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THE BRANDON SUN • WINTER FAIR • 2026
2026 • WINTER FAIR • THE BRANDON SUN
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
The challenge of crafting a Royal show jumping course
TIME
EVENT
LOCATION
6:30 AM
Optional Schooling
North Arena - ACU Agricultural Centre
8:00 AM
“Hunter Jumper Classes See full schedule at Provincialexhibition.com” Hunter Jumper Horse Show Opens 0.75, 0.85, 0.9m, 1.0m, 1.10m, 1.15m, 1.20m Jumper
8:00 AM
ACU Place Main Arena
10 AM - 6 PM
Royal Farm Yard
Flynn Arena
By Wendy King
11:00 AM
Juggles and Spinja
Shur-Gro Farm Services Stage - MNP Hall
10:30 AM
Doodles the Clown
MB Hydro Amphitheatre
11:00 AM
Dogs Do Magic
11:00 AM
Meet a Draft Horse
Flynn Arena Canadian Tire Ag Action Stage
11:00 AM
Stitch the Mascot
MNP Hall & Roaming
11:30 AM
Captain Corbin the Magical Pirate
Shur-Gro Farm Services Stage - MNP Hall
11:30 AM
Ring Master K
MB Hydro Amphitheatre
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Wayne Lee The Hypnotist
Shur-Gro Farm Services Stage - MNP Hall
12:30 PM
Olaf the Mascot
MNP Hall & Roaming
12:00 PM
Doodles the Clown
MB Hydro Amphitheatre
12:30 PM
Dogs Do Magic
1:00 PM
Cattle - Kirk Stierwalt Demo
Flynn Arena Canadian Tire Ag Action Stage
1:00 PM
Bend & Snap Show
Shur-Gro Farm Services Stage - MNP Hall
1:00 PM
Ring Master K
MB Hydro Amphitheatre
1:30 PM
Captain Corbin the Magical Pirate
1:30 PM
Juggles and Spinja
Shur-Gro Farm Services Stage - MNP Hall
2:00 - 3:00 PM
Wayne Lee The Hypnotist
2:00 PM
Manitoba Miniature Horse Club
Flynn Arena Canadian Tire Ag Action Stage
Ladies Team
ACU Place Main Arena
2:00 PM
Canine Circus - Presented by Fusion Credit Union (time may change)
2:30 PM
Ag Minister Speaking 4-H Manitoba at Booth
Flynn Arena
2:30 PM
Rubble Mascot
MNP Hall & Roaming
3:00 PM
Juggles and Spinja
Shur-Gro Farm Services Stage - MNP Hall
3:00 PM
Clover Demo - 4-H Manitoba Booth
Flynn Arena
Abbey McLeod, riding Dicontendro, jumps the CFB Shilo hurdle. Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun
J umping over obstacles is a natural behaviour for horses, one that has been trained up for generations. Show jumping competition was borne out of training that natural behaviour to facilitate hunting over landscapes enclosed with fences and other man made barriers. With years of experience as a competitor turned designer, Jennifer Ferguson of Owen Sound, Ont. has been working at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair since 2008, including at the Hunter Ring. But this year, Ferguson will take the reins as the Royal’s official show jumping course designer. While it’s an im- portant position for the fair’s main event, she brings a lot of experience and knowledge to the role — particularly when it comes to the needs of horse and rider, and the challenges that come with indoor competitions. When it comes to show jumping, Ferguson says competi- tors jump through a specified route. They want to be clear in the first round, meaning no jumps fall down, no refusals by the horse, and successful completion in the allotted time. “Anybody that ties for first will then do a shortened jump- off course. The winner is the fastest clear round. So in the first round, they don’t have to go fast, they just have to be
Single Roadster Pony (Open)
ACU Place Main Arena
Youth Team (Draft)
under the time allowed. Whereas in the jump-off, they want to be as fast as they can, but still leave all the jumps up and have zero faults,” says Ferguson. The basic competition is a two-round format which means competitors tied after the first round will do the shortened speed round. “Say we have 15 competitors in the class, they’ll each go. Whoever jumps without any faults will come back and they will jump the shortened speed route. It could be three or four, it could be seven or eight, it could be two,” she says. Scoring is based on time and accuracy of jumps over the fences. The horse cannot dislodge fence bars, touch water (or the artificial liverpool), disobey the rider or fall. Each in- fraction incurs penalties (faults). If a jump is lowered in any way, that is four faults. If, on the first try, they don’t go over the jump and it’s a refusal, that is four faults. Two refusals will incur an elimination. A fall is an elimination. The winning formula is simple: the fastest time and the fewest faults. The course itself must be of good design in that there must be a balance between challenge and safety. “A good course follows a ‘good line’ which keeps a consis- tent flow and a rhythm around the course. The turns will be nice and smooth and the jumps should appear to come up in stride.
3:00 PM
Doodles the Clown
MB Hydro Amphitheatre
3:30 PM
Ring Master K
3:30 PM
Bend & Snap Show
Shur-Gro Farm Services Stage - MNP Hall
3:30 PM
Equine Assisted Learning
Flynn Arena Canadian Tire Ag Action Stage
4:00 PM
Captain Corbin the Magical Pirate
MB Hydro Amphitheatre
4:00 PM
Farrier Presentation - Brad Synder
Flynn Arena Canadian Tire Ag Action Stage
4:00 PM
Pikachu Mascot
MNP Hall & Roaming
4 PM - 5 PM
Royal Experiences - Mini Horses
ACU Place Main Arena
4:30 PM
Bend & Snap Show
Shur-Gro Farm Services Stage - MNP Hall
5:00 PM
Canine Circus - Presented by Fusion Credit Union
Flynn Arena Canadian Tire Ag Action Stage
5:00 - 6:00 PM
Wayne Lee The Hypnotist
Shur-Gro Farm Services Stage - MNP Hall
6:30 PM
Opening Ceremonies
Manitoba Cup MBLL Volunteer Award Presentation Canine Circus - Presented by Fusion Credit Union Single Harness Pony (Non Pro) Jim Lane Unicorn NAERIC Class (Draft) Truco Trick Riders
ACU Place Main Arena
7:00 PM
Barnyard Challenge - Quintaine & Son Barrel Racing - Presented by myITsource
ALL TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. VISIT PROVINCIALEXHIBITION.COM FOR SCHEDULE UPDATES
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