2017 Calgary Stampede Working Cow Horse Classic - Open Hackamore Winner

With an impressive total of 301.0, John Swales and his horse Cats Picasso captured the top prize of the 2017 Calgary Stampede Working Cow Horse Classic​ - Open Hackamore! Here's how they did it.

The Calgary Stampede Working Cow Horse Classic features accomplished horses and riders competing for Championship titles in three exciting classes. Through expert horsemanship and teamwork, competitors are judged on their performances in a reined horse pattern where the horse moves through a series of maneuvers including: figure eights, straight runs, lead changes, sliding stops and 360 degree spins. The horse is judged on timing, accuracy and responsiveness to their rider. The most challenging and exciting part of the competition is the cow work. The horse and rider must control the movements of a single cow at a full out run, heading it off and turning it both ways along the fence, bringing it into the center of the arena to circle once in each direction. The Working Cow Horse Classic features finished “bridle” horses advanced in their training, as well as younger horses shown in the traditional hackamore.

Celebrating the unique athleticism of the horse and the true partnership with its rider, this competition has roots in the training traditions of the California Vaqueros (Spanish Cowboys) dating as far back as the 1700’s.