Among Central Alberta's heavy hitters and past championship winners competing at this year's Calgary Stampede there were at least a couple of up-and-comers.
Bowden-area bareback rider Ky Marshall, six-horse hitch Stampede champion Brian Coleman and many other well-known names from around the area made their mark on this year's event.
So too did Maddox and Masen Grover.
The brothers from east of Bowden may be young in age -- 10 and 11 respectively -- but already have several Stampedes under their belts.
While most kids their age were enjoying the midway and watching the action from the grandstands, the Grover brothers were competitors.
Both competed in youth heavy horse classes with the same pressures bearing down on them as their older counterparts: fellow competitors yearning for that top spot, spectators in the stands and more watching the simulcast.
"I focus on my horse and the judge. That's it," said Masen.
This marks his third Stampede and his first cart competition with four horses where he placed fifth in the ages nine to 11 category.
He was first in Junior Decorating Ages 9-11 while Maddox placed fourth in the same class. Junior Showmanship would see Masen take first and Maddox fourth.
That put Masen in the running for champion in both categories, which he handily won.
The boys take their placements in stride, maintaining their youthful outlook on the whole experience.
"We're competitors in the ring and we all want to win," says Maddox of his brother and his fellow heavy horse event entrants. "When it's done we all go and play together."
Each class the Grovers competed in requires not only a knowledge of horsemanship but what the judges are looking for as well.
Whether it was how tight a braid needs to be on a horse's tail in decorating or exactly what pattern to take the horse on in showmanship, both boys said they walked away from the experience having learned something.
Their mother, Mindy, says she likes how the Stampede experience helps the pair learn how to deal with pressure as well as a diverse group of people.
"I think it's a huge confidence thing. And there's so many learning experiences there that they can apply to different life experiences. It's really a great community," she said.
For five days, both Grover boys slept in stalls in the horse barn and helped their fellow heavy horse community with whatever needed doing. Getting a six-horse hitch ready for competition takes a group of about 15 people four hours. Both boys took part in readying the teams, decorating horses, feeding, and generally anything else they could help with.
Their "community" included Stampede veterans and Didsbury-area competitors, Darwin and Louise Krebs and Brian Coleman.
Team Coleman placed third in Junior Decorating Ages 9-11, third in Junior Showmanship 9-11 and third in Youth Cart Ages 9-14.
The Krebses' grandson Aaron Westlund from Lethbridge won second place in Intermediate Decorating Ages 12 -14 and second in Intermediate Showmanship Ages 12-14.
"He does really well at it," said Louise. "It's kind of a big deal. He doesn't have a horse in his backyard."
She says he's following in his mom Jamie's footsteps as she excelled in horse competitions too when living at home on the Didsbury-area farm.
The Krebses themselves took home many honours from Stampede including many first, second and third placings in Belgian categories. Paton's Alex's Thelma was crowned Champion Belgian Junior Mare and Reserve Belgian Mare, while Krebsie's Spring Lillee brought home Reserve Belgian Junior Mare. Paton's DM Catalyst earned Champion Belgian Stallion.
It takes months and a lot of hard work to get the horses ready for the show but Louise Krebs says it's all worth its weight in gold in advertising when they get there.
"People from the U.K. approached us wondering if we would export horses or semen," she said. "So it's that, and we just have just an awesome time."
Other area heavy horse competitors at Stampede included Martin Gall of the Bowden area and Jason Bexson of the Carstairs area.
