Here's why chuckwagon drivers use a buddy system with their horses
Nearly 1,000 horses will arrive at the Calgary Stampede this week
Kris Molle doesn't horse around when it comes to keeping his animals happy.
That's why he uses a buddy system with his horses — just as teachers pair up kindergarteners on trips to the bathroom.
"We put them together and they race together and that's what they like," says Molle, a chuckwagon driver from Chauvin