Howdy All!

A beautiful morning it was, here in High River Alberta.  I went for a morning jog in the area, and it was so peaceful and quiet at 6 AM.  Rick fed oats at 6 and continued on with chores with the crew at 7 AM.  The weather report said there may be rain later in the day, but our area was spared.

All the kids from the other camps don’t take long to find out where we are at each stop on the tour, as Rick is labeled as the Candy Man.  We love to treat them with all kinds of sweets and treats.  They come to visit and Rick loves to take them for kubota rides.

Rick also got some of them learning how to two-step up in the liner.  However, the boys and girls are a bit young, and having to get close to the girls just isn’t so cool at this age in life.  One day that will definitely change.

After lunch, Rick had a few of the young fellas that are potential outriders,  come by and he gave them a few lessons on how to run, jump and mount an outriding horse.

Back in the day, Rick was one of the best, and has many belt buckles to show for it.  He has a passion to help these young fellas learn, to keep our chuckwagon sport alive.

Every show, we hope to keep the same outriders, but this is not always the case depending on who we get hooked with.  As Chance Flad and Rory Gervais ride for Doug Irvine, we lost them for this show as we are hooked in the same heat as Doug.  We hired Quaid Tournier, and Chanse Vigen asked to ride behind us just one more time before Rick hangs up the lines.  Chanse has his own outfit to race so we were thrilled that he was available.  Chanse is an amazing athlete all around.  We are thankful to have him on our team this High River Show.

My job for years, has been to prepare the outriding horses for the evening race, and take them to the track for the outriders to ride.

Tonight, Ed and Andy were our horses on duty.  Quiad held the leaders with Ed and Chanse threw the stove with Andy.  These are such quiet easy horses to tend to while waiting for our heat.  They are well-mannered and that is just how I like it.

Our team tonight was Spirit on the Left Lead, Ranger on the Right.  Cowboy on the Left Wheel and Jim on the Right.  The horn sounded and all 4 wagons charged forward.  Rick had a nice barrel turn on the top and bottom and took the lead onto the track.  He maintained first place all the way around, capturing a day money run in a time of 1:17.55 and sitting third in the average.

We are so proud of how our horses have been performing.  It is totally a group effort when it comes to keeping our horses sound, fit, healthy, fed and watered.  There are so many others that help us maintain their high performance, and we thank you all.

It is always a great feeling when you know you’ve crossed the finish line first, only to find out that the day money run is yours.

 

Yes!  It’s always a good day.

From the Travelin Trailer

Sue, with Rick and “Team 23”

 

P.S. Because that’s what kindess is.  It’s not doing something for someone else because they can’t, but because you can.  Andrew Iskander

Howdy Folks!

Before we left for Medicine Hat on Monday,  we loaded our grain bin on our truck full of oats to keep us going for another couple of weeks.  When Rick bought the Peterbilt, he added on another sleeper from the scrap yard and made it into an oat bin.  It works slick as a whistle as we have 2 RV discharge spouts on the bottom on each side of the container.

The journey to High River, AB was uneventful.  For me in the Frieghtliner, I drive in silence most of the time.   I rarely turn on the radio.  I normally just drive along and think to myself.  Or I make a few phone calls to catch up with the kids, relatives and friends.

While the crew set up camp, the horses enjoyed a nice warm relaxing rest in the bright warm sunshine.  Our liner/barn, has hydraulic sides that are operated with a generator to fold them in and out when at each destination.  Back in 2005 was the first year we had this, and I tell you, we sure have appreciated using it.  It just makes this go a little bit quicker.

And once we were finished, camp Dorchester and “Team 23” enjoyed a few beverages, pizza and stories to boot.

As we had a few days off before the show started, many wagons utilize the morning track times to run an outfit.  Cousin Troy Dorchester had a team needing a blow, so Rick jumped in to lend a hand.

When in this southern part of the province, we always enjoy heading out west to the Longview country.  It is so beautiful out there with the rolling lush green hills and the big blue and white mountains in the distance.  We ventured out to our friends, John Scott to show our barn hands around.  It is such a unique Ranch, as they have filmed many fun and exciting movies on the place.

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I was pretty happy with the photos I had taken.  The place just had so much to offer in the way of landscape, movie sets, animals, buildings and so much more.

