Vancouver Island’s third annual Western Weekend, at the Coombs Rodeo Grounds is set for April 21 and 22.
Sponsored by Buckerfields, the free event includes ranch sorting and team penning competitions, a ranch horse obstacle course, a barbecue and country dance Saturday night. Organizer Sue Sheppard is encouraging riders and spectators to attend and participate in the weekend events.
“You are in for a treat to see great horsemanship. This event only happens once a year and we all look forward to it.”
The ranch horse obstacle course is a two-minute, timed event where riders are to complete as many obstacles that they can. Sheppard said it is a fun event to watch.
“This includes roping a dummy cow, going over a bridge, pulling a log, loading into the trailer, going through the cowboy shower, jumping a log, and crossing water. Riders can pick and choose the ones they want to do.”
Sheppard also invites those unfamiliar with these events, to join in and learn what makes them so exciting.
Team penning is a fast paced event and competitors can learn quickly how the rules work.
However, in each run the cattle have the opportunity to make the game a whole lot more unpredictable.
“It sounds easy enough, but the cows have a total different agenda. The team with the (most) cows in the pen with the quickest time wins.”
In the team ranch sorting competition, there are teams with 12 cows at the other end of the arena. They are numbered 0-9 and two are without a number.
“When the team hears the random number called out one member goes into the heard and cuts the numbered cow out away from the heard and over the line.
“Then the next goes in and cuts the cows out in numeric ordered until 190 seconds is called. The team with the most amount of cows over wins.”
The action starts at 10 a.m. Saturday and at 9 a.m. on Sunday and will wrap up around 4 p.m. both days.
Participants win money prizes and in the obstacle course they win a belt buckle.
For more information, contact event organizers at htphye@telus.net.