What do "Young Guns" do on a weekend for fun?  They compete at an Extreme Cowboy Alberta event, as they did on Sunday at the Cochrane and District Ag Society Arena. 

Extreme Cowboy competitions are set up to showcase the partnership between horse and rider over an obstacle course. 

Michelle Grasley, Extreme Cowboy Alberta Secretary, says that the Extreme Cowboy competitions are "based on good horsemanship,  you want a willing partner to do what you ask, its very much an athletic course,  like an agility course for horses".  

She goes on to explain that events are both timed and judged. Riders win based upon points for completion of obstacles and riding ability, not just on how quickly they complete the course.

Sunday's competition was well attended, with 54 runs in total.   There were a total of 8 divisions at Sunday's race, and the winners of each divison were:

  • Young Guns - Austin Northcott
  • Novice - Christine Gray
  • Green Horse - Melissa Maerz
  • Youth - Heather Burchnall
  • Intermediate - Michelle Grasley
  • Non-Pro -Michelle Grasley
  • Ride Smart - Rock Heintz
  • Pro - Rock Heintz

Grasley says that this is the 5th season for the local competitions and they hold about 10 races a year.  Some of the Alberta competitiors are tracking points to attend the Extreme Cowboy Association World Finals in Texas, where riders from about 7 or 8 countries are in attendance.  

The next ECA competition in Cochrane at the Ag Society Arena is the weekend of May 6 and 7.