the sire of horses with earnings of more than $2.5 million. He is an AQHA 5 Panel N/N ad IMM N/N and a force to be reckoned with on the Canadian horse-power scene. Currently he is managed by Heule Reining Horses, with both cooled and frozen semen available to the public.

Hubert is also a certified NRHA judge, and he’s contended at the World Equestrian Games twice for Team Netherlands. He was an American Quarter Horse Association Congress Ltd. Open Champion and has many other credentials to his name.

“We are trying to give people here in BC, the tools they need to be in the reining horse business,” Cara explains. “When we moved here, there wasn’t much. We had to drive to Alberta at least four times a year for shows.”

With limited shows in the area at the time, Hubert decided to found the Fraser Valley Reining Association (FVRA), to give enthusiastic reiners in British Columbia more opportunities. Currently Hubert is also the president of the FVRA and members are invited to reining education, shows and jackpots in the Fraser Valley. The association’s “Super Saturdays” – held at Cornerstone Ranch – have become so popular that the Heules have seen more than 100 runs in a day.

“While our focus is reining, we have included ranch riding, jackpots (where the entry fee gets paid back to the winner), and cow horse classes. There’s $1,000 added and typically $2,500 paid out and although these shows are not NRHA approved, they are a great way for people to practice their reining patterns,” tells Cara.

Last year, Harlyn showed Tuckered Lil Chic (owner Jennifer Neudorf) in the rookie event, at The Run For A Million, held in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was the youngest competitor to qualify and enter. And her sister, Addie, likes to ride her pony “Sparky” in as many opportunities as she can muster as well.

With all of Hubert’s training and coaching efforts, Cara’s talents on the equine business side of things and Addie and Harlyn also sitting high in the saddle, the pursuit of reining excellence is truly a family endeavour in the Heule family. excellence is truly a family endeavour in the Heule family.