By Liz Piacentini

The Canadian Horse Heritage & Preservation Society hosted the 2024 CHHAPS Challenge: “100 Hours in 100 Days” virtual event from June 1 to Sept. 10. For the fourth year, the CHHAPS Challenge offered horse enthusiasts an opportunity to strengthen their partnership with their horse, meet endangered breeds and support a good cause.

Susan Drover with her 9-year old Canadian gelding, Sun King Merit Carbon-Copy.

This year’s Challenge welcomed 102 horses, representing a variety of breeds and disciplines from Canada and the U.S. Thirty-six horse-and-handler pairs successfully achieved the goal of 100-plus hours in 100 days. All finishers were mailed a commemorative pin and could download a customized finisher certificate from the event’s webpage. In addition, 10 engraved medals were awarded to finishers who earned individual recognition as a High Achiever (most hours in their class), Rising Star, Sensational Senior or author of the best essay about their experience. 

Participants were organized into three divisions, according to their horse’s breed. This year, the fundraiser welcomed 24 horses in the Endangered Breed Division, the largest number of entries for this division since the Challenge began. In addition, 47 Canadian Horse Division entries were received, which means 70% of this year’s participants were partnered with an endangered breed equine! The remaining 31 equines participated in the Open Breed Division.

Jane Hunt completed the Challenge with her 15-year old Canadian mare, Rowista Philip Windy-Skye. (Photo by Kelly Popoff)

Participants connected in the event’s private Facebook group where they could share photos throughout the 100 days and “meet” the various endangered breeds. Five Facebook-live drawings added motivation along the way plus a chance to win prizes donated by sponsors, including The Livestock Conservancy. Each drawing included a Canadian horse book or other related item, which added an educational element about the breed.

CHHAPS would like to thank and acknowledge The Livestock Conservancy for being a Gold Sponsor of the event all four years! This year, it generously donated three, one-year memberships for the Finishers Raffle. 

Learn more about the event at https://chhaps.ca/challenge/.

 Liz Piacentini serves as the Challenge Co-Coordinator for the Canadian Horse Heritage and Preservation Society.  Canadian horses are ranked as Critically Threatened on The Livestock Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List. Fewer than 200 are registered in the United States each year and the global population is estimated at less than 500.