2025 hALL OF FAME iNDUCTEES
"The Lights from our Past Illuminate our Future"
- J. David Cleghorn - Ontario - 1936 - 2025
- Jean Beaudoin - Quebec - 1923 - 1996
- Paul Fletcher - New Brunswick - 1933 - 2015
- Jock Falconer - Saskatchewan - 1883 -?
nOW LETS READ ALL ABOUT THEM
j. David cleghorn - ont. - 1936 -2025
The Clydesdale chapter of David’s life followed the phasing out of his Holstein Dairy Cattle after 25 years. His vision was to breed premium mares to the very best stallions available and raise foals that would be competitive to imported stock without having to go through the import business.He bought his first two coming yearling fillies imported from Scotland from Marion Young on New Year’s Eve of 1984. They were Rolleston Celestine and Whinhill Crystal. As young mares he bred them to Bill Taylor’s stallion Commander Mark Argyll (b. 1983 by David Matheson). He later bought Mark and used him for many years.Crystal birthed five filly and five stud foals in that order. All were by their Mark stallion. Her eldest daughter, Thistle Ridge Argyll Fancy, was Supreme Champion Mare at the 1994 RAWF. Along with her sisters Beth and Molly, who showed well in their respective classes. They also won most of the group classes. Crystal’s daughter Debra was exported to Arclid Farm in England (Tony Bull) and her son Avery and his son Avalanche both were breeding stallions at the Budweiser Farm in Missouri.David showed horses successfully at all the Ontario regional shows as well as in Detroit, Lansing, Springfield and Milwaukee (which was nearly 1000 km away). This allowed Thistle Ridge horses to be promoted and sold when they were at their peak. His main truck driver and ring showman was his son-in-law Steve Horn who unfortunately died suddenly six weeks after David.David met Philip Moss at the Great Yorkshire Show in 1990 where he was showing yearling Hillmoor Fusilier (bred by David Muir). David imported Fusilier the next spring as a follow up sire to the Mark mares. David’s association with Philip expanded with Philip sending over several weanling and yearling fillies which David promoted to sell privately or in consignment sales. Among these shipments were four siblings, Hillmoor Liza, Laura, Landmark and Lass born between 1994 and 1998. All showed and bred well and he used Landmark as his highlighted stallion. In return David shipped containers of vintage tractors (pre WW2) and horse drawn riding ploughs by sea to Philip.David served as director of the OCC and helped at clinics. In 2001 he was nominated as an Ontario director to the Canadian Clydesdale Association. When he left that meeting he was Vice President. He served as President in 2003 and 2004. During that time he said his proudest achievement was being instrumental in having Marlene Langille installed as secretary and treasurer. A position she held admirable for many years.He judged several shows in Ontario and the US and also Fredericton NB, Calgary AB and Melbourne, Australia.In 1998 the Desharnais family came to Thistle Ridge from Quebec looking for mares for their Clydesdale enterprise. Not only did David have horses they wanted but a very strong friendship developed between the two families. This was an added bonus in the business.
jean beaudoin - qc - 1923 - 1996
Jean was born on August 7th, 1923 in South Durham, Quebec. He lost his father at the early age of 10 and so, took a job with a local farmer to help his mother support and raise his 2 sisters and his brother.On July 23, 1949, he married his wife Margot. In 1958, they opened a Shell Service Station and Repair Shop and also became an Atlas Company dealer.In 1967 they purchased a farm and had a PMU line for several years. Jean was instrumental in starting hitch classes for all breeds including drafts, ponies and Roadsters at the local fairs and grew interest in the Clydesdale breed among French speaking Quebecers. Jean could be heard saying “Our bosses are our spectators, we have to make a good show for them to come” Over the years he showed a fancy black 6 horse hitch which they raised themselves. Jean was a talented hitch driver and people would anxiously wait for him to enter the ring with his horses,Over the years Jean imported 2 stallions and would raise 2 to 3 colts per year. They mostly showed in Quebec but also showed a few line horses at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto.Jean was President of the Quebec Clydesdale Association and Margot was the secretary. He was also a director for the Canadian Clydesdale Association. In 1998, he was inducted into the Quebec Agricultural Hall of Fame. Margot was the cornerstone of the operation and together they built a strong family spirit, still evident today in their 3 sons. The “Durham” prefix will carry on with his son Gilbert and wife Linda and his grandson Vincent.John was a true gentleman, a quality showman, and a great promoter. He was a true tribute to the Clydesdale breed who was respected by all who knew him.John passes away in 1996. He was 73.
