Mule Team Wins 2007 Bar U Chore

No Snow for the 30th Annual Lacombe Cutter Parade

There may have been no snow for the 30th Annual Lacombe Cutter Parade on February 11, 2006, but that didn’t stop the show. In fact it was a year of firsts. It was the first time there was only one (1) equine drawn vehicle on sleighs or runners. The unseasonably warm temperatures across south central Alberta in January and February removed any snow which dared to fall in the region. The other thirty-two (32) rigs were wheeled equine conveyances. Thirty three rigs was also one of the smallest parades for the popular event.

The weather was a record setting +12 degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit) in the bright sunshine making it a very pleasant day for the drive. Spectators where treated to the first 10 mule tandem hitch at the parade presented by Dwight Beard and Dan Dorsey with two mules borrowed from T.J. Bews.

It takes a lot of time and help to prepare, hitch and drive a tandem team of 10 mules. With the mules harnessed and the wagon set and poles laid out, it was time to hitch up the mules. When driving that much mule power, you want your faithful teams in the critical positions. Dwight and Dan have hitched their eight red mules on numerous occasions but only twice before as an eight up so the unknown factor on this combination was the two borrowed mules and another pair of lines.

On the wheel, Dwight placed Dan‘s good team of Ben and Oscar. In the first swing position were Audrey and Bob also owned by Dan Dorsey. The middle swing team were the borrowed team, Befus and Butthead owned by T.J. Bews. The front swing team were Rosey and 3D owned by Dwight Beard. The leaders were Dwight Beards favorite team of Fred and Breezy.

It takes a good woman to head a mule hitch of this size. Kathy Beard patiently held and talked to each mule team as they were brought into place along the pole and hitched into position. As each team was added to the hitch, Dwight adjusted the lines and mentally prepared for the task.

When all were ready, the helpers, Dan Dorsey, Terry Leopky, T.J. Bews, Dale Befus, and Gordon Mowat stepped back, Kathy released the leaders, and Dwight started the team off for the first time. After a brief stop to adjust rein length, the team headed out without further ado to take up their position in the parade to the thrill of the spectators. Throughout the parade, Dan Dorsey and Dwight Beard took turns driving the team with both men doing a spectacular job.

After assisting Dwight, Dale Befus hitched up his team of Clydesdale horses to his beautiful carriage and joined the parade.

There were several other mule and donkey hitches in the 30th Annual Lacombe Cutter Parade.

Garry Dorchester of Westerose, Alberta brought out his team. Bert & Ernie who spent a lot of time with Brad Pitt in 2005 while working on the set of the movie, The Assassination of Jessie James by the Coward Robert Ford, which was shot in Alberta. Dennis DeBruyne, also from Westerose, Alberta showed up with a colourful three mule hitch of Appaloosa mule brothers. Brian Sutherland and Ray McNeil also brought out their mule teams for a drive on ths beautiful day.

Dr. Chris Jenson brought out his sweet little mule Mandy hitched to a beautiful Meadowbrook Cart that he built. Chris and his lovely wife Margaret host the annual Wolf Creek Driving Club’s fun weekend on their Cheerful Outlook Ranch northeast of Tees, Alberta each May (May 19 - 22, 2006). Other Wolf Creek Driving Club members present at the Lacombe Cutter Parade were, Harry Harrison driving his team of Fiord Horses, Grace Edmondson with her new team of sorrel ponies, Diana Bigelow and Marvin Bigelow driving their small standard and miniature donkey teams.

Alberta Equestrian Games Combined Driving Event

The Alberta Equestrian Games were held August 11 - 14, 2005 near Millarville, Alberta. Chris Jenson and his 14 year old molly mule & Mandy won the Silver Medal for Intermediate Single Pony. Chris and Mandy were the only competitors to have a double clean (no time or knockdown faults) in the very challenging cones course on Sunday morning. Wendy Belcher and her 9 year old molly mule Jackie won the Gold Medal for Training Single Pony/Horse.

Friday morning, competitors participated in the Dressage Test Phase of the competition. Saturday afternoon, the marathon phase took the drivers and their animals out for a grueling 13 km cross country trek. Sunday morning, the drivers and faithful equines were back in the arena to compete in very challenging cones course.

27 different outfits, from 4 horse heavy hitches to miniature horse teams plus several one horse open sleighs showed on a warm and bright sunny day. There was a good crowd on hand to admire the diverse range of equine drawn conveyances. There was even a team of oxen displaying their talents for the crowd.

Some 30 different outfits enjoyed a beautiful drive thought the fields and bush around Tees, Alberta on February 13, 2005.

Warm weather and deep snow brought out participants from all over for the Annual Lacombe Cutter Parade in Lacombe, Alberta on Saturday, February 12, 2005. Spectators lined the streets and highway to view the 68 outfits on parade.

The second annual Bar U Ranch Chore Horse Competition was staged Sunday, September 12, 2004 and when the dust settled, it took a perfect score to win the title. Winston Curtis of Winfield, Alberta guided his team of Percherons through a flawless run (100 of a possible 100 points) to top the field of twelve (12) teams and take home top prize money and the first place trophy buckle created by Ralph Nelson, President of the Friends of the Bar U Historic ranch Association.

Second place went to Dwight Beard of Indus, Alberta, as he navigated the lone team of mules in the competition through the pattern to score 90 points. There was a tie for third spot between Chris Schmaltz of Beiseker and Terry Bailey of Calgary, but Schmaltz hustled his Percheron team through the challenging course in a faster time to secure the third place cheque.

A good crowd braved the unpredictable weather and was rewarded when crowd favorite Dwight Beard and his mules received the Best Overall Team/Teamster award voted on by the competitors (a set of Bar U Ranch Harness Brass).

Bar U Ranch is located 13 km south of Longview, Alberta on Highway 22. For more information on the Bar U Ranch events, call toll-free at 1-800-568-4996. (reprinted from Horses All)