Setting record with horsepower

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

Despite already being in possession of the world record for maneuvering a 46-horse hitch of Percherons, Neil Dimmock isn’t putting the brakes on the horsepower just yet, attempting to set an American record this summer and using Strathmore to set the stage.
Farmers Dimmock and Bill Engman will recreate Canadian cowboy Ralph “Slim” Moorhouse’s hitch of 36 horses and 10 grain-wagons, claimed to be the world’s longest hitch at the Calgary Stampede Parade in 1925, in the city this year.
However, before taking their nearly 300-foot-long hitch to Calgary’s downtown streets from Gleichen, the team, consisting of 50 horses and 40 walkers, will stop over in Strathmore to attempt the American record for longest hitch involving 52 horses.
“We’re kind of history buffs, we’re kind of adventurers … we have a film company in the [United States] that is going to make a documentary of our tour and of the tours is stopping here in Strathmore and we’re going to attempt a North American record,” said Dimmock, who was presented with the world record of a 46-hitch in Mundare, Alta. by the Canadian Percheron Association in 2003. “For myself, personally, it’s the history. I’ve been surrounded by history my whole life, my whole family has. Getting through downtown Calgary with a hitch that’s over 300 feet long is a challenge.”
The team will start their trek in Gleichen on July 2, continue on to Namaka, and arrive at the fairgrounds in Strathmore on July 3. Dimmock will then attempt the record on July 4, hooking up the 52 equines and riding them around for public viewing before carrying on to Cheadle the following day with the regular hitch. The route then continues to Chestermere and finally Calgary to show off the hitch in the 2016 Calgary Stampede parade.
“We have areas that are going to be set up for viewing along the way, it’s mandated by the county,” said Engman. “With the new Bill 6 we have to stop every two hours. We have muster points that we’ve already allocated where we will stop for half an hour to rest, because there’ll be 40 walkers with the horses. They have to walk all the way.”
Covering a route nearly 95 km long, the team is expected to leave behind 21 km on the first day. While the wagon typically holds 120 bushels of wheat – contributing additional weight – Dimmock spoke of false bottoms to create the illusion for when striving to break the record.
The Big Hitch will be at the rodeo grounds in Strathmore on July 3-5. For more information visit www.thebighitch.myevent.com.