Paul Fletcher - new brunswick - 1933 - 2015
Paul was married on August 8, 1959 to his wife Carol. They would have three daughters Barb, Karen and Jocelyn. All would go on to be active in the Clydesdale world at different levels and stages of their lives. Paul was a chicken farmer growing and maintaining his chicken quota from 1962 to 1999. He Started the North Stream Farm tack shop in 1975 named for the North branch of the Rusagonis Stream running through the farm. Karen and her husband Kevin would later carry on with the family business. He bought his first stallion in 1972 from the late great Gilbert Robison, a horse by the name of Collesie Benefactor. Gilbert was a long time mentor of Paul’s, and he was always proud to say so and pass anything that Gilbert has shared with him on to others for generations. That was just the kind of man that he was, always the gentleman farmer. Paul was someone that was always a tremendous sportsman and mentor to many over generations. He was always wanting to see others succeed and thrive even more so than himself. It was quite common for Paul to go out of his way to help and encourage newer breeders and those interested in showing with everything from lending harness and trucking animals to teaching the in and outs of how and why things needed to be done. Paul was a former President and board member of the New Brunswick Draft Horse Association for many years as well as a long standing member of the Agricultural society #34 in Fredericton Paul made the decision to change to black Clydes in the late seventies to do something different. In 1977 he harnessed and drove his six horse hitch the 11 kms from his home in Charters Settlement to the Fredericton Exhibition Grounds for the Provincial show where he was an avid showman from the early 1970s into the late 1990s. Paul was definitely larger than life and could be heard from most anywhere on any fairground with many of his famous sayings such as “Don’t touch that dial” which he would use just as things would seem to be not so in control but of course they always were. He was always a strong supporter of the youth in the draft horse and agricultural industries. Something that has been carried down by his family to this day. Paul passed away October 26, 2015 but will always be remembered by family and friends fellow exhibitors and breeders. In 2025 Paul’s grandson earned the distinguished NBDHA breeder of the year award for his breeding efforts with North Stream Foxy, carrying on the North Stream prefix for another generation. Something that Paul would have been so unbelievably proud of having watched and enjoyed the successes of others.
jock falconer - sask - 1883 - ?
Mr. Falconer was born in Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland in 1883. From the time he was a small boy until he came to Canada, he was engaged to care for and exhibit fine animals. For several years he was with well known firms of A.&W. Montgomery, Kirkcudbright.Having decided to come to Canada, Mr. Falconer was first employed by W.B. Ewen of Govan, Saskatchewan. Shortly after he was joined by Mrs. Falconer and his three children whom he had left in Scotland. In 1915 he went to George Milne’s at Semans to look after the famous Baron of Buchlyvie horse. That fall he went and fitted and exhibited horses for Hugh Gilmour and was very successful at both Brandon Manitoba and Regina Sk. shows. In 1917, Mr. Falconer purchased a son of Baron of Buchlyvie. He was not disappointed for in 1920 this colt was awarded the senior and grand championship at Regina and later proved a remarkably great breeding horse.Mr. Falconer started farming in 1919 and acquired some good mares from the late Grieg McIntrye at Govan Sk. Their progeny did very well at the Toronto Royal capturing championship honors 4 times. Since the famous Lochinvar who was imported by Ben Finlayson and purchased in 1928 by Mr. Falconer, came into Falconers hands he had captured 58 grand championships.J.E. Falconer, who made the Ethelton stud famous, dispersed most of his herd of clydesdales in 1936 and moved to Petrolia Ontario. Unfortunately, we have no more information after his moving to Ontario but Mr. Falconer played a huge role in the development of the Clydesdale Breed in Saskatchewan and throughout Canada.