This summer grass was green at the Stampede Ranch, and that is the silver lining to a difficult year for the organization after COVID-19 struck, challenging its season almost before it began.
“That is the silver lining, we always try to manage the land the best we can… when we did get rain at an optimal time, and the pastures look really good,” said Tyler Kraft, manager of the Stampede Ranch and stock operations.
The ranch is about 45 minutes east of Drumheller, and it supplies bucking horses and bulls for the Calgary Stampede, and also contract stock to rodeos all over North America. The season progressed like any other. They were at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in December and then started the year with stock in Forth Worth, San Antonio, and everything was rolling along until the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in early March.
“About a week into Houston, they cancelled right in the middle of the event,” said Kraft. “A press release at lunchtime basically said get anything you need out of the building immediately. It was a bit of mad panic but we got all the horses home safe and sound.”
“What was looking like it was just going to be a hiccup turned out to be quite a big deal.”
This has put the ranch in a sort of holding pattern.
“The cattle still need to be fed and taken care of. It’s like being a farmer having to do all the work but you don’t get a cheque at the end of the day.”
The optimal conditions at the ranch however have allowed the ranch to continue with low operating expenses and it has not had to winnow down any of its stock.
“Our costs right now are very minimal, they are all grazing on big pasture and there is lots of grass, so it has been really good,” he said. You play the cards you are dealt.”
Life has changed for the horses as well, without the opportunity to perform.
“It is no different than a young hockey player, they are kind of missing that part of their career, it’s no different for the horses. They are going to be a year older, and the young horse that should be getting exposure in some smaller rodeos and working their way up to bigger rodeos are missing that experience. That is something we are going to have to deal with when we get going.”
“The horses that are in the prime of their life, and have to sit out is the toughest thing to sit back and watch,” said Kraft.
He adds many of the horses that travel together develop relationships and bonds.
“They are probably enjoying the break from the travel and the time off, they are still hanging out with the same group of horses. It is neat to watch the horses get hauled together, they develop relationships, so when you sort them and there 2-300 horses together, all of a sudden you see a swath of horses come back together and hang out. They not only travel together on the road, but they come back to the ranch with huge acres and they are still hanging out with the same horses.”
There have been a few outlets to allow the stock to get some experience, even though most large rodeos have been shuttered.
“We’ve been able to go to a few very small events and support some high school rodeos. Bronc riding schools, there are few of them and we’ve been able to support them. Nothing that has paid the bills or anything like that, but our seasoned horses get to go and do their job and help young bronc riders get their start, that’s a good part of the job.”
Things might be starting up again in the near future. The NFR has moved to Arlington, Texas in December and they are expecting to get the final list soon.
“The Stampede Warrior, Special Delivery, and Tiger Warrior are going to be hitting the track for sure, and they are not going to miss a beat,” said Kraft, adding they are already getting back into shape for rodeo season.
