Greg Frick’s Sabre Quarter Horse Ranch near Stockholm played host to a clinic put on by Clint Christianson. Christianson and his stallion MTR Anuthagenuinenic (Sherman) are three-time Canada’s Greatest Cowhorse Champions at the Canadian Western Agribition held in Regina every November.
Christianson grew up on a ranch near Bracken, Sask. He started working for a PFRA pasture and later moved up to become pasture manager and manager of a grazing co-op.
Christianson began his successful career with horses by starting colts for some of the ‘big name’ trainers. He credits names such as Carl Gerwein of Willow Springs Ranch in Alberta, Dwayne Guenther from Shaunavon and Harold McLeod, owner of Pepinics Paradise – one of the horses he has been so successful with – for helping him get started.
Eight years ago Christianson and his family moved back to Bracken where he started his career in the show pen. He started out mostly doing working cow horse events but has recently concentrated mostly on cutting (riding your horse into a herd of cattle, drawing out one animal and keeping it away from the herd).
“You train what your clients want” he said. “Cutting seems to be more of the direction they want to go.” Christianson takes in client horses to train from as far away as Oregon and has at any given time, upwards of 18 - 20 horses being trained per month. He gets help and support from wife Susan and assistant Mike.
Christianson only does approximately six clinics per year and Sabre Quarter Horse Ranch is one of his regular stops. The four-day-clinic held March 19-22, had 15 students participate ranging from the beginner to the more advanced rider. Laurie Cooper, Raymond Helmeczi and Linette Lanski of Esterhazy; Al and Marie Miller of Saltcoats and Barb Mills of Rocanville were fortunate enough to get into the highly sought-after clinic.
Christianson said “we concentrate mostly on being able to read cattle. You have to be able to read your animal.” Of course horsemanship comes into play as well. Christianson teaches every level and hopes that people get something from his clinic but also have fun.
When he isn’t busy riding horses for clients you can find him checking some of his 300 head of calving cows or sitting on the tractor making hay. Christianson is also a busy family man, with his wife Susan, and sons Lochlon, age 10 and Kade, age eight, who are also getting into the showing aspect of things. Both boys are showing in cutting and Lochlon may soon be looking at joining the Wrangler division of high school rodeo and why not – they are learning from one of the best out there!