Local heavy horse puller shines at the Calgary Stampede

Times Reporter         

 

The pulling team of ‘Rock’em, Sock’em,’ who have Nightingale’s own Cody Casebeer on the squad, were successful at the heavy horse pull event at the Calgary Stampede on July 13. 

The horses, which were big beautiful Belgians, had a weigh-in at 3,573 lbs combined in the heavyweight division. Casebeer’s team was up against competing teams that had a total of 4,000 lbs combined weight.

“It was a really good experience there (the Calgary Stampede) – the heavy horse pull was something I recently got into and wanted to really try and go on and do stuff locally with,” said Casebeer. 

Most of the pulls that he does are around Edmonton and it was a nice change to have a competition close by.  

“And the Stampede being a pretty big stage, it was really amazing to be able to get in there,” said Casebeer.

Teamster Casebeer, as he is referred to by his teammates and in events, used horses Rocky and Sox, and finished with a 9,000 lbs pull, which was a personal best for this team. The result was an exceptional one considering the team has only been together for three months. 

“I had two months to get them (the team and horses) together and get them working – it was a bit of a battle trying to get them to work together … I got there and they totally surprised me how the team worked together in pulling,” said Casebeer.

As for competition in this event at the Calgary Stampede, it was Casebeer’s first time there.

“I started doing horse pulls as of last year and quite new to the sport itself,” said Casebeer.

His parents are his biggest supporters of where he is today and Casebeer gives all the credit to them. 

“We could not have done this without the support of the evener (the person who hitches up the team to pull), Eric Casebeer (father), and the handler/groomer Crystal Casebeer (my mother),” he said. “A special thanks goes to Alberta Carriage Supply, our auction buyer and our behind the scenes team.”

Casebeer would also like to extend the thank you to the other teamsters and the Calgary Stampede heavy horse pull committee.