Wild horse racing gaining steam on Siksika Nation

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

The quintessential rodeo sport is aiming for revitalization at Siksika Nation.
The Winter Classic Wild Horse Racing mini series is new this winter to the Siksika Nation Ag Centre and is hoping to rekindle the rodeo spirits in its long-lost event.
Joe Good Eagle is the man behind the mini-series this winter, and he is hoping to bring back a sport that has sadly seen disappearing interest from rodeo fans, in his opinion.
“Wild horse racing has been dropped by many mainstream rodeos and has lost attention over the years,” said Good Eagle. “Wild horse races were the birth of rodeo; they combine parts of every rodeo event into one event.”
Three-man teams — a mugger, a jockey and a shank man — line up for each horse race. The horse is released from the bucking shoots, as the three-man unit tries to slow the horse down only aided by a lead rope, mount it and ride it across the finish line.
The wild horse race opens up the Rockyford Rodeo each summer, and features upwards of 10 teams competing at the same time.
Good Eagle’s event in Siksika pins two teams against each other. The teams aren’t competing against one another, but rather against the clock.
Each event is a two-head run, meaning each team gets two cracks at the fastest time, with the winning team pocketing $1,000.
Seven teams competed during the first running of the Winter Classic; a couple of Alberta teams and a pair from the state of Washington. Good Eagle stated that his dream is to have at least 15 teams by the end of the season.
As a way to help grow the sport, the Winter Classic also features junior races and wild pony races for teenagers. The juniors compete on Welsh ponies as a way to build up confidence before moving onto bigger animals.
The Winter Classic, which runs once a month, usually last upwards of four hours, as fans get an upfront and personal view of the iconic rodeo sport.
The next chance to catch the Winter Classic in action goes Jan. 27. Other dates set are Feb. 24 and March 24, with the finals running sometime in April.
Good Eagle has high hopes for the horse event. Not only does he want to make it a common event again, he wants to attract the kind of talent and excitement the Heemsah Memorial Wild Horse Race does at the White Swan rodeo grounds on the Yakama Nation in Washington zstate.
Beginners are encouraged, too. Good Eagle supports the idea of any interested teams joining the competition, or even curious athletes wanting to learn more about the sport. While it is a predominantly male sport, there has been the odd girl to hop into the ring with the wild horses.
Any interested cowboys or cowgirls are invited to give Good Eagle a call at 1-403-734-3724, or 1-403-324-0806.