2009 Heavy Horse Pull brought to you by DundeeWealth

The Heavy Horse Pull, presented by DundeeWealth, is an exciting, action-packed event featuring true workhorses.

Last year’s Stampede Heavy Horse Pull was the richest in the world, with $70,000 in prize money, and it remains Canada’s premier pulling competition, with teams arriving from across North America to vie for top honours.

From Friday, July 10 through Sunday, July 12 under the Stampede’s Big Top, teams in three different weight classes will pull more than five times their body weight a distance of 14 feet.

The Heavy Horse Pull also affords individuals and corporations the opportunity to promote themselves and enjoy some top-notch agricultural entertainment at the same time. The 2009 DundeeWealth Heavy Horse Pull Team Auction, a lively and intimate affair, will be held on Thursday, July 9 at 7 p.m. before a live audience in the Victoria Pavilion.

Sponsors love this event because it presents an affordable branding opportunity, and allows them a unique venue for entertaining clients. Successful bidders get barn tours, passes to watch their teams during competition from a private VIP section, signage on the horses themselves during competition, stall signage in the barns, and an exclusive party in the Pavilion alongside the horses after the main event.

Event Dates and Location

Event Dates:: July 9–12, 2009
Move in Date:: July 8, 2009 8:00 PM
Release Date:: July 12, 2009 10:00 PM
Early Entry Date:: March 15, 2009 4:00 PM
Entry Closing Date:: June 1, 2009 4:00 PM
Location:: Big Top

ENTRIES WILL OPEN MARCH 11, 2009 IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to time and space constraints, entries in the 2009 Dundee Wealth Heavy Horse Pull Competition will be limited to 30 (10 per class) contestants. Entry priority will be given to national, and regional, winning teams. Be sure to include a complete pulling biography and get your applications in early.

Entries will open March 15, 2009

Entries will be limited to (30) thrity teams The Heavy Horse Pull Committee reserves the right to limit the total number of competitors accepted into the competition to 30 teams. A limit of two teams per teamster per class will be in place. In addition the committee retains the right to jury all received entries based on the attached competitive biographies.

Results + View Details

Press Releases + View Details

Schedule + View Details

It is the intent of the Calgary Stampede Heavy Horse Pull Committee to present a show of teamstership in a "TIGHT TUG PULL" competition.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2009 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Horse Pull Teams move in to stalling barn * ALL TEAMS MUST BE IN WEDNESDAY NIGHT

THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2009
11:30 AM Weigh-in of Horse Pull Teams at the Saddledome Lane Presentation Stage
If a team has been incorrectly entered in a division the Calgary Stampede Heavy Horse Pull Committee reserves the right to move that team into the advertised weight class and withhold the $250 weight classification guarantee - see entry fee details for further clarification
1:00 PM Teamster Meeting (Location TBA)
7:00 PM Horse Pull Team Auction (Victoria Pavilion)
8:00 PM Buyers Reception (Victoria Pavilion)

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2009 7:00 PM Horse Pull - Light Weights (Big Top)

SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2009 7:00 PM Horse Pull - Middle Weights (Big Top)

SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2009 7:00 PM Horse Pull - Heavy Weights (Big Top) 10:00 PM Release of Livestock

* ANY TEAMS REMOVED FROM THE BARNS EARLY RISK FORFEITURE OF PRIZE &/OR AUCTION MONIES

*All event times are tentative

1 Light Weight - 2400 lbs to 3000 lbs

2Middle Weight - 3001 lbs to 3500 lbs

3 Heavy Weight - 3501 lbs and over

Entry & Marketing Fees + View Details

$250 (non-refundable)in addition to $250 weight classification guarantee for a total payment of $500 to be included with the entry application. After weigh-in all teams who were correctly entered within their weight division will be credited $250. Those teams which have to be moved a weight division will forfiet the $250 weight classification guarantee.

Prize Money & Awards + View Details

1st - $3,000
2nd - $2,500
3rd - $1,500
4th - $1,000
5th - $750
6th - $750
7th - $750
8th - $750
9th - $250
10th - $250

Ribbons will be awarded to third place. Calf Skin Banners will be awarded to the Grand Champions. Class of the Class - each exhibit will be judged on performance, sportsmanship and appearance of teamster, helpers, evener persons, harness and horses in each division. Each division winner will be presented with a pair of trophy buckles and $500

