With no disrespect intended towards the skilled cowboys, the horses are among the bright stars at the 6th Annual Foothills Kicking Horse Futurity Rodeo this Wednesday night, July 12, at the Lions Rodeo Grounds.

Some of the top four and five year old rodeo horse prospects will be featured at the futurity bucking event and the best horses, as well as the riders, could find a place in the lineup of the biggest rodeos in North America.

It has been six years since Jimmy Richards started the event that is more common in the States and is growing in popularity in Canada. His is the only one that has been held annually in the country, although others are starting to pop up.

"This is the first year I've actually been saunctioned, I've always just been on my own. So it's starting to catch on a little bit," says Richards.

About 10 to 12 contractors wlll be bringing teams of three horses to the rodeo to buck in bareback and saddle bronc events. Like regular rodeos, the riders will be judged, but in this rodeo so are the horses.

The winning team of horses can win their contractor $3,000 to $4,000 while the winning cowboy can walk away with $1,200.

"The cowboys get paid like in any other rodeo but the difference with this one is the best horses also make money," he explains.

An added incentive for both the contractors and the cowboys is the doors their performances may open.

"Usually there are few few eyes in the stands. I know of at least two horses that have been to the National Finals Rodeo in Vegas after they went in my thing. A lot of them went on to professional rodeos and three of the riders who came through futurity rodeo were at the NFR, too."

An added attraction at the rodeo is a performance by 7-year-old trick Rider Piper Yule who's been doing the rodeo circuit since an even younger age and will also be performing at this year's Calgary Stampede.

The rodeo starts at 6 p.m. and runs for about two hours. Admission is $10 and youth ages 12 and under enter free of charge. Beverages and food will be available on the grounds.