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Article - October 2002
In
The Shadow of Equus Danny Bland | ||
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When W.D. (Danny) Bland was born in Cambridgeshire, England on 29 May 1910, life was vastly different. Mr. Bland, a much loved and deeply respected Equine Canada (formerly Canadian Equestrian Federation) show steward, had no idea during his childhood years that he would experience his life unfolding across nine decades of profound and stunning changes in a global society that would see wars, space walks and a world wired to the internet. But throughout it all, he is witness to the fact that the horse continues to enjoy enduring importance as a tenacious centrefold in our contemporary culture. Born into a family of bakers, early life was a simple routine of school and family work when the daily batch of bread was baked in old-fashioned coal ovens and the bread was delivered to customers by horse and cart or, more appropriately, a grey Welsh cob. "When my Dad got him in a trade, he was really hyper," Mr. Bland said of the horse. "But we calmed him enough so that my Mother could drive him. She drove him in a gig. We kept horses at home then and it was pretty natural to have them around all the time. I had a pony that I used to ride." As a young man, 21-year-old Mr. Bland left England for Canada and took his mechanical talents to the Nicola Stock Farm (now the Nicola Ranch) in the British Columbia Interior. He was to install diesel engines in a water control system. As it happened, the engines were not required, but Mr. Blandıs talents and experience with horses were. He spent the next five years as a ranch hand riding the range and herding 3,000-4,000 head of cattle. "You had to break, train and shoe your own horse back then," he recalled with a chuckle. After a brief return to England from 1936-1939, the beauty of British Columbia called again. Mr. Bland returned and served with the Canadian Air Force during World War II when he was an aircraft inspector on warplanes. He married, started a family and resumed with a passion his activities with horses. In the decades since, he has served as a CEF (now Equine Canada) official, steward, judge and clinician, has been a supporter of Horse Council BC since its inception, and was a prime motivating force behind the founding of equestrian clubs on the North Shore. In 1990, Mr. Bland's contribution to the horse industry was recognized when he was presented with the Horseperson of the Year Award from Horse Council BC.
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"Dannyıs a wonderful, super person," fondly commented Alf Fletcher, long-time friend and HCBC executive. "He was always the first to arrive at a show and the last to leave. He was always helpful."
Of the many changes in the horse industry that Mr. Bland has seen, the growth in English riding competition has had the biggest impact on him.
"(Competition entries) are much larger. Half the people who go to Thunderbird come from the States,² he said. "What impresses me now is how these people can afford to go to these shows."
The annual cost to compete today is staggering. When factoring in the cost, training and maintenance of a good horse, tack, clothing, equipment, truck and trailer, accommodation, entrance fees and a thousand other horse-related ticket items as serious riders work their way through the seasonal circuit, itıs no surprise the equestrian world is big business.
Mr. Bland canıt help but wonder about that. As young, promising riders move from their first pony and schooling show days to intermediate and advanced level challenges, the costs to do so expand exponentially. He wonders whimsically what happened to the fun of it all.
Perhaps the fun of it all is the intensity of competition. For sure, he sees the strength, talent and poise in promising young riders. He must see brilliant, athletic horses advance through the levels. Perhaps he sees the glow of triumph in a kidıs eyes. A few years back, that rider may have knocked down a cross pole at a country show. Now sheıs going clear on the A circuit with world class competition on her radar screen.
Over the years, it became a tradition for he and Alf Fletcher to get together for an apres-show drink. Evenings of great conversation with a special buddy whose humour was dryer than the wine were precious moments to laugh, reflect and wonder about a sports industry so passionate about its equines. But perhaps, like good wine, the industry has taken time to mature. Danny Bland intends to continue savouring and enjoying every moment.
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