RULES HEAVY HORSES
- All horses must be brought out for judging or parade purposes whenever required to do so by directors in charge of horse classes.
- The age of all horses shall be calculated from the first of January.
- Horses will be allowed in more than one class in harness, pairs, champions or special prizes but no animals shall be allowed to compete under different classification.
- Registered horses are not allowed to show in Grade classes.
- All animals competing for prizes must be entered in the name of the bonafide owners. Should doubt arise the director in charge may require affidavits of ownership from the exhibitor.
- An exhibitor is permitted to make as many entries as desired
in a class but only two prizes will be awarded to any exhibitor. - All harnessed horses competing in team classes must be hitched to a suitable vehicle. (This rule will be strictly enforced).
- Competition open to all.
- Certification of registration must be produced in the ring when called for by the judge or committee in charge, otherwise animals will be disqualified.
- A horse or pony cannot hold a stall unless it is to be exhibited that day.
- All horses must have a negative Coggins certificate of the current year.
- Unless otherwise announced, all hitch horses should be rolled. (Excludes farm teams and poor man’s classes.)
- Due to time restrictions exhibitors must be on time for classes.
- Every hitch should have a second capable driver excluding the cart classes
- Draft horse riders should have safety equipment.
- In the event of rain. It will be up to the discretion of the directors how the premiums will be dispersed.
HEAVY HORSES
Draft Horse Breeding Classes
Classes Begin at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026
Entries must be received by August 1, 2026
Entry fee: 15% of prize money won
Please input entries to:
Assistexpo.ca/vkhfair or call Jeff LeRoy at 613-677-6415
Breeding Line Classes: Percheron, Belgian & Clydesdale
*Stalls are limited; Please ensure entries are in on time
Judy McFaul – Ring Master
Judge: James Keupher
There are three sections for each of the classes:
Section A – Percheron
Section B – Belgian
Section C – Clydesdale
Breeds will be combined if less than 3 entries in each Class
Prize money: 1st – $80, 2nd – $70, 3rd – $60; 4th – $50; 5th – 10th $40
Class 1: Brood Mare
Section A – Percheron
Section B – Belgian
Section C – Clydesdale
Class 2: Filly Foal of Season 2026
Section A – Percheron
Section B – Belgian
Section C – Clydesdale
Class 3: Stallion Foal of Season 2026
Section A – Percheron
Section B – Belgian
Section C – Clydesdale
Class 4: Filly Foaled in 2025, 1 year old
Section A – Percheron
Section B – Belgian
Ontario Bred & Sired Belgian Yearling Filly Points Class
NO ENTRY FEE. Open to yearling fillies from a mare owned by a resident of Ontario at the time of service and sired by a stallion owned and standing in Ontario at the time of service. Owner must be a member of the OBHA for the current year. The fillies must have been nominated with the OBHA by July 1st. Prize money paid to each exhibitor by the OBHA at their annual awards banquet. $100 of the prize money is donated by the fair with the remainder being paid by the OBHA.
Section C – Clydesdale –
Special Prize donated by John Heatlie & Family
Class 5: Filly Foaled in 2024, 2 years old
Section A – Percheron
Section B – Belgian
Section C – Clydesdale
Class 6: Filly Foaled in 2023, 3 years old
Section A – Percheron
Section B – Belgian
Section C – Clydesdale
Class 7: Yeld mare 4 years old and over
Section A – Percheron
Section B – Belgian
Section C – Clydesdale
Grand Champion & Reserve Champion Percheron Mare
Grand Champion & Reserve Champion Belgian Mare
Grand Champion & Reserve Champion Clydesdale Mare
Class 8: Junior Showmanship
Section A – Open to Youth 7 to 13 years of age as of Jan. 1/25
Section B – Open to Youth 14 to 20 years of age as of
Jan. 1/25
Prize Money: $20.00 per entry
Class 9: Stallion Foaled in 2025 & 2024 (1 & 2-Year-Old)
Section A – Percheron
