This weekend's Cochrane Fair is an ideal time to get a taste of Extreme Cowboy Alberta (ECA) competitions on the grounds of the Cochrane and District Agricultural Society (CDAS).

CDAS is home to the only outdoor extreme cowboy course in Western Canada and provides spectators with a different look at the fastest growing equestrian sport in North America. The season started indoors in April and switched to the outdoor course in July. 

(file photo/Noel Edey)

After a Friday 'playday' for participants, there are races both Saturday and Sunday until 5 p.m. Young guns, riders ages 7 to 11, are up first and the pros finish up the day in the late afternoon. There's also youth, novice, intermediate, nonpro, green horse and ride smart categories that accommodate a range of skill levels and ages.

It's a timed event that challenges the rider and their horse to complete several tasks laid out along an obstacle course. The degree of difficulty varies to suit skill levels, but all the challenges are largely based upon everyday scenarios faced by cowboys and tests their relationship with their horse.

The sport was introduced in Canada at the Calgary Stampede and has since grown with events in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. It started in Texas and has grown to be a worldwide sport.

ECA is in its seventh season and continues to be going strong, says chair Rick Wickland. Competitors come here from across Alberta and British Columbia to challenge the outdoor and indoor course, earning points along the way for a shot at qualifying for the world championship being held in Glen Rose, TX, Nov. 5-10. The top 60 per cent of riders are eligible to compete at the Worlds.

After this weekend there's only one more outdoor competition left in the season. During the regional race, they'll compete outdoors on Sept. 7 and indoors on Sept. 8.