Pincher Ag Society hosts Canadian Cowboy Challenge

Canadian Cowboy Challenge: Danita Phelan and John Brogan
C. Davis photos

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Pincher Creek and District Agricultural Society held their first annual Pincher Canadian Cowboy Challenge, a sanctioned event, at the Horseshoe Pavilion on Sunday, September 29.  The Canadian Cowboy Challenge is into its third year, and is continuing to grow in popularity.  Events are judged but competition isn't the real point.  It's really all about personal development and developing the partnership between rider and horse. To that end various challenges have been fashioned to help develop trust, and the pace is often unhurried.

Dalin Watmough and Coda participating n their first Cowboy Challenge

Jeannie Rumary passes through the noodles

Danita Phelan was the main judge for the event, assisted by others, including Amy Evano, who is more commonly seen as a competitor at these events. Phelan is the President of The Canadian Cowboy Challenge board of directors.  Dick Hardy announced, keeping up a constant calming patter as he described the course and participants and interesting tidbits of information throughout the day.  Indeed, calm is one very apt word to describe the Challenge.

Non-members were allowed to participate but were not eligible for cash prizes.

Miss Rodeo Pincher Creek Chelsea Stokke helped with the event

Janet Taylor on her 'go-to cattle horse' Skippy

It's the opposite of rodeo, in many ways, emphasizing co-operation between horse and rider instead of control and domination.  The rider is in charge, certainly, but in a much subtler way than one might find at, say, steer wrestling events.

A clinic was held the day before the event.

Chelsea Stokke congratulates Heidi Eijgel on her win

The event was divided into 5 categories: Open, Novice, Buckin' Crazies, Older Than Dirt, and Non Pro.  Non-members were ineligible for prizes but were welcome to participate.  The fact that the event was held inside the Pavilion was a blessing this day, as the winds howled outside.  Camping nearby was available to those who wanted it.

Judy MacKenzie and Tacey on the teeter-totter

There were 13 obstacles, normal for the Canadian Cowboy Challenge, including a teeter-totter, a curtain with a new twist - beer cups that rattled to further alarm the horses, a jump, a square for 180 and 360 degree turns ('the box'), a water challenge, a stuffed bear supplied by Fish and Wildlife (the horses were particularly wary of that obstacle), a wagon to be towed, canvas on a pulley, barrels to back through, and other assorted items.

Shelby Rosier and Nova in the 180/360 box
Participating in their first Canadian Cowboy Challenge

Riders are awarded points based on five criteria, including horsemanship, control, cadence, the attitude of the horse, and execution.  Free rides at the beginning and end of the courses help the horses relax.  Each challenge must be completed within a predefined amount of time, with rider and horse moving on to the next challenge if the horse balks at completing one within that time. Horse and rider see the course for the first time as they attempt it.  Some were participating in the Cowboy Challenge for the very first time.

Pincher Creek Ag Society President Janet Watmough
was having a ball at the Canadian Cowboy Challenge

This kind of event only happens with the dedication of a small army of volunteers and sponsors, and the organizers repeatedly expressed their thanks to the individuals and organizations that made it possible.

"I think the fact that so many members of our community got involved in putting this on is wonderful," said organizer Heidi Eijgel.  Sixteen volunteers helped.  "Everyone just jumped in.  Our club is a tight-knit group, and everyone contributed, and we had so much fun putting this course together."  One of the benefits to holding the event inside was the level of decoration possible without the wind factor playing a limiting role.  It truly was a visually attractive course.  "Without the Ag Society's support we couldn't do it.  They're an amazing organization,  they enable this kind of thing."

Cindi Wilinski on Runty

Eijgel worked with some like minded folks to bring the Cowboy Challenge to Pincher Creek  on February 6 of this year.  "And that started it," she said.  "We had a full clinic and got our horses used to these crazy obstacles.  You have to be a good horseman and you have to be calm.  Everyone just loves doing it, it's really fun, and the horses like it too.  So from February 6 on our group stayed together and we all made obstacles, and we've gotten together and practiced,  and they had another clinic with Dick Hardy, he has been a huge support.  Then we did some demonstrations."

Jeannie Rumary

"It's all slowly come together, and for Pincher Creek this is the culmination to have this event and to have people from BC,  people from the other side of Alberta, from Cochrane... that's a big draw, and these are serious Cowboy Challenge competitors.  This is the end of their season, their finals are at the end of October."

Deana Bjornson, participating in her first Canadian Cowboy Challenge

Cowboy Challenge member Amy Evano was volunteering as a scribe for this event, keeping a record of results as the participants worked their way around the course.  "It gives me some insight into what the judges look for in the challenge," she said.  "I also like it because it shows me the way that the judges score, so it will help me next year when I compete on my new horse."

Tammy Botsford on Jake

"The word will get around about what a professional outfit they've provided down here and there will be a lot more people come from further away next time, I would think," said John Brogan, who was effusive in his praise for the quality of the challenges prepared by organizers and volunteers here both visually and practically, adding that the Pincher Creek event was one of the smoothest-run Challenges he has seen.

Pamela Sabo in her first Cowboy Challenge

Ray Lifeson on his trail horse Brady

Sue Anne Wearmouth on Tess

The Canadian Cowboy Challenge was established in 2011 following in the hoofprints of Craig Cameron's Texas based Extreme Cowboy Association.  This is the third year of competitive events for the Canadian chapter, held throughout western Canada.  Pincher Creek's involvement has been spearheaded by Heidi Eijgel and Janet Watmough.

Dick Hardy, Chelsea Stokke, Janet Watmough

Results:

• Novice – 1st John Brogan, 2nd Delin Watmough
• Buckin Crazies - 1st Heidi Eijgel
• Older Than Dirt 1st - Judy MacKenzie, 2nd Jeannie Rumary, 3rd Sue Anne Wearmouth
• Non-Pro - 1st Tammy Botsford, 2nd Judy MacKenzie, 3rd Jeannie Rumary, 4th Pamela Sabo, 5th Sue Anne Wearmouth
• Open - 1st Tammy Botsford, 2nd Judy MacKenzie, 3rd Sue Anne Wearmouth

Related stories:

Amy Evano takes 1st in Canadian Cowboy Challenge event

Two days of thrills at 2013 Pincher Creek Cowboy Show Ranch Rodeo

Related links:

Canadian Cowboy Challenge

Extreme Cowboy Association