Crazy Chuckwagon races.........
Canadian Fathers Day.......
Sunday 17th June.....
What better way to spend it than to go & watch the famous "Chuck" races at Dewberry.....just up the road......???
The first part of the show were the 'trick' riders.....
One of the trick riders was (one of the teachers at school) Tyler Venaas's daughter, Paynton.....9 years old and fearless!
Paynton & her partner were incredible.....handstands, overhangs, underhangs, riding upside down holding on with one foot - covering all sides of the horse & both horse & rider wearing more bling than I will ever have in my lifetime!
The most amazing part was that I would NEVER have the guts or skill to do what they do.......is that the difference between being 9 & 48 yrs old ???
Well.....how to explain "chuck races"........????
Madness on wheels.....with horses????
Really, ..... it's teams made up of two drivers (but only one races), a wagon, two 'outriders'......they start in a very small arena......wagons first, outriders next. The wagons head off first, then outriders, but the outriders must throw a barrel into the back of the wagon, then follow the wagons out at a respectable (set) distance, then they all careen out of the
arena & race each other around the track........I am not doing this madness justice!!!!
There are rules, but it doesn't look like it to the uninitiated?! It just looks like a crazy dash for the end line....,horses, wagons, mud & dirt flying, fierce competition....
The horses are generally thoroughbreds...speed, agility....not sure what the qualifications for the drivers & outriders are.....balls, guts, insanity????
Imagine a horse. Not just any horse but something one of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse might ride. Imagine this horse frothing at the mouth, stamping, kicking and lunging and straining to be free so it can catch some errant angel and then stomp all over it. It's been so long since you have seen anything but white you can't remember the colour of it's eyes but instead of letting Satan have it back you decide to tie it up with another three beasts who aren't as easy to handle. Imagine, then, deciding to tie these hot blooded, mad thoroughbreds to a box of plywood set on four wheels. You know that the contraption will infuriate them. You know it will bounce and slide and rattle and no matter how hard they run it will chase them all the way back down into the inferno. Imagine deciding that sitting on this box is actually a good idea. Now imagine looking around and seeing three other boxes tied up to 12 more mad beasts with obviously deranged drivers sitting behind them. Behind you are two outriders who will throw things in your box and yell and scream at you and then race off. Imagine waiting for the starter. What sort of prayers will you say?
This is Chuckwagon racing. A Roman chariot race spectacle. Blood, mud and glory. Gladiators in cowboy hats. YEEEHAAAW!
The sad part was that we saw two races & then the heavens opened......not just a passing shower....
Vin....":I think I just saw a fish swim by...." !?!
And so.....the rest of the races were cancelled....too dangerous.......
We waited........
And then swam back to Clandonald........................................
Sunday 17th June.....
What better way to spend it than to go & watch the famous "Chuck" races at Dewberry.....just up the road......???
The first part of the show were the 'trick' riders.....
One of the trick riders was (one of the teachers at school) Tyler Venaas's daughter, Paynton.....9 years old and fearless!
Paynton & her partner were incredible.....handstands, overhangs, underhangs, riding upside down holding on with one foot - covering all sides of the horse & both horse & rider wearing more bling than I will ever have in my lifetime!
The most amazing part was that I would NEVER have the guts or skill to do what they do.......is that the difference between being 9 & 48 yrs old ???
Well.....how to explain "chuck races"........????
Madness on wheels.....with horses????
Really, ..... it's teams made up of two drivers (but only one races), a wagon, two 'outriders'......they start in a very small arena......wagons first, outriders next. The wagons head off first, then outriders, but the outriders must throw a barrel into the back of the wagon, then follow the wagons out at a respectable (set) distance, then they all careen out of the
arena & race each other around the track........I am not doing this madness justice!!!!
There are rules, but it doesn't look like it to the uninitiated?! It just looks like a crazy dash for the end line....,horses, wagons, mud & dirt flying, fierce competition....
The horses are generally thoroughbreds...speed, agility....not sure what the qualifications for the drivers & outriders are.....balls, guts, insanity????
Imagine a horse. Not just any horse but something one of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse might ride. Imagine this horse frothing at the mouth, stamping, kicking and lunging and straining to be free so it can catch some errant angel and then stomp all over it. It's been so long since you have seen anything but white you can't remember the colour of it's eyes but instead of letting Satan have it back you decide to tie it up with another three beasts who aren't as easy to handle. Imagine, then, deciding to tie these hot blooded, mad thoroughbreds to a box of plywood set on four wheels. You know that the contraption will infuriate them. You know it will bounce and slide and rattle and no matter how hard they run it will chase them all the way back down into the inferno. Imagine deciding that sitting on this box is actually a good idea. Now imagine looking around and seeing three other boxes tied up to 12 more mad beasts with obviously deranged drivers sitting behind them. Behind you are two outriders who will throw things in your box and yell and scream at you and then race off. Imagine waiting for the starter. What sort of prayers will you say?
This is Chuckwagon racing. A Roman chariot race spectacle. Blood, mud and glory. Gladiators in cowboy hats. YEEEHAAAW!
The sad part was that we saw two races & then the heavens opened......not just a passing shower....
Vin....":I think I just saw a fish swim by...." !?!
And so.....the rest of the races were cancelled....too dangerous.......
We waited........
And then swam back to Clandonald........................................
Am I not gorgeous???
Go girls!.......oh hell, I would be biting my nails too!........yes.......... there are young woman hanging from those horses....look carefully!
Veteran Chuckriders.............
YEEEHAW !!!!
Get in, saddle up, sit down,ride like the wind........hold on & shut up!!!