Draft Horse Town

Heavyweight history will be in harness at this year’s Calgary Stampede. New to the Stampede for 2010, Draft Horse Town pays homage to the mighty “draft horse” and the significant role it played in building Western Canada.

Guided by their human counterparts, the “draft horse” breeds — Belgians, Clydesdales, Percherons, and Shires — built the roads, pulled the wagons, carriages and firefighting equipment, hauled the dirt and rock from building sites, and plowed the fields for planting crops. Draft Horse Town is an engaging venue that offers Stampede visitors a slice of living history, plenty of hands-on activities and exhibits, and a close-up look at these magnificent beasts in action.

Meet the people that know these “gentle giants” better than anyone. Teamsters and exhibitors introduce you to their horses, and show you how they prepare their teams for shows and pulling competitions. See blacksmiths working their magic with hot steel right before your eyes. Wainwrights, wheelwrights, harness-makers and farriers demonstrate their craft, and even get you to help out.

Visit the stage at town center where there’s always music, live entertainment, horse-hitching demonstrations, weigh-ins, barn tours and . . . plenty of raw horsepower. Climb up on a carriage or “nuzzle up” to a new friend for a memorable picture. And remember to leave enough time to visit the Heavy Horse Barns at the far end of Draft Horse Town, where you’ll get face-to-face with the largest horses you’ll see at the Stampede.

Draft Horse Town is located on Saddledome Lane, just south of the Saddledome and north of the Agriculture Building.