Canadian Cowboy Challenge Update

The Challenge season has begun for 2023. At this time the CCC Board would like to thank the Challenge hosts for confirming their respective Challenge dates. Their support, effort and dedication makes it possible for the CCC to have a successful Challenge season. Hats off to you all for contributing to the success of the CCC.

We have started the Challenge season with the Haleyonia Double Header held in Saskatchewan on June 3 and 4 (results will be listed next month). New confirmed Challenges are: Haleyonia Double Header in Saskatchewan on July 29 and 30; and YKnott Double Header in Alberta on August 26 and 27. Another play day has been confirmed at YKnott North, Alberta on August 25. For more information and details go to the CCC website.

I need to apologize for stating that the photo of Janet and Jazz in the March issue was taken at Sunwest. The photo was actually taken at YKnott North. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Melissa wrote in, “My horse Elly and I were a new pair last year doing obstacles. Most she had not seen before. We worked a lot on trying to just look forward and let her find her feet and ‘where’ she needed to be going over or through an obstacle.”

Melissa’s approach for doing obstacles for the team is an effective one. For the horse, familiarity of the obstacles is important as it gives the horse confidence and a sense of competency. The team is building trust within the relationship and is able to depend on one another when the occasion arises.

Also helpful at this time is just plain riding in the arena or field. Working on obstacles all the time can bring on boredom or saturation of obstacles to the point the horse is not paying attention any more.

 By Hans Kollewyn

With just riding (time in the saddle), working on the communication skills within the team can be accomplished. There is less pressure to perform and a way to just enjoy and have fun riding. In an open field or going down a trail you can still ask for shoulder in or shoulder out, haunches in or haunches out, stop and do a turn on the forehand, stop and side pass left and then stop and side pass right, backing up in a serpentine pattern, and so on. The list is limitless and picking one or two maneuvers during a ride is enhancing the communication process within the team with no or little pressure to perform. As well, just riding lessens the risk of anticipating what is coming up and helps the horse be fresher on obstacles.

There will be results available for the July issue and maybe a few more confirmed Challenges. I hope all is going well with your riding experience. Take care.