2020 Inductees
Lil Williamson
Hometown: Brandon, Manitoba
Lil was born in 1921 in Brandon, Manitoba. She fell in love with horses at a very young age and her passion for equestrian sport lasted her lifetime.
She and her husband moved to Regina in the 1950’s where they trained and showed horses on the fair circuits of Western Canada and the United States. Lil rode their horse, Bouncing Buster, to more than fifty jumper championships.
As a certified Equestrian Canada Judge and Steward, Lil was very busy. In 1976 she was a three day event jump Judge at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. She was a Steward at the International Spruce Meadows Championships officiating for all three shows each year from 1979 to 2003.
Lil shared her knowledge and time with numerous horse groups including the Saskatchewan Horse Federation and Equestrian Canada.
For her contributions to equestrian sport, Lil was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sport Hall of Fame as a builder in 1995. In 2004 she was presented with the SHF President’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Lil was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2007.
Installed in the Saskatchewan Horse Federation Hall of Fame March 13, 2021.
Bob Watson
Hometown: Wolseley, Saskatchewan
Bob’s first show was the Regina Winter Fair 1951, where he rode a fence jumper called Glengary, who would prove to be an outstanding competitor.
The Spring Circuit included Regina, Brandon, Saskatoon, Calgary. In 1955, Bob showed Glengary to 3 Championships and 1 Reserve Championship in the Jumper Division. He also exhibited Brown Jug in the Hunter and Jumper Divisions successfully.
Bob showed many horses in his 30-year career competing at the Western Canada Summer Games, where he rode Satan in Regina. Another horse he rode was called Gold Coin, who was a diverse athlete winning all 3 levels of the Open Dressage classes at Brandon. Bob later began heeling, riding Oakie in Sask. Team Roping events.
Bob volunteered much of his time as an Inspector for the Canadian Hunter Society (now the Canadian Sport Horse Assoc.), as a Chairman of the Sask. Light Horse Society, as a Sask. Representative and Judge for the Canadian Horse Shows Assoc., plus being a 4-H leader.
His wife, Norma, and children Kim, Alex and Scott have all competed successfully in equine events. It’s been a good ride.
Installed in the Saskatchewan Horse Federation Hall of Fame March 13, 2021.
2019 Inductees
Jean Bogner
Hometown: Wawota, Saskatchewan
Jean has always had a passion for horses. She was leader of a 4-H Light Horse Club for 15 years and has been a driving force for the Wheels and Saddles Driving and Riding Club since its inception in 1982. She was president of the Club for 27 years.
Jean is accomplished in English and Western, is a seasoned driver, having driven a four-horse hitch for field work. She has been teaching driving for many years and has some willing students to carry on her work. For 21 years she and Clarence hosted Trail Rides at their farm.
Jean willingly shares her time and knowledge. Her compassion for horses and people is obvious. Reaching 90 years has slowed her down but she still manages to help and inspire others. Jean maintains there is always more to learn about horses! She has been heard to say, ” Some of my best friends are horses”.
Installed in the Saskatchewan Horse Federation Hall of Fame on March 14, 2020
Wayne Cozart
Hometown: Brownlee, Saskatchewan
Wayne Cozart’s true love was his wife and family, and his Percheron horses. He will be remembered by family and friends of all ages as a genuine cowboy that truly loved working with draft horses and youth.
He was instrumental in the success of many Saskatchewan horse shows, rodeos, 4H clinics and trail rides. From the big city shows to the small 4H achievement days Wayne was a constant fixture who inspired and influenced generations of horsemen.
Wayne is recognized for his endless volunteer hours, the quality Percheron horses he raised, trained and showed, and that unforgettable smile. Most of all he will be remembered for the fire he lit in up-and-coming drivers when he handed the lines over and let them experience the joy of driving those big black and grey horses.
He spent a lifetime dedicated to promoting and fostering the art of raising and driving Percheron horses in Saskatchewan.
Installed in the Saskatchewan Horse Federation Hall of Fame on March 14, 2020
Harold French
Hometown: Delisle, Saskatchewan
Harold was a true horseman, dedicated to enhancing the ability of the horse in a six or eight-horse hitch or any work involving the horse. He became known for his abilities, and was often asked to show other people’s outfits, and did so nationally and internationally.
He drove teams in field work from age 13, pitching bundles, seeding and summer fallowing. He taught his sisters to drive four-horse outfits so they could haul the grain to town. In addition, Harold held his license to drive Standard Bred Horses, working as an exercise man in Dauphin Manitoba. He also respected the necessity of the horse in opening up the country in pioneer times, and taught many children at local fairs what horses meant to the province’s history.
May Harold’s love of horses and horse traditions be appreciated by future generations.
Installed in the Saskatchewan Horse Federation Hall of Fame on March 14, 2020
Raymond Mitsuing
Hometown: Loon Lake, Saskatchewan
Raymond Mitsuing built a family chuckwagon Racing Team over 36 years, winning seven Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association Championships (CPCA), with many appearances at the Calgary Stampede where he retired at the end of the 2019 season to a standing ovation from his fans.
He has been a productive member of the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association and finished among the Top Ten in the CPCA standings the last 12 years. He is also a 3-time winner of the CPCA Prairie Racing Series Championship Trailer. He holds numerous other Canadian and Americanvq championships, is known as a great mentor to others entering the sport, and is without question one of the legends in the sport of Chuckwagon racing.
Additionally, as a leader in his community, Ray was Chief of the Makwa Sahgaiechan First Nation for 16 years, and helped to build the Meadow Lake Tribal Council to what it is today. Ray holds a Senate seat on the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Board (FSIN), serving as a Senator since 2017.
He was a strong voice for local economic development and has influenced many projects in the forestry industry. He created many relationships, within his community and beyond, in the agricultural community, whether buying and selling horses to build his team or purchasing oats, hay and straw to feed them.
Ray and his wife Josephine have raised four sons who are participants in the equine industry as drivers and out riders, following in their Father’s footsteps. They are Dean, Darren, Devin and Dale.
Ray’s merits should be celebrated and embraced as part of “reconciliation”.
Installed in the Saskatchewan Horse Federation Hall of Fame on March 14, 2020
Elaine Partington
Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Elaine Beverly (Russell) Partington started riding on her parents’ farm as a young child. Her involvement in the horse world included Harness racing, Dressage, Hunter/Jumpers, Eventing and Western Riding. She turned that experience into a business, first on her home acreage, Tee Pee Acres, near Saskatoon, and then expanded into a partnership at Ebon Stables.
Elaine was strongly involved with the Saskatoon Pony Club, Saskatoon Riding Club, and the CWHBA. She helped to develop the Equestrian Coaching program at the Provincial and National levels, and was always willing to share what she knew with others. Elaine had a talent and passion for developing young riders—in the show ring but, more importantly she felt, in life skills as well.
She had an uncanny sense of how and when to use humour over tough love in her approach to coaching. She opened her heart and home to one and all, often taking in summer students. She taught what she knew and knew “it takes a village”. Her legacy lives on in the horse world and the generations of lives she touched.
Installed in the Saskatchewan Horse Federation Hall of Fame on March 14, 2020