Jose de la Certa is seen sorting cattle in the Team Sorting event and Paige Goldsmith, winner of the Top Puncher is seen carrying the slicker at the Heritage Gather this past weekend held by Dunmore Equestrian which celebrated western and Indigenous culture.--PHOTOS COURTESY SUSAN REX - The Buckin' Photographer
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Organizers of the 2025 Heritage Gather held in Dunmore this past weekend say the celebration of Western and Indigenous culture continues to grow at the Equestrian Centre, and this year the new Community Ranch indoor arena was used while it sprinkled rain periodically.
The annual event attracts professional rodeo riders and amateurs to the region each July for two nights of competition hosted by Rugged Rodeo, a rodeo company that travels to communities across Western Canada each summer to host pro rodeo events.
“Both nights we had some good competitors,” said Kelly Creasy, president Dunmore Equestrian. “We had some good competitors, some pro cowboys came and did a good job, and local people. It’s kind of a mixture and there were lots of people competing and prize money was spread around amongst them. It was a good competition.”
The rodeo event also included a jackpot for barrel racing and team roping.
Rain fell on Saturday evening, however it didn’t disrupt celebrations. Events including the super puncher competition, pow wow demonstrations and a rodeo dance and live concert were held under the roof of the new Community Ranch Arena, which includes bleacher seating.
The new heated arena opened earlier this year and allows the Dunmore Equestrian Society to host year-round training sessions.
“I think the people were much more comfortable on Saturday,” said Creasy.
Local Indigenous artist, storyteller and community leader Brenda Mercer held a medicine bag crafting workshop, and several dancers from Medicine Hat took part in pow wow demonstrations.
Creasy says it’s important that the annual Heritage Gather to show appreciation toward Indigenous Peoples.
“The base group was actually local Medicine Hatters, so we’re really liking how we are using local talents for the demonstrations.
New this year, organizers of the Heritage Gather held team sorting and gymkhana competitions, along with the return of the super puncher competition, to provide attendees a more in-depth perspective of the work involved as a Canadian producer.
A super puncher competition involves a cowboy or cowgirl completing a course that simulates the work of a ranch hand, including pulling a sled, loading a trailer and roping a cow.
“They had to do it all at once as quickly as they could, and the fastest guy won,” said Creasy.
In a team sorting competition, two riders on horseback work to separate and sort cattle from a herd and usually have to herd one cattle into a designated pen, or certain cattle in a specific order.
The exciting gymkhana competition features speed and agility events such as pole bending, flag racing and dual-barrel racing events that emphasize horsemanship, accuracy and precision.
“A course where they run around through poles situated in a big loop in the arena,” explains Creasy. “Another one is kind of like barrel racing, but there’s only two barrels and you just come out, you turn around one, then you run across, turn around the other and then back.”
This year marked the fifth Heritage Gather celebration held by Dunmore Equestrian. Organizers say the annual outdoor event continues to draw larger attendance numbers each year while gaining support from the community.
“I see the attendance when we initially started, it wasn’t great five years ago,” says Creasy. “But I can see that it’s building and building. We have a lot more people interested in it and we have more people showing up to see it again.”