Did you ever know there were white buffalos?  I sure did not.  Well there were a few out in the pasture out on the Ranch.  They were pretty unique looking.

The regular hairy brown buffalo’s were there too!  Rick was pretty worried I was getting just a little bit to close to them while taking their photo.  He had his hand on the wheel and his foot on the gas just in case they made a move.

 

 

While I was out early this morning on my bike for my “Me” time, I came across this lovely rock.  I thought that this love sign was pretty cool.  It was meant for me.

As race time neared, last-minute things had to get done. With little time to spare, we worked together and scrubbed the sponsor tarp shiny, bright and clean.  Nothing a little bit of elbow grease can’t fix.

Our outriders tonight, were Quiad Tournier on Stadium, holding the leaders and Chanse Vigen throwing the stove on Ice.  It was so good to have Chanse back for just one more time before we retire, as he very seldom rides anymore, because he has his own team of horses to drive.

Coming off the four barrel, carrying the John Scott Motion Picture Animals Tarp, Rick had Louie on the Left Lead, Nickle on the Right Lead.  Spin on the Left Wheel, and Sporty on the Right Wheel.  The team had a great start at the horn.  The barrels were left standing and they hunted the track and gained some amazing speed.  They were pretty fast and posted a 1:18.43 on the day, which was good enough for a day money run.

We were all pretty excited as we knew Rick had driven very well, and the horses performed to the best of their ability.

However, nothing is official until the a few hours after the last race is finished.  The judges need to review each and every heat, to be sure that all things went accordingly.  And sometimes, things have been seen, and a penalty will be assessed.  Apparently, our heat was reviewed, and the judges felt it was tight on the first turn between chuckwagons.  “Team 23” was assessed with 2 seconds inference penalty, and our time had changed which brought us down to 11th on the day.  Despite that decision, we couldn’t be happier with how fast the horses ran, 2 to 3 wide around the track.  Amazing!

The chores aren’t quite done until the Chukwagon gets washed, and Rick’s little buddy, Dace sure did a pretty good job getting his clean.  What a great little helper she is.

This year I have been out and about a whole lot more with my camera.  I have been averaging around 400 – 600 photos on any given race day.  They say you can take a 1000 photos, and maybe 10 or so may turn out to be amazing.  I’ve got a long way to go.

From the Travelin Trailer

Sue, with Rick and “Team 23”

 

P.S.  Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak and the wrong.  Sometime in your life you will have been all of these.  Dr. Robert H. Goddard

Howdy All

The week has gone by fast, as they always do when we’re on the road.  From week to week, and traveling from city to city, things tend be become a blur at times.  Don’t get me wrong, I am enjoying the life we’re living, it just seems as you get older, time passes just that much faster.  I think many of you can agree with me on this one.

Today, things went by fast as we had an early race day beginning at 2 PM.  I helped with chores and got the morning off from making breakfast.  The ladies under the grandstand are open for business all week in the mornings,  so I treated Rick to a Fathers Day breakfast (but it was really for me to take a break haha)  Smart thinking on my part hey?

The rest of my morning was busy taking photos of the horses and getting things organized for our auction sale at the Calgary Stampede on Saturday July 14.  It feels and Sounds kind of funny me saying we’re having an auction sale.  Seems surreal. At any rate, it’s really going to happen.

Jim, here is quite the horse.  He’s one of the 20 that will be sold on that day.  We bought Jim from Cody, our son, who bought him from retired chuckwagon driver, Jim Nevada.  Yes, that’s how he got his name, after Jim.  He’s a very good Right Wheeler that never quiets and runs like the wind.  This horse is one of Rick’s favorites.

While doing my morning things, the track was a busy one with wagons hooking up some teams for practice.  Among those going around, was our outrider, Chance Flad.  He is looking to race a chuckwagon in the near future, so he needs to prove himself by racing against another wagon driver, and in front of some drivers to show he has what it takes.  He did very well and will be an asset to the  chuckwagon tour one day.

While awaiting our time to race, we always go to the infield to watch the first three heats.  Today Rick was sitting with fellow driver Obrey Motowylo and his hired gal.  Rick is not a fan of jeans with holes in them, so he had to make it known to her, and tease her just a tiny little bit.

