Among the many horses Brianne Focht of Unity has trained and shown over the years is Empres++++//, an Arabian stallion that has competed in five different countries and won championships all over the world. Empres lived at Focht’s Mystikal Farms north of Unity for a couple of seasons, so he could even be classified as a former Unity resident.
Empres, owned by Prue Critchley of Hamiota, Man., was born in Poland and has won championships not only in Canada and Poland but also the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United States. He was won titles in many equine disciplines including dressage, western dressage, halter, sport more, side saddle and more.
Critchley said, “Brianne had Empres with her for two show seasons and did all the showing in hand and under saddle for me at that time.”
Under Focht’s guidance, Empres multiple Canadian National titles in Sport Horse in Hand and Halter as well as Regional or Western Canadian Breeders titles in Western Dressage, Trail, Native Costume, Halter, Sport Horse in Hand, Liberty and Sport Horse Under Saddle.
Altogether Empres has over 50 titles. He earned the symbols after his name by attaining the highest-level achievement awards from the Arabian Horse Association: Legion of Masters (++++) and Legion of Excellence (//).
Creator of the world’s most sought after model horses, Breyer had their eye on this accomplished purebred Arabian who excels in so many disciplines and, to quote from their website, “has a stellar personality to boot.” Breyer immortalized Empres in a model released in January last year, which quickly became a best seller for them and proved to be a popular item during the Christmas shopping season as well.
The Arabian Horse Envision magazine noted, “One of only a very few horses from Canada to be chosen for such an honour, *Empres’ fabulous disposition and winning ways make him a great ambassador for the Arabian horse.”
Empres was invited as a guest horse to BreyerFest held July 13 to 15, 2018, at the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, Ky. Prior to BreyerFest, Empres returned to Focht’s care in Unity in order “to breed some mares and to get him in shape for his big trip to Kentucky,” said Critchley.
In Kentucky, Empres was presented by Focht in the arena each day and was available for daily autograph/meet and greet sessions, where hundreds came to visit him.
Empres has his own Facebook page and there it is stated that “Breyer estimated 15,000 people attended the (BreyerFest) event this year.” Critchley said, “The trip to Kentucky was perfect. Empres loved everything about it – the time showing off in the arena and being endlessly petted by the kids who came to visit.”
Focht described BreyerFest as “an amazing experience.” At the time she reported, “When Empres walks anywhere on the grounds people know who he is. They come up with their postcards or models to be signed and he likely has thousands of pictures taken each day. After his ring performance, he gets a cool bath and then stands under the trees for a meet and greet. Honestly have to take him for rest, pee and water breaks because the line never gets shorter. It’s incredible!”
For those who collect horse models or have a horse-crazy youngster in their lives, Breyer’s Empres has a unique connection to Unity, Saskatchewan!
