Grant and Kim Gee have contributed to the horse world locally and abroad for over 40 years.
Best known as Morsky Roselea Belgians, the Gees have raised Belgians on their property a couple of miles south of Virden for the better part of two decades.
Partners with Wayne Morsky (former Virdenite, now Regina businessman), the Gees have shown Morsky Roselea Belgians in large shows such as Canadian Western Agribition and the Calgary Stampede.
The Gees have also supported the ‘Milk Run’ and local fairs with their drafts and light horse entries over the years.
Grant Gee is well known as a trainer and their Belgian stock have found homes all the way to Texas.
The rodeo committee established the “Horsemen’s Hall of Fame” to honour some of the people who have made an exemplary contribution as breeders, promoters, organizers, competitors, or in countless other ways. The Gees certainly fill that bill.
Grant and Kim each have a strong background in the horse industry. Grant’s father Don Gee, a horseman all his life and one of the first PMU contractors in the 1960s, also raised Belgians.
He was the recipient of the Horseman’s Hall of Fame in 2005.
Kim’s father, Ken Bridgeman, was also among the original PMU contractors. Bridgeman became well known for his herd of Appaloosa horses and passed on his love of horses to his family as well.
“I grew up on a horse,” says Kim. “I’ve ridden PFRA (community) pasture, I’ve done a little bit of it all, a little bit of rodeo when I was young.”
The couple met at a PMU function. “It was history from there. We got married and we’ve been married 26 years now.”
The Gees have also raised the next generation - their three children, Kelsey, Nicolas and Kacee, to follow in their footsteps. Kim considers this to be their most important accomplishment noting, “Our kids have done very well.”
The Gees are slowing down, not actively showing now. They are hoping to do more travelling, to visit horsey friends and enjoy horses in the south when winter takes over in Manitoba. Although they still have an ongoing breeding program, the horses are going to their son Nicolas this fall.
Locally, the Gees continue to support the industry they love.
“We’ve always been involved with the shows even if we’re not showing.” They volunteer with the Virden Draft Horse Show, providing behind the scenes work to help make the show the success that it is.
Along with their personal achievements in the show ring and seeing the next generation take hold in the industry, there are other rewards.
“I love the spring when the mares are foaling,” says Kim. “And showing, for sure – driving. I love driving carts.”
Training the drafts is Grant’s passion. Along with educating their own young stock to behave, to drive safely and in style, he also takes in outside horses, training for others.
It is very satisfying to see progress, the big difference in the horses from when they come to the farm (some barely halter broke) and when they leave, explains Kim.
But Grant’s work is most thoroughly proven in the six-horse hitch. That’s a big highlight for him. “Driving the six, it’s a high,” he says.
Grant also works full-time with Mainline Enterprises. Kim has a cleaning business and she is a wedding decorator.
“I was surprised when they called me. I was kind of shocked. I was actually decorating a wedding when I got the phone call,” she says.
“Both Grant and I were very honoured, we really appreciate it. It’s nice to be recognized.”
