Horse competitions just the beginning for young trainer

It’s Day 2 at the Junior Ag Showcase in Saskatoon, and that means the conclusion of the Light Horse Show.

(Will Mandzuk/650CKOM)

People aged nine to 21 compete in a number of different events inside the competition, including showmanship, horsemanship, barrel racing and more.

Brooklyn Hunchak is competing in the Light Horse Show, and said she entered no fewer than 12 different events.

Hunchak said she travels to different competitions all across the province. She said her favourite part of the competitions is meeting new people and seeing everyone working together.

“We all kind of come together like a community and help each other,” said Hunchak.

Hunchak has been training horses for eight years now. She said it all started when she was just seven.

“When I was seven I really wanted a horse, and then my parents were like ‘Oh, if you can pay for it, then you can get one.’ So I saved up all my money and bought myself a horse,” said Hunchak.

Training horses is very time consuming, and Hunchak said trying to balance that with her schooling can be very challenging.

“I’ll ride right after school, then if I have events right after school I’ll try to wake up early and ride before school,” said Hunchak. “Then I make sure all my school work is done before I ride my horses.”

Hunchak said she wants to become a veterinarian when she’s older, and hopes that all of her competitions help her gain valuable experience taking care of animals.