The Dunmore Equestrian Society is hosting a Chore Team Competition featuring heavy horse teams Saturday at their outdoor arena. The competition kicks off at 1 pm with admission costing $10 at the gate with children under 16 free.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Before cars and the time of mail carriers like FedEx and Purolator, it was the job of the local draymen and their horses to pick up packages and mail from the train station and deliver them to businesses throughout small communities.
To revive that tradition the Dunmore Equestrian Society is hosting a Chore Team Competition in its outdoor arena Saturday that will include 10 heavy horse teams competing in various horse-themed events that simulate navigating a town on horseback.
“This event highlights the strength and skill of our teams, celebrates heritage and brings people together for a day of fun and camaraderie,” says chairman Blair Reid.
Draymen played a vital role in local economies as they were responsible for delivering goods and supplies to businesses and had to often navigate small streets, spaces and tight turns with heavy loads.
“The obstacles we put up kind of simulate the obstacles a drayman would do during his day of delivery,” says Reid. “We have a figure eight we drive them through, we have a stone bolt they pull and then we have a keyhole.
“We take the wagon in the keyhole and the horse has to go and hook up a wagon in front of the keyhole without touching any truck line.”
Teamsters will also perform a parallel parking simulation, lead their horses over a small bridge and simulate backing up to a train.
This will be the fourth Chore Team Competition the society has held since 2020, and it has grown into a highly anticipated large horse event that is unique to southern Alberta.
“We started off with about 30 or 40 spectators, most of those were family,” says Reid. “We’ve grown to close to 1,000 people here at the last one we had.”
Heavy horse teams travel from across the province and parts of Saskatchewan to compete in the traditional event, including Lumsden and Maple Creek as well as Lethbridge, Manyberries and Suffield.
“There is no other (Chore Team Competition) around this area,” explains Reid. “Seeing 10 heavy-horse teams coming it will be quite a spectacular day because the horses are all different breeds.”
The three-hour competition runs this Saturday and kicks off at 1 p.m. at the Dunmore Equestrian outdoor arena. Admission will be $10 at the gate, while children 16 and under are free.
“We are always excited to bring back the Chore Team Competition,” says Reid. “These teamsters spend a lot of time with their horses getting ready for this event.”
