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The Express Clydesdales

Snare World Six-Horse Hitch Crown 

For quite a while, Minshull, general manager and driver with the Express Clydesdales, has been yearning for one exclusive trophy for his case. Sunday afternoon at the Pengrowth Saddledome, he finally got his hands on the hardware, guiding the Express rig to top spot at the Calgary Stampede’s World Champion Six- Horse Hitch Competition.

The world championship six-horse show was the highlight of the Stampede’s four-day Heavy Horse Show presented by DundeeWealth, with members of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra marking the CPO’s 10th anniversary of providing musical accompaniment. 

“This was my No. 1 goal for the last three years,” said Minshull, 25, whose Express Clydesdales outfit is owned by Express Employment Professionals, and is making its seventh appearance at the Calgary Stampede.  “We’ve had the world champion eight-horse hitch at the World Clydesdale Show, but this one is so prestigious…with the winner’s check of $10,000 they put up, and the whole atmosphere of it. It’s just an awesome show.  It definitely was my No.1 goal this year to win this show.”

“We tried to have everything perfect tonight, and have the horses working as one unit,” said Minshull, whose Express Clydesdales have won red ribbons at horse festivals across North America. “That’s what it’s all about. That’s what everybody strives for, to have six horses working as one.  It felt like, in my hands, we had that tonight.  They just kind of clicked. 

It’s a unique dimension,” noted Jess Debnam, who chairs the Stampede’s Heavy Horse Show committee. “I can’t thing of another show anywhere that has a professional elite group like the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra participating in its show.”

“The key is the ability to drive the horses, the conformation of the horses, the way you present the horses – the whole package, right from the back of the wagon up to the nose of the lead horse,” said Debnam. “Judges look for horses that work together and the teamster who’s working with the horses and has control of the horses the whole time” 
Competitions, Awards and National Honors

The Express Clydesdales have been competing nationally and in Canada since 1999, bringing home world-class awards and international recognition like the ones listed below.

 2009

  • World Champion 6-horse hitch, Calgary Stampede, Calgary, AB
  • First Place Draft Horse Entry, Calgary Stampede, Calgary AB
  • Reserve National Champion 8-horse hitch, Milwaukee, WI

2008

  • First place Cyde/Shire 6-horse hitch, Calgary Stampede
  • First Place Draft Horse Entry, Calgary Stampede Parade
  • Best Driver National Clydesdale Show, Milwaukee, WI
  • Fist Place 6 & 8-horse hitch, Western Regional Clyde Show, Monreo, WA
  • First Place 6-horse hitch, Draft Horse Extravaganza, Monreo, WA
  • Champion 6-horse hitch, Canadian Western Agribition, Regina, SK 


2007

  • World Champion 8- horse hitch, World Clydesdale Show, Madison, WI
  • World Champion 6-horse hitch driving competition, World Clydesdale Show, Madison, WI
  • Reserve National Champion 8 horse hitch, Milwaukee, WI
  • Best Driver National Clydesdale Show, Milwaukee, WI
  • First Place 6-horse hitch, Second Night, Salina, KS
  • First Place Percheron/Clydesdale 6-horse hitch, Missouri State Fair
2006
  • Champion 8-horse hitch, Big Thunder Draft Horse Show, Loveland, CO
  • National Champion 8-horse hitch, National Clydesdale Show, Milwaukee, WI
  • Best Driver National Clydesdale Show, Milwaukee, WI
  • Best Driver, Big Thunder Draft Horse Show, Loveland, CO