The Calgary Stampede is back and this time I’m prepared. I gots myself a proper cowboy shirt, a big ol’ belt buckle and of course the boots that Ashley so kindly gave me. But I wasn’t sure I would get a chance to head down to the grounds apart from today so I popped along to catch some of the team penning that I had enjoyed so much last year.
Team penning is fantastic entertainment. This little vid shot on my phone doesn’t do it justice but I’m really hooked. It’s a bit like One Man and his Dog. Only with 3 people. On horses. With cows. The idea is you have to separate 3 numbered cows from the heard of 30 and drive them back to the pen at the other end of the building. You’re only allowed one cow with another number to pass the half-way line or else you’re done. There’s a time limit of 61 seconds but we were privileged to witness a Stampede record of 16 seconds! This video isn’t it.
These folks are genuine cowboys (and girls). Their riding skills are just amazing and I hope this video gives a bit of a taste.