Obreys son Ethen, is becoming one of the top outriders quite quickly.  When he started just a few years ago, his dad hired him to ride behind his chuckwagon for each and every race regardless if he made mistakes.  And when you are starting out, just like anything in life, it takes time to fine tune yourself to get better and better.  I give a high five to Obrey and Ang for keeping him under their wings no matter how many penalty points this would have put on their team while he was just a beginner.  Good on them.  Today Ethan has quite a few rides, and I know he will become a World Champion Outrider, it’s just a matter of time.

The Association has an arena director to keep things running smoothly and help out where he can when things get going.  Retired Veteran Chuckwagon Driver, Buddy Bensmiller takes his job seriously and does a pretty good job when issues arrive.  Keeps him on his toes.

Before the drivers enter the track for their heat, we have a gal that wands the neck of the horses, checking its numbered chip that was inserted to make sure our horse lineup is what we said we were running when we entered it into the app on our phone for the office to oversee.  It’s just a measure to the rules to make sure the horses are racing only the allotted times that the rule book says.

I love this shot as there is so much going on while it was taken shortly after the horn had sounded.  Still photos can really tell a story when you look at them.

Rick hooked Louie the grey on the Left Lead, Nickel on the Right Lead, Sporty on the Right Wheel, and Jim on the Left Wheel.  Chance Flad rode Stadium and Rory Jervais rode Ice.  This team rocks!  Rick raced two wide, with this team and they hung in there for a time of 1:02.48 which put him 3rd on the day.  Another very good run.

A huge congratulations goes out to fellow driver Cody Ridsdale and Katrina on their first ever World Professional Chuckwagon Tour win.  They ran very well these past four days and it shows.

After the dust settled, we had some long time fans come to say hello, get a poster and a picture taken as well.  It’s always interesting to ask where their journey following the wagons has taken them and who do they cheer for.

This wonderful lady came back to our barns to say thank you for the mini Chuckwagon.  She was pretty excite to receive it as she has been cheering many of the drivers on for years.  I always said, it doesn’t matter who you cheers for, just as long as your cheering for somebody.

From the Travelin Trailer

Sue, with Rick and “Team 23”

P.S. Someday, everything will make perfect sense.  So for now, laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears, and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason.

 

 

 

 

 

Howdy All!

My inner alarm got me up at 6 AM, and away I went out the door for a morning run.  The air was cool, and the clouds were plenty and I felt that it wouldn’t be long before the rain came down.  Well, we  were pretty fortunate, as the morning continued, only a very small sprinkles came fell upon us in our area.

I was pretty excited to have our daughter Amy, her husband Chris and their son Coy stop in for the day.  We stopped in at the local Farmers Market and then found some garage sales to go to in the area.  I’ve been know to be called the Garage Sale Queen as I can find a sale just about anywhere and I pretty much always come away with some pretty good deals.  Today was no exception as Jenn Dorchester messaged me, wanting me to look out for a bike for Connor.  Well I did find one for a pretty good deal and it came back to camp for Connor.

At every show, we begin with the singing of our national anthem.  Here in Medicine Hat, the Royalty girls flew the Canadian Flag around the infield on their horses.  Always a proud moment for me, as a Canadian.

An opening act here was the Trick Rider girls.  Paynton Bensmiller, daughter of Lisa, whose husband Vern drives a chuckwagon, stays busy entertaining everyone.  She thoroughly loves her special gig, and is growing into a fine young gal

I captured this shot of fellow driver Chanse Vigen running a speedy race.  He was driving for his dad Mike, as he had to sit out due to some medical issues.  Well it seemed to be the thing to do, as Chanse managed to capture a day money run with horses that they hooked.  What a great feeling that is!

Before Rick had entered the arena area, our outriders Chanse Flad  riding Stadium and Rory Jarvis riding Ed, were chit chatting away.  Not sure about what, but maybe something to do with the horses they were riding and how the race was going to go.

As the team was coming into the infield, the Grey and Chestnut were ready to go.  Rick hooked Louie on the Left Lead, Spin on the Right Lead.  Cowboy on the Left Wheel and Vegas on the Right Wheel.

