Before the advent of the internal combustion engine, it’s no secret that humankind relied on beasts of burden to get various jobs done, and draft horses were the beasts of choice when it came to settling Western Canada.
Draft horses have traditionally been bred for heavy tasks such as ploughing and farm labour. Over time, they were bred to also possess the traits of strength, patience and a docile temperament. These traits allowed them to help us build roads, pull wagons, haul dirt and rock from building sites, assist firefighters in transporting their equipment, and plough fields for planting crops. Over half a million of them were used during World War I to support military efforts, and their use today is still favoured in situations where individuals wish to farm with a renewable source of power.
In honour of the role that draft horses have played in helping to shape our western heritage, new this year to the Stampede is Draft Horse Town, located on Saddledome Lane between the Pengrowth Saddledome to the north and the Agriculture Building to the south. Featuring heritage exhibits which show the roles these horses played in helping to settle the West, build Calgary’s first buildings, their roles in the various World Wars, and everything in between.
With multiple interactive displays and exhibits, including a stage area with live demonstrations, music, and other entertainment, Draft Horse Town will give visitors an idea of the role that these magnificent beasts have played in Western Canada’s history and a taste of what life was like when their use was prominent.
There are four main draft horse breeds (Belgian, Clydesdale, Percheron, and Shire) and they will all be showcased at Draft Horse Town in various exhibits and demonstrations. Also known as Heavy Horses, visitors have the option as well to get up close and personal with them by visiting the Heavy Horse Barns at the far end of Draft Horse Town.
There will also be exhibits showcasing not only the horses, but also what life was like when they were used and some of the situations that they were used in. A taste:
- The Remington Carriage Museum will introduce visitors with a look at horse-drawn transportation in North America.
- See how draft horses helped build roads and dig the foundations of Western Canada’s earliest buildings during a time before the invention of modern construction equipment.
- Experience first-hand how draft horses contributed to the War with reenactments at town centre courtesy of The Military Museums.
- Watch closely as blacksmiths work over traditional forges to create horseshoes, tongs, and many other items used during this time.
- Observe how draft horses assisted firefighters courtesy of the Firefighters Museum of Calgary.
There will also be many hands-on activities that people of all ages can partake in. You can test your own “horsepower” on the Incredi-pull, help build wood-spoked wheels and cook some tires courtesy of the Western Canadian Wheelwrights Association, and the Bar U Ranch Percherons will be on hand with demonstrations, activities, and a chance for you to meet their famous Percherons.
There will be a stage area with live music, entertainment, and other demonstrations throughout the day.
Finally, there will be related competitions on Park where you can see these beasts in action. The Heavy Horse Show (featuring members of the CPO) in the Saddledome at the beginning of the week will highlight these magnificent beasts, and the Heavy Horse Pull competition in the Big Top at the end of the week will show you just how much weight these horses can haul.
Open all 10 days of Stampede from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (and the first Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 9 a.m.), Draft Horse Town promises to have a lot of variety so if you’re trying to plan your Stampede in advance, why not give the brand-new Draft Horse Town a try?
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