Mini chuckwagons a major entertainer
It’s like a half mile of hell ... for half-pints. Miniature chuckwagon racing at the Stampede draws crowds of little buckaroos and grizzled cowboys to take in the action featuring horses and wagons a quarter the size of the pros.
Twenty-nine-year-old Charlene Bier, from Vulcan, has raced miniature chucks since she was 14. With an outfit of four miniature horses, the former World Miniature Chuckwagon champion speeds around tracks at events around the province at about 40 km/h. She gives this Herald reporter a glimpse inside the world of chuckwagon races starring small horses with big hearts.
Q: What are the miniature chuckwagon races?
A: “We are one-quarter the size of the professional chuckwagons. We entertain the crowds. We go into the infield, we line up with some barrels, we turn the barrels in a figure-eight pattern and race around the track, basically to see who can get there the fastest.”
Q: How is it different than the pro chuckwagon racing?
A: “They are actually out on a tour, they get points and day money and things like that. We’re just out for entertainment.” Q: How is it the same? A: “We are exactly the same, but we’re just smaller, the horses and wagons.”
Q: What does it take to have a winning team?
A: “Have four horses that will work together as a team and like to run.”
Q: Who’s your best race horse?
A: “My best race horse, his name is Pepsi, he runs on my left lead. He’s my go-to guy to get them started.”
Q: Ever had any tricky scenarios you’ve got yourself into on the track?
A: “We have popped out of the wagon a few times. When you’re going around the barrels, your wagons will make ruts. If you catch a rut, you can pop out. We don’t get in any big accidents like the big chuckwagons do.”
Q: What do you like about miniature chuckwagon racing?
A: “It’s entertaining. We find that crowds like it because they can come in afterwards and pet our horses.”
Q: Do you feel like you get the same rush as the pro riders?
A: “Yes. It’s a 30-second adrenalin rush. It’s really, really fun. We’ve had the big guys drive our wag on stoo, and they say, that’s crazy, that those little tiny horses can pull that much.”