The Virden Indoor Rodeo and Wild West Daze committee is pleased to induct Donna Hunter of Kenton into their Horseman’s Hall of Fame.
Those inducted into the Horseman’s Hall of Fame are people who have made a significant contribution to the horse industry in this area as breeders, promoters, organizers, by achievements in competition or in countless other ways.
Donna purchased her first Welsh Pony mare in 1964 making her a pioneer Welsh breeder in Manitoba. Soon after, she purchased another mare to make a team to show at local fairs to promote her beloved Welsh pony breed.
Donna was a founding director of the Manitoba Welsh Pony and Cob association. She held various executive positions on the board and has been secretary for many years. She was one of the driving forces behind the first Manitoba Welsh Pony provincial show. They have just held their 34th annual show and all have benefited from Donna’s involvement. For many years Donna produced an annual Welsh yearbook which grew to cover the close knit community of Welsh enthusiasts all over Canada.
When the Canadian Welsh Pony and Cob Society came into being Donna became a Governor. For 12 years she was president of the Canadian Society. Her great commitment to the breed combined with her people skills made her a great fit for the presidents chair.
Donna purchased her 1st stallion Ardmore Eclipse in 1977 as a fourteen year old and stood him until his passing at 28 years of age. She eventually found another stallion, “Young’s Coming Up Big”, and kept him until she retired as a breeder a few years ago.
Donna concentrated on raising quality ponies, not quantity, never having more than 4 foals a year. Her foals all carried the Kenview prefix in their name and she raised 80 of them over the years.
Donna bred Section A Welsh-under 50 inches tall. She was assisted by her late husband Ken who, although not a pony person, kept things running at home. She sold ponies to B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and the eastern U.S. Twice a pony bearing the Kenview name swept all the classes at the Toronto Royal Fair being named Supreme Champion. A couple of her foals were eventually purchased by a lady in North Carolina who took them to Europe and was very successful in driving competitions there.
In the words of Jack Brathwaite, a noted Welsh Pony judge and exhibitor from Ontario. “Donna was a Welsh Pony breeder extraordinaire. All of the ponies she raised were exceptional movers. She has the very exceptional gift to be able to predict which ponies will nick with her stallion to produce driving champions. No one else in Canada can boast of having produced as many driving champions as Donna. In Welsh driving circles all over the world, the Kenview ponies are held in high esteem.
| 2023 AWARD | Shawne Hagan |
|---|---|
| 2022 AWARD | Faye and Daryl Horn |
| 2019 AWARD | Kim and Grant Gee |
| 2018 AWARD | Cathy Gerrand and Duncan Campbell |
| 2017 AWARD | Everett More |
| 2016 AWARD | Jim and Elaine Hyde |
| 2015 AWARD | Rick and Paddy White |
| 2014 AWARD | Doug Sexsmith |
| 2013 AWARD | Geraldine Fowler |
| 2012 AWARD | Morris Clarke |
| 2011 AWARD | Lyle Brown |
| 2010 AWARD | Darrell Nolan |
| 2009 AWARD | Sherald Joynt |
| 2007 AWARD | Donna Hunter |
| 2006 AWARD | Wilf Dryden / Murray Peel |
| 2005 AWARD | Betty Joseph / Don Gee |
| Ron & Merle Coleman | Arnie Andrews | Ray Dryden |
| Dino Fontana | Ken Brown | Don Brown |
| Don Brown | Bea Lowe | Wilf Van Loo |
| Bob and Arlene Ross | Jack and Carol Forsyth | Betty Joseph |
| Wilf Dryden | Donna Hunter | Darryl Nolan |
| Orville Fowler | John Clarke | Bill and Pearl Brown |
| Lloyd Robinson | Stu Taylor | George Sproat |
| Ken Horn | Vern MacFarlane | Bill and Gail McQuaker |
| Ed Page | Don and Marg Gee | Murray Peel |
| Cecil Brown | Sherald Joynt | Lyle Brown |