Going outdoors has opened up the challenges faced by riders and their horses in Extreme Cowboy Alberta (ECA).

Last weekend, the Cochrane Ag Grounds hosted an Extreme Cowboy event and participants had a day of practice before they collectively completed almost 50 runs on July 30. 

With the cooperation of the Cochrane and District Agricultural Society, ECA has been able to create the only outdoor course in Canada and it has been a challenge ECA course designer Ross Scarrow enjoyed. It's a much larger than the arena and that makes it even more interesting for participants.

"Once you come outside, it's a brand new environment for these horses," says Scarrow. "They are basically arena horses that have been rode in there all winter long and they get it down pretty good. So once you add a new element, like an outdoor course, she's a brand new day."

"We have so much more rooms and we can put in more natural obstacles like jumps and stuff that are closer to what they face out in the bush."

Extreme Cowboy is in its fifth season and it's a timed event that challenges the rider and their horse to complete a number of tasks laid out along an obstacle course. The degree of difficult 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. Here in Alberta, it's particularly popular with women, who makeup about 92 per cent of ECA;s membership, says Scarrow. It's a fun, safe equine sport geared to all ages and skill levels, starting with the young guns, ages 7-11. all the way to a pro division.

Extreme Cowboy returns to Cochrane on Aug. 18-19 for a doubleheader during the Cochrane Fair and following the regionals in Nanton, they are here again on Oct. 9 for the Alberta finals. Winners advance to the world championship being hosted in Hamilton, TX on Nov. 1.

The first to third winners were:

Young Guns: 1st, Sarah Gullickson riding Raya; 2nd, Brady Hambrook riding Marco; 3rd, Lilian Salomonson riding Freckles

 Novice: 1st, Connie Larsen riding Tig; 2nd, Christine Gray riding Poncho; 3rd, Anna Kuriachan riding Skye

 Green Horse: 1st, Trevor Mertes riding Cleo; 2nd, Bob Lee riding ER Xandy; 3rd, Trevor Mertes riding Seven

 Youth: 1st, Ariana Gray riding Poncho; 2nd, Raegan Wasilka riding Raya; 3rd, Kyla Lightfoot riding Sammie

Intermediate: 1st, Rick Wickland riding Chrome;  Jim Wilson riding Buddy; 3rd, Ariana Gray riding Poncho

Non Pro: 1st, Gina Howard riding Zack; 2nd, Doris Heintz ridng Happy; 3rd, Jim Wilson riding Buddy

Ride Smart 55+: 1st, Rick Wickland riding Chrome; 2nd, Doris Heintz riding Happy; 3rd, Connie Larsen riding Tig

Pro: 1st, David Cowley riding Tucker; 2nd, Jim Wilson riding Buddy; 3rd, Nicole Hirsekorn riding A Strong Will