The Chore Team Competition is an annual event that celebrates the rich history and skills of the purpose of the draymen. Courtesy: Dunmore Equestrian Society

By Jesse Gill, Eli J. Ridder

UPDATED

History-inspired equestrian competition returns to Dunmore on Saturday

Jun 14, 2024 | 3:55 PM

The annual Chore Team Competition returns to Dunmore on Saturday.

The event, hosted by the Dunmore Equestrian Society, celebrates the history and skills of the draymen, who would collect goods and supplies from trains and drop them off to local businesses.

Teamsters will showcase their abilities across various challenges, including an obstacle course inspired by what draymen faced “back in the day”, organizers said in a news release.

Organizers said this year’s competition will be “bigger and better than ever”, with new challenges and 10 teams competing for prizes.

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The event’s participants are seasoned competitors, organizer Blair Reid said.

“These teamsters spend a lot of time with their horses getting ready for this event. They are not new to competition – they follow a circuit including the competition at Agribition in Regina,” Reid said.

“This event highlights the strength and skill of our teams, celebrates heritage and also brings people together for a day of fun and camaraderie.”

From driving through a gate to log skidding, Reid described some of the chore simulation tasks the competitors will need to complete.

“We have driving through a gate to start this competition off and then we hook on to a sled and we drag that,” Reid told CHAT News on Friday.

“We hook on to a wagon in a keyhole and we come out of the keyhole without touching the chalk lines and then it goes through a figure eight, so it’s really tight for big horses,” he added.

“We do that and then, you deducted points for every area you have. And then it goes on to parallel parking, which is simulate parking in a city where you back your horses into a parking stall and then get them off the road.”

Reid said that a narrow lane to simulate a back alley lane leads into the next event.

“Then we go across a little wooden bridge, and then we back up to a dock which simulates, backing up to the old train at that day,” Reid said.

“When you’re back up to the dock, you have to spin your horses 180 degrees to get them off the road so that they’re out of the traffic lane as well. That’s a very interesting part of it and, and it’s all timed.”

The event runs 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Dunmore Equestrian Centre.