Calgary Stampede Team Penning

2011 Calgary Stampede Team Penning

Horses were at the bit, prancing and ready to get to work, as the announcer read off the cow number.  Then GO!  Hats were flying, horses were running, and cows were sorted…

2011 Calgary Stampede Team Penning

…and two cows go rushing by with horses hot on their heels.  The riders turn around and head back to the herd of cattle.  Then the crowd howls! What’s going on?  The two cows are now headed in the wrong direction!  Alerted by the audience one of the riders whips his horse around, but is too late to stop the cows from sneaking by.  Such was the scene at the Team Penning Competition at the Calgary Stampede on July 9^th.

2011 Calgary Stampede Team Penning

182 teams were entered in the competition which initially took place at the Okotoks Ag Center.  Of those, 20 teams made it to the Saddledome for the finals.  So you know that you’re going to see some good action.  Some really impressive well coordinated runs came in around the 36 second mark.  A few would have been in the high twenties, if that darn cow wouldn’t have snuck by!

2011 Calgary Stampede Team Penning

The cows are the big variable in this event and even the best teams don’t know what they’re up against until they start cutting.  We all know these riders are experienced horsemen and horsewomen, but some made it look easy…and some made it look hard.  What was the difference?  Those darn cows!  This is one thing that makes this sport such an attraction for spectators.

2011 Calgary Stampede Team Penning

This is one of the Stampede’s fastest, most athletic horse events, with $74,620 up for grabs.  And some riders on their well muscled horses learned that it pays to listen to the crowd!

For Team Penning and other daily results, click here.

For more information about the Calgary Stampede, visit calgarystampede.com.

All photos taken by Max Tchikhatchev.

2011 Calgary Stampede Team Penning

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