 

 

Rick was off the one barrel tonight, Chad Harden on two, and Luke Tournier on three.  When the horn sounded, Lukes outfit started first.  But just as he was getting around the top barrel, his team kind of jack-knife as he was trying to get around the it and this slowed him down tremendously.  Chad and Rick were full steam ahead.  However though,  Rick was so close to that barrel, he moved it over just a few inches.  My breath stopped for a few seconds or so, until I could see all was good to go.  No crunched barrel.

We were pretty excited when we heard of the two recipients of the mini chuckwagon tonight.  They were pals, and Brenda had worked for our Sponsor company Springam LLP for many many years.  The two gals decided that they are going to share the little wagon.  A few months at the one house, then the next few at the others. How good is that?

When the horses were fed, watered, washed,  and put away, our sponsor group stopped by to explore the chuckwagon and venture into the barn to meet the ponies.  So many newbies that didn’t know a thing.  But when it was time to leave,  they seemed just a little bit more knowledgable about the whole darn thing.

From the Travelin Trailer

Sue, with Rick and “Team 23”

P.S.  Happiness is not so much in having, as sharing.  We make a living by what we get, but what we make a life by what we give.

Howdy All!

This morning, Rick arose at 6 AM as usual to feed morning oats.  I woke up also, but decided to spend another 10 minutes of shut-eye.  Well, when I finally woke up for the day, the clock was saying 7:30 AM!   I jumped out of bed, got dressed and headed for the kitchen, putting the coffee on and getting breakfast underway for the crew.  I guess I was more tired than I thought.  I needed some extra zzzzz’s that I had missed.

When on the road, you must have a few different things to do other than chuckwagon racing.  My friend Lucy and I ventured around town looking for some garage sales.  We did find some and came away with a few new treasures.  So much fun!

The day doesn’t take long to go by, and before I knew it, the races had begun.  When I took the outriding horses over, I seen this little guy, looking for something to eat.  Cute as a button, he just tended to what he was doing and never minded a thing as to what we were up to.  Was he a sign of something? I would like to think so.

As we are in the 9th heat, we head on over to watch a few of the other wagons before us.  Cousin Troy Dorchester was off the one barrel tonight and I managed to capture a few action shots after the horn blew.

Just like any activity, sometimes things just don’t go the way that we always had hoped.  Tonight, an outrider had a bit of trouble and the horse got away on him.  He made a couple of extra laps then was caught and put away.

John Walters in the 2nd heat off the 3 barrel, had his hands full, as his outfit was raring to go!  The right leader was anxious, reared up in the air, came down just as the horn sounded and away they all went.  It must have been good, as he posted a 1:27.36 a day money run.  Good for him.

The ninth heat came and Rick was hooked and ready to rock.  With Bacardi on the Left Wheel, Sporty on Right Wheel.  Orchid, a first year horse on the Left Lead, and Old Timer Nickle on the Right Lead.  Chance Flad teamed up with Stadium holding the leaders and Rory Gervais throwing the stove with Andy.

When the horn sounded, Rick whistled and away they all went.  They started not too badly, but could have been just a bit better.  Chad Harden took off on the one, and the race was on.  The Red Velvet wagon sped away in the lead on the rail, and the other two took up the trail behind.  Chad was speedy with a 1:03.54, good enough for 5th, Luke was 1:05.11 for 16th, and Rick with the Stringam LLp tarp posted a 1:05.26, a 19th on the day.  Our Team 23 is sitting 14th in the average after the two days of running.

If it wasn’t for the sponsors, we could not do what we love to do.  We thank our Medicine Hat sponsor, Stringam LLP.  A great bunch of folks who have come out to cheer us on and be a part of what we do.

Over the 30 odd years, Rick and I have met so many, many great people who have become very good friends.  At each stop, we look forward to seeing those amazing friends that will always hold a part of our hearts.

The smiles, the hugs, the laughter, the chats. All of this has made up of what our life on the road consists.  So many memories, we will cherish forever.  As Chad Harden said, the Fraser Farewell Journey continues.  We will make the most of the last days on the trail.

Our recipient tonight of the mini chuckwagon giveaway, when asked, he was Kipton from Canada and that all that was said.

At nights end, when all the hay, straw and oats were put in, Vegas was the last to go in, to be at rest till the morning hours when the next day chores begin.

From the Travelin Trailer

Sue, with Rick and “Team 23”

P.S.  Some day you will look back and understand why it all happened the way it did.