For those who know how to look, the topline of a horse is one of the clearest chapters in the horse’s story. From the poll, along the neck, across the back and over the hindquarters, the topline quietly reveals how a horse has been worked, developed, and asked to carry itself.
In the last issue of The Rider, Sharon and I had a conversation about longevity with horses, and does our growing need for instant gratification seep in to the need for fast results in the horse world – and the answer to that was a resounding – yes.
Sharon: As digitisation, technology, and AI continue to evolve at an ever increasing pace, it seems we humans, although worried about what AI will do to our jobs, we are happy to enjoy some of these spoils – from Amazon delivering spontaneous purchases we never would have considered years ago to replacing our perfectly good phones for something newer with even more functionality (I am waiting for the phone that teleports you from one place to the next), our appetite for instant gratification...
August 15 – 17, 2025, was the last J&J Reining show, we don’t know if that’s forever or just for now but either way – we need a break! We’ve learned an awful lot since we started in 2021 and have crafted and hosted nine shows. We put everything in to the shows – the planning would start each January, and we wouldn’t finish working on the show until September. We can’t thank our sponsors, volunteers, supporters, competitors, show staff enough – without them our dreams would have remained just...
Three days of Reining and Ranch Classes featuring two full-slates of NRHA, ORHA, and JJ Reining Inc classes. Over 115 individual horses competed in the different classes, NEW for this show was the Reining Maturity on the Friday (for horses 8+), and the Future Reiners class on the Saturday!
Calgary — From thunderous hooves to four-legged finesse, Western events at Stampede 2025 offer an unforgettable blend of horsepower, heritage and family-friendly fun — and every event is free with admission to Stampede Park. Many of the action-packed competitions and showcases take place in the air-conditioned Nutrien Western Event Centre, making it the perfect place to relax, recharge and be thoroughly entertained.
Calgary — The roster is set and the stage is ready. With the final four Barrel Racers confirmed following the conclusion of the 2025 Calgary Stampede Barrel Racing Qualifiers on June 11, the full slate of 210 elite rodeo athletes who will compete in the iconic Calgary Stampede Rodeo, running July 4–13, at GMC Stadium, has been finalized.
June 6 – 8 at the Ancaster Fairgrounds will be our first of our two shows – the Steel City Spin and August 15 – 17 the Steel City Slide will be the second! But where exactly did the name come from?
June 6 – 8 at the Ancaster Fairgrounds will be our first of our two shows – the Steel City Spin and August 15 – 17 the Steel City Slide will be the second! But where exactly did the name come from?
Calgary — With only 100 days until the official kick-off of The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, the Calgary Stampede is honoured to announce that Canadian-born country music superstar Shania Twain will lead the 2025 Stampede Parade presented by Suncor.