Section B – Belgian
Section C – Clydesdale
Class 10: Stallion Foaled before January 2024
Section A – Percheron
Section B – Belgian
Section C – Clydesdale
Grand Champion & Reserve Champion Percheron Stallion
Grand Champion & Reserve Champion Belgian Stallion
Grand Champion & Reserve Champion Clydesdale Stallion
Supreme Champion of All Breeds
Class 11: i) Progeny of Dam &
ii) Get of Sire
Section A – Percheron
Section B – Belgian
Section C – Clydesdale
Vankleek Hill Fair – Heavy Horse Hitch Classes (Friday)
Friday, August 14, 2026 – 1 p.m. Sharp
Prize money the same for 3rd all the way out
Class 12: North American Six Horse Hitch Round 1 –
(Must be a member of NASHHCS to enter)
1st – $1,500, 2nd – $1,250, 3rd – $1,000
Please Note: Vankleek Hill Fair is a registered Point Event for the North American Classic Series Six Horse Hitch
Class 13: Ontario 4 Horse Hitch Round 1 –
(Must be a member of The Ontario 4 to enter)
1st – $400, 2nd – $350, 3rd – $300*
Class 14: Tandem Cart – Miniature Horse
1st – $100, 2nd – $75, 3rd – $50*
Class 15: Ladies’ Cart Class –
Draft 1st – $250, 2nd – $200, 3rd – $175*
Supported by: Hillcrest Funeral Home
Class 16: Ladies’ Cart – Miniature Horse
1st – $100, 2nd – $75, 3rd – $50*
Class 17: Classic Series Cart Class
(Must be a member of NASHHCS to enter)
1st – $250, 2nd – $200, 3rd – $175*
Class 18: Open Cart – Miniature Horse
1st – $100, 2nd – $75, 3rd – $50*
Class 19: Jr Cart Class
Draft Point Class for the North American Youth Classic Cart Series $50 Dollars to each entry. Open to Youth 18 years and under as of January 1 of current year
Class 20: Jr Cart – Miniature Horse
$50 Dollars to each entry. Open to Youth 18 years and under as of January 1 of current year
Vankleek Hill Fair – Heavy Horse Classes (Saturday)
Saturday, August 15, 2026 – 1 p.m. Sharp
Prize money the same for 3rd all the way out
Class 21: 8 Horse Hitch – Miniature Horse
1st – $200, 2nd – $150, 3rd – $100*
Class 22: Bob Wilson Memorial 6 Horse Hitch – Open – Round 2
1st – $1,500, 2nd – $1,250, 3rd – $1,000*
Please Note: Vankleek Hill Fair is a registered Point Event for the North American Classic Series Six Horse Hitch
Class 23: Ontario 4 Horse Hitch Round 2 and Ottawa Valley Hitch Series
OVHS: Participation points from qualifying fairs will be tallied and the top 10 hitches will be invited to the Finals at Carp Fair.
1st – $400, 2nd – $350, 3rd – $300*
Class 24: 4 Horse Hitch – Miniature Horse
1st – $200, 2nd – $150, 3rd – $100*
Class 25: Unicorn – Draft
1st – $300, 2nd – $250, 3rd – $200*
Sponsored in memory of Ross Rodgers
Class 26: Unicorn – Miniature Horse
1st – $150, 2nd – $100, 3rd – $50*
Class 27: Registered Team of Mares
1st – $200, 2nd – $175, 3rd – $150*
Supported by The LeRoy Family in memory of Sol LeRoy
Class 28: Ladies’ Team – Miniature Horse
1st – $100, 2nd – $75, 3rd – $50*
Class 29: Battle of the Breeds Open Team – Draft
1st – $300, 2nd – $275, 3rd – $250*
Special Prize donated by the Leduc family in memory of Jack Leduc
Class 30: Open Team – Miniature Horse
1st – $100, 2nd – $75, 3rd – $50*
Class 31: Junior Drive Team – Draft
(Open to youth 18 years & under as of January 1st of current year)
$100 to each entry
Class 32: Junior Drive Team – Miniature Horse
(Open to youth 18 years & under as of January 1st of current year)
$50 to each entry
Class 33: Draft Horse-Riding Competition
Prize Money: 1st – $75, 2nd – $60, 3rd – $50*
Only 2 entries per exhibitor.
Prize Money donated by Steve and Rochelle Anderson in memory of Remi Lanthier.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Ottawa Valley Miniature Horse Association.
BEST SHOD HITCH
Open to exhibitors with four or more horses at the fair.
$100 to the winner To be judged on quality of shoeing job, horses that are not interfering, and overall appearance.
SPECIAL PRIZE for Best Teamster of the Day
Must have driven in 3 classes.
Sponsored in Memory of Elliot Barton by his family.
Online Registration
Follow this link assistexpo.ca/vkhfair to register for an Assist Expo account to register your entries online!
