Outstanding Teamster Takes Heavy Weight Championship; 13-year-old Teamster Makes his Stampede Debut
It was an afternoon of celebrating experience and welcoming the next generation of teamsters.
Nipawin, Saskatchewan’s teamster Ken Schreiner and his horses Doc and Bob hooked their way to a big win at the 2021 Calgary Stampede Heavy Horse Pull in the Heavy Weight Division on Thursday. With a 11,000 lbs full pull, they edged out Merle Gallant who capped off with an 86 1/4” pull at 11,000 lbs.
Schreiner has been pulling horses for 10 years and uses his team for various farming duties like feeding cows, hauling bales and wood, and sleigh and wagon rides.
“The team has turned into a very quiet, well-mannered team with great patience.” Doc is a 10-year-old Belgian, as is his partner Bob, with a combined weight of 4,718 lbs.
Not only did Schreiner win the Heavy Weight Championship, but he was also presented the Outstanding Teamster Award, as voted by his peers.
In the Stampede’s Heavy Horse Pull, teams in three weight classes pull weighted sleds — up to more than five times the horse’s body weight — up to 14 feet, known as a “full pull.” The Grand Champion in each class receives $3,000; the Reserve Champion $2,500, with a sliding scale of payouts for the rest of the field.
There were five teams competing in the Heavy Weight Division that took place Thursday in the Western Nutrien Event Centre. The full competition with classes for Light, Middle and Heavy Weights were spread over three days.
A highlight of the Heavy Weight Division was the debut of the youngest teamster to ever compete – thirteen-year-old teamster Johnny Luster with horses Tom and Stormy.
“They are pretty good horses. They are both older than I am, so hopefully they know more than me.” Luster finished fifth in the competition with a 76’ pull at 10,000 lbs weight.
On Wednesday, Dennis Weinberger and horses LD and Rusty were awarded Grand Champion in the Middle Weight Division with a full pull at the 12,050 lbs weight. This team of Belgian horses have a combined weight of 3,647 lbs. Weinberger has pulled for 26 years all over North America and set and broke three World Heavyweight records in the USA.
On Tuesday, Ron Sebastian from Lumsden SK, and horses Tom and Digger took the Lightweight Division with a 156’ pull at the 10,000 lbs weight.
For full results from the Calgary Stampede’s Heavy Horse Pull, visit https://ag.calgarystampede.com/results.