BONNYVILLE – A group of wild pony racers showed just how tough Lakeland girls can be at the 2023 Calgary Stampede earlier this month.
Adly McMann, 11, Layla Purdy, 10, and Sawyer Welch, 9, were part of the only all-female team to compete in the Stampede’s wild pony racing this year.
A total of six teams of three were selected to take part in the multi-day event that spanned from July 12-15. The results of the competition, spread out over four days, were a mixed bag for the local group.
Welch, the team’s rider, got on the horse on both Thursday and Friday, with their time on Thursday being the fastest time of the day at 5.7 seconds.
Teams have 15 seconds to get on their pony and ride it for at least two jumps to lock in their time.
Despite getting on the horse on Friday, the ride didn’t count because the horse had dropped its head, backed up and sent Welch flying forward over the horse, recounted Welch’s mother, Shannan.
“So that one did not count because again, it didn't get two jumps, otherwise it would have counted as a ride,” she explained.
Describing Saturday’s run, Welch said, “It reared up and hit me in the head – thank goodness I had a helmet on – and I fell behind it, and it stepped on my leg. When I went to get up it kicked be in the same spot where it had stepped on my leg.”
Despite the bumps and bruises earned along the way, Welch says she loves competing in the wild pony races with her teammates McMann, the team’s mugger, and Purdy, the team’s anchor.
She added that more girls should try out the sport. “I sometimes feel a little nervous, but I enjoy riding the pony and it's really fun,” Welch said.
Welch started competing just two years ago at the age of seven. However, this is her first year taking part in the Calgary Stampede’s event.
When asked about the secrets of the trade, the young rider noted it comes down to teamwork with the anchor and mugger, and of course, “you have to be extremely fast.”
Without skipping a beat, Welch noted that when she is older and can no longer compete in wild pony racing, that she wants to train in barrel racing and trick riding.
Even though Welch rides horses nearly every day, she said that competing has really built her confidence around horses. Her mother has seen the difference as well.
The team of three girls joined a wild pony circuit this year and have competed at the St. Albert Rodeo, the Bonnyville Rodeo, Wainwright, Ponoka, and the Calgary Stampede followed by a few more.
Making the long-distance trips possible was a team sponsorship from Pure Environmental. While in Calgary, the team got to meet the CFO of the business that helped make this year a success.
The company also provided the girls with new cowboy hats, boots and shirts for the team's rodeo season.
