MORRIS — The loud blare of an air horn signifies the start of the chariot races and the beginning of the 59th Manitoba Stampede.
The horses, in teams of two, loop around a set of barrels before galloping around the racetrack, welcomed around the final bend to cheers from onlookers in the grandstand.
The hot July day is stagnant, other than the breeze created by the horses running past at a fast enough pace to knock the hats off some of the competitors holding the reins.
NIC ADAM / FREE PRESS Miles McNarland races in the seventh pony chuckwagon heat at the Manitoba Stampede & Exhibition.
Herma Zomer takes part in a sport that is less well known at the annual event, which is Manitoba’s only professional rodeo. The president of the Manitoba Mounted Shooting Association competes against other members of the organization, including her husband, daughter and granddaughter.
“Our association is the biggest family sport I have ever been part of,” the 60-year-old said while waiting for the demonstration to start. “Me and my husband started and then we dragged our daughter in. That is a lot of fun, just to teach the next generation.”
This year, 10 shooters will demonstrate the sport and get in some practice before other competitions. Riders carry two .45 single-action revolvers filled with black powder and shoot balloons while weaving their way through the course.
NIC ADAM / FREE PRESS Dani (left) and his daughter Quinn enjoy a midway ride at the Manitoba Stampede & Exhibition.
Shooters also wear outfits commonly worn in the 1800s, said Zomer, who has been riding horses since she was 12.
“At that time, it was kind of necessary to have guns,” Zomer said. “Not so much now, but that is why we shoot like this.”
Zomer, who lives just west of Miami, said safety is key in the sport, particularly when it comes to firearms. Younger riders practise with cap guns.
Horses that compete are fitted with earplugs to help prevent hearing damage. Zomer’s horse, Lil’ Red, isn’t a big fan, but she insists he wear them.
NIC ADAM / FREE PRESS Bryce Hart races in the third pony chariot heat at the Manitoba Stampede and Exhibition.
With new gun restrictions in place, Zomer said it’s been impossible to recruit new members.
“If (the rules) don’t change, our sport is about to die,” Zomer said. “We would like to showcase our sport to say, you know, there’s a lot of bad rap for guns. Not everybody that owns guns is dangerous. This is a horse sport. It’s just another little sliver of what you can do with a horse.”
Zomer says just like riding broncs and racing chuckwagons, mounted shooting is a legitimate sport.
The Manitoba Stampede brought between 35,000 and 37,000 spectators to Morris, a town of just under 2,000 people, last year during its three-day run. This year, organizers expect to see more than 40,000 visitors because of the added draw of the RCMP Musical Ride.
Raena Knutt stood in the shade watching the musical ride warmup with her husband, Mads Nicolaisen, and eight-month-old son, Noah.
NIC ADAM / FREE PRESS Doyle Langevin races in the first pony chariot heat at the Manitoba Stampede and Exhibition.
The couple, originally from Morris, came back to the stampede this year after moving to Townsville, Australia, to escape the cold Manitoba winters. This is Noah’s first rodeo.
“It’s very unique. It’s very fun,” Knutt said about being able to share the experience with her family. “It’s really nice that it’s in my hometown and that it’s something we can just walk down the road and see. Not everybody gets to see it and experience it.”
The bull riding is her favourite event, but she used to love watching the mutton busting.
Knutt, 28, hopes to come back to the rodeo next year. She also remembers it being bigger and hopes to see it continue to grow.
Competitors come from as far as Australia but mainly from across North America with the hopes of winning big prize money put up by sponsors, said Tim Lewis.
NIC ADAM / FREE PRESS Mads Nicolaisen, Raena Knott, and Noah Nicolaisen (from left) watch members of the RCMP musical ride practice before their show at the Manitoba Stampede & Exhibition.
“If they get bucked off or miss their steer… they get a few seconds in each performance to give it a try and they get that one chance and they’re done,” said Lewis, one of the rodeo directors. “They’re all trying for that big money.”
Lewis grew up visiting the rodeo in Morris every year.
“Our family wasn’t involved in rodeoing, but we’ve always been involved in helping to put the show on,” said Lewis. “It kind of gets in your blood after doing it for a while and you look forward to meeting all the same people again that you worked with the year before.”
About plans for next year’s 60th Manitoba Stampede, Lewis said organizers are still deciding how to celebrate. (It was cancelled for two years during the pandemic).
Winning competitors get trophy belt buckles, so they’ve thought of doing something more special with them next year.
Planning for the next year’s activities starts in October.
jura.mcilraith@freepress.mb.ca