The Calgary Stampede\u2019s top athletes aren\u2019t only the cowgirls and cowboys in the arena, they\u2019re also the dozens of horses powering the Rangeland Derby. <\/p>\n
The Stampede offered a rare look inside its chuckwagon barns on Tuesday, where drivers and animal\u2011care teams work year\u2011round to keep the horses healthy, comfortable, and ready to race.<\/p>\n
Chuckwagon driver Dustin Gorst, who has been competing since 2014, says the horses are treated like elite competitors.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I was to come back, I\u2019d come back as a chuckwagon horse because they\u2019re well taken care of,\u201d he said. \u201cThey eat before us, everything comes first, and that\u2019s all year round too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gorst travels across the continent with his horses and says the Stampede\u2019s care standards are among the best. <\/p>\n
Teams receive regular check\u2011ins from veterinarians, as well as chiropractors and massage therapists for both the horses and drivers. Gorst says the animals thrive on routine, especially on race days.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know athletes have their routine,\u201d he said. \u201cThe horses, the day they run, they\u2019re the same way. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf they don\u2019t do that same thing, they might not have as good a trip as they usually do. They\u2019ll tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Building a successful chuckwagon team is more complex than pairing four fast horses. Each animal has a distinct personality, and drivers spend months learning how they behave, communicate, and respond to one another.<\/p>\n
Chuckwagon driver Chance Bensmiller says chemistry matters as much as speed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you stick\u2019em together, they just gotta gel,\u201d he said. \u201cKinda like a good hockey line, on paper they look good, but you gotta see how they work together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bensmiller pointed to one of his horses, Chang, who tends to nip at teammates. The solution was pairing him with Gilberto.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody else he goes with, he seems to bite, but Gilberto bites him right back,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a perfect match.\u201d<\/p>\n
With nightly crowds packing the grandstand, the Rangeland Derby remains one of the Stampede\u2019s most celebrated events<\/a>. <\/p>\n A total of 162 horse will hit the track during the this year for a chance to race for one of the most coveted prizes in the sport.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\tA horse in the chuckwagon barns at the 2026 Calgary Stampede on June 7, 2026. (CityNews\/Jillian Code) <\/p>\n \t\tKeep it Factual<\/p>\n Add CityNews Calgary as a trusted source on Google to see more local stories from us.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Image-2026-07-08T104634.363-e1783529354282-1024x587.jpg\")
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