Extreme Cowboy Racing

Extreme Cowboy racing is on of the fastest growing sports involving a horse. I was invited to shoot the Course ACEQ Argent – St-André de Avellin in the Montebello region of Quebec. A beautiful natures paradise full of mountains, forests and lakes…and cowboys.

Extreme cowboy racing is about horsemanship. The relationship between you and your horse and how to navigate a number of obstacles in the shortest amount of time. In a single event, classes will range from junior to intermediate right up to Professional. Part of the popularity of the sport is that it gets the whole family involved.

Obstacles can be very creative, ranging from narrow bridges, to seesaws to riding through smoke screens, curtains of colored streamers, hoping your horse stays in one place as you fire a paint gun at a target, walking sideways in a zigzag pattern, jumps and galloping at full speed carrying a flag.

Here are a few shots I took of the event to give you sense of what happens during an Extreme Cowboy race and yes, it goes on rain or shine.

If you know anything about horses, you know this is not easy stuff, not to mention to do it as fast as you can. Jake and I have been practicing a bit. We’re still at the walking stage. 😀

 

EXCA/ACEQ Extreme Cowboy Championships 2016

Here are photos of the competitors at the Extreme Cowboy Quebec Championships this past weekend. Skill and fun were the theme of a great weekend.
The see the complete collection of photos visit:
Tom von Kapherr Photography. com

Cowgirls Can Jump

EXCA ExtremeCowboy Event Valleyfield 2016

Extreme Cowboy is the fastest growing sport in North America. Unlike rodeo it’s based on the daily tasks of working and riding on the farm. It’s focus is the bonds and trust developed between horse and rider. 

Each event is designed for all levels from beginner to professional, making this sport avalilable for the whole family to participate and enjoy. 

I have now photographed several of these events and am totally hooked. I find myself cheering for the juniors over the simplest obstacles and wowed by the professionals as they whip through the course at breakneck speed making it look easy, but believe me it’s not. 

Obstacles range from walking through a puddle to the “skinny bridge” (which is a foot off the ground), to your regular jumps as seen here. Opening and closing gates, to hauling logs backwards. Sounds easy enough, until you do it on horseback.
If an Extreme Cowboy Race comes to your area I urge you to make a day of it and if you love horses and and admire horsemanship, you will certainly become as hooked as I am.

Tom von Kapherr Photography 

http://www.tomvonkapherrphotography.com