Rules and Regulations + View Details

Regulations:: 1. Special attention is called to the Calgary Exhibition & Stampede General Rules.
2. Teams will be weighed. No mismatch of horses will be allowed. Horses must be weighed as a team.
3. Substitution will not be permitted once teams have been weighed.
4. Teams will be divided by weight into three divisions: a) Light weight division - 2400 lbs to 3000 lbs. b) Middle weight division - 3001 lbs to 3500 lbs. c) Heavy weight division - 3501 lbs and over. Note the weight break is subject to change to accommodate equal entries in each division. Competition to be decided by straight pull-out in each division.
5. Starting weight for all teams is as follows (weight of boat included): a) Light weight division - 5500 lbs. /or at the discretion of the Pull Committee b) Middle weight division - 6000 lbs. /or at the discretion of the Pull Committee c) Heavy weight division - 6500 lbs. /or at the discretion of the Pull Committee Each additional weight will be 500 lbs or 1000 lbs at the discretion of the Ringmaster. The Outdoor Show Ring will be avialable to exhibitors for warm-up and will have a pulling sled available for warm-up.
6. The committee will determine the draw order. No demonstration pulls are allowed. 7. TEAMS MUST DEFINITELY BE UNDER CONTROL AT ALL TIMES. Any team deemed to be out of control by the judge can be excused from the arena, and their last qualified pull will stand for their final result. Any abuse of horses by teamster or helpers before, during or after the show shall immediately disqualify contestant and all prizes won shall be forfeited. Abuse such as and not limited to slapping, slashing or swinging the lines at the horses will not be tolerated.
8. The committee reserves the right to conduct blood and/or urinalysis tests to determine the presence or absence of performance enhancing substances on each horse in the pulling team. A positive test on any horse will result in the Teamster forfeiting all prize money in each event in which he/she is entered and further, the Teamster may be banned from future horse pull competitions at the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede for a period of time as determined by the committee.
9. It is the tradition of the show ring that the exhibitor and attendants be correctly attired in western wear sleeved shirt with collar and cowboy hat and horses properly presented. The management may in its discretion bar any entry or person from entering the ring if not suitably presented to appear before an audience.
10. There will be no unauthorized signage allowed on the teams in the show ring.
11. Teamsters and evener persons may be subject to a breathalyzer test prior to each pull. Any person testing over the legal limit will be disqualified along with their teams. The decision of the committee will be final with no appeal and all entry fees and auction proceeds will be forfeited.
12. Teamsters are allowed to use neck yokes or offset eveners.
13. Only the teamster and two helpers are allowed in the ring with each team. No header is allowed except during a harness break. Helpers are not allowed to talk to the horses. Failure to comply with this rule will result in disqualification.
14. Once a team has entered the ring no change in harness will be allowed unless due to breakage. This does not include adjustments.
15. The teamster or an evener person may, but is not required to, ride the boat during the pull.
16. A teamster will be allowed three minutes from the time his name is called to hook up or be eliminated. If a team refuses, a teamster will be allowed three minutes rest and one minute to try the load again. If the team refuses again, the team is disqualified and the distance pulled to that point is recorded. The ringmaster is to time.
17. The pull is to be made hitched to the sled over a distance of fourteen (14) feet, sidelines are sixteen (16) feet apart. There will be two (2) tries to pull the load fourteen (14) feet. Each time the boat is intentionally moved is counted as a try. If the judge should call an infraction where the pin is to be reset and the teamster is required to re-hook to the load, the load the infraction is called on will be counted as one of the two (2) attempts. An extra pin will be set behind the boat each time it is moved. The team must not be intentionally unhooked during these tries.
18. While hooked to the boat, the team must stay within the sidelines. If the team steps on or over the lines, it will be eliminated, and allowed the last completed pull. If the teamster feels the boat is to close to a line he may ask the judge to waive the line closest to the boat. If the judge agrees the line will be waived. If the team steps on or over the line on the first load the team will be given another try. If the team steps on or over the line on any subsequent loads the team will be disqualified and credited with the last completed pull. A marker will be placed on each sideline 25 feet from the end of each sideline. If any part of the boat reaches this marker, the pull will change direction.
19. Once the team starts the load, the teamster must stay behind the eveners except during a harness break or during the three minute rest period allowed after a refusal. At these times, the teamster may move to the head of his team. Evener people are not allowed ahead of the eveners at any time except in a potential emergency. Failure to comply will result in disqualification. Behind the eveners is defined as the center point at which the eveners attach to the boat. The swing of the evener forward or back will not be used to determine position of the teamster. 20. Deliberately jerking the load is prohibited. The teamster must make a reasonable effort to drive the team into the load. If in the opinion of the judge the teamster deliberately jerks the load the pin will be reset and the teamster will be required to re hook to the load and pull the required distance inside the allotted time. If the load or any subsequent load is judged to be jerked the teamster will be disqualified.
21. If a break in harness or equipment occurs, there will be a time limit of five minutes to fix the break and be hitched back to the load. If a teamster forfeits the pull at which a breakage occurs, he must pull the next weight the full distance or weight goes back to the previous completed pull.
22. The pin and rope laid out flat must measure fourteen feet. The pin must be pulled completely out to qualify as a completed pull.
23. The team must make one (1) complete pull to qualify for prize money.
24. There will be a ringmaster, two linesmen and a pin man to assist the judge. These individuals have the authority to advise the judge of any infractions, and the judge must act upon their information.
25. The judge's decision is final. Teamsters are not to argue with or harass the judge; to do so will result in instant disqualification and forfeiture of all prizes.
26. An exhibitor lodging a protest must submit it in writing to the Agriculture Administration Department before 10:00 am the day following the cause of protest. A protest must state plainly the cause of the complaint or appeal and must be accompanied by a deposit of $100 which shall be forfeited to the Stampede, if the said protest is not sustained. The management shall have the power to decide all protests and take appropriate action.
27. If a teamster does not fulfill his responsibility after being purchased at the Auction, the offender is subject to consequences at the discretion of the committee and Calgary Stampede management.
28. Any item not covered by the previous rules will be ruled on by the Horse Pull Committee.
29. HEALTH REQUIREMENTS See General Rules
Judges & Show Officials:: Orest Michalowski, Vanscoy SK

Roy Weisenburger, Delburne, AB

General Information + View Details

The Agriculture Exhibitor Badge will be recognized as entry at any walk-through Stampede Park Gate. The badge must be purchased on the entry application for a fee of $21.00 per person (5% GST included).

Committee + View Details

Dale Befus (Chair), Bob Taylor (Director Liaison), Terry Bailey, Linda Bailey, Don Berglund, Jess Debnam, Len Edwards, David Farran, Laurie Jacob-Toews, Tim Lane, Murray Mackness, Bill Nelson, Colleen Ruzicka, Blaine Virostek, Allison Wright(Agriculture Manager), Tracey Foster (Programming Coordinator).