Corgis and blacksmiths – Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ aims to entertain
The pressure is already on at Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ – and for some competitors, it begins at the anvil rather than in the saddle.
Fifty five of the world’s leading farriers from 16 different countries have descended on the Calgary venue this week for the fourth year running of the Blacksmith World Championships. “It is 100 percent intense,” said Eddy Butin, Spruce Meadows’ VIP Guest Specialist and Business Development. “They’re under pressure because they have to forge the shoes under a certain allotment of time.”
The opening day featured the Canadian snowshoe and sidebone shoe classes, the shoes forged under time constraints and scrutinized by two judges. Further classes on Friday lead into live horseshoeing. The top 10 competitors on Sunday are culled to five finalists, competing for $176,000 in prize money.
“I saw some people were having a great time with that pressure,” said Eddy. “Others found it more difficult when they’re being looked at under a magnifying glass, if you will.”
The stakes get even higher on Sunday for the principal draw of the ‘Masters’ the $5 million CPKC ‘International’, presented by Rolex. Entries read like a Who’s Who of world class show jumping. Among those already pre-qualified are Olympic champion Christian Kukuk with Checker 47, Steve Guerdat with Albfuehren’s Iashin Sitte, Scott Brash with Hello Jefferson and Andre Thieme with Paule S. Germany’s Richard Vogel with United Touch S is also pre-qualified and in position for the Rolex Grand Slam and a €100,000 bonus if he wins – in doing so he would be the second rider to sweep the Rolex board and the second rider to do it at Spruce Meadows after Britain’s Scott Brash and Hello Sanctus pulled off the feat in 2015.
Pre-qualified combinations must complete the initial round of at least one FEI competition during the ‘Masters’ with their Grand Prix horse. For the rest of the field, qualification will be earned the hard way in qualifying classes this week. Ireland’s Daniel Coyle claimed his place yesterday with a 1.55m win aboard Calippo 57.
Britain has dominated the Blacksmith World Championship with the last three winners all coming from the UK. This year’s defending champion, Steve Bean, is not returning, leaving the title open. “It’s very popular with spectators,” said Eddy. “And it’s just going to get bigger. It’s still in the early days, but the future of what this event could look like could be a Nations Cup.”
Saturday sees show jumping take on the Nations Cup with nine countries competing. Spectators are allocated patriotic fan sections and encouraged to wear their nation’s colors with $10,000 waiting in prize money. It is part of the smorgasbord of entertainment in ‘Masters’ week, which also features corgi races, and Friday night’s ‘Masters After Dark’ – and the spectator favorite, the Six Bar.
In 2025’s Six Bar contest, two combinations, the Czech Republic’s Vaclav Stanek and Quintin and Britain’s Joseph Stockdale with It’s Confidential, cleared a record-breaking 2.13 metres – nearly seven feet – exceeding a height of 2.12 metres that had stood for 21 years.
Germany’s Celle Stallions will parade in the arena before the finale of fireworks accompanied by live music from His Majesty’s Band of the Welsh Guards from London, England. “Our pillar is definitely show jumping,” said Eddy. “It’s been that way for 51 years. But we also realize that we have to evolve into more sports and entertainment and we are trying different things now.”
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