SPORTS FLASHBACK 2008: Krentz ‘cuts’ to front of the line

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This article was published 09/06/2024 (383 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Pansy area rancher Robert Krentz, who has long been one of the top cutting horse competitors in Canada, was finally crowned national champion in a sport that has been his passion, his hobby, and a way of life for more than 30 years.

Krentz won a pair of national titles in 2007 and received his awards at the Canadian Cutting Horse Association banquet recently in Calgary. He captured the 2007 Non-Pro title based on his season-long performance at the Canadian Cutting Horse Association National finals at Olds, Alberta, last weekend.

Krentz finished first in the Non-Pro event and fourth overall in the open category, which included professional riders. The National Finals this month in Olds, Alberta was an invitation-only event based on 2007 standings, with 16 riders in the non-pro event and another 16 of the top riders in the country in the Open category.

Krentz says in the past it was difficult for him to compete for the top prizes on the national circuit, because standings were based on dollars earned at the various competitions. The Manitoba circuit, where he usually competes, does not offer as much prize money as some of the events in Saskatchewan, BC, and Alberta. When the format changed from dollars earned to points accumulated at the various events, Krentz got a shot at the national titles.

Aboard his prized cutting horse DFL Docs D’OR, Krentz had a standout 2007 season, culminating with his winning performance at the National Finals

In cutting horse competitions, it’s all about the horse, Krentz says. This particular horse, which he purchased last year in Kamloops for $35,000, has lifetime earnings of more than $100,000, and last year proved again, it is one of the best in the business.

With files from Terry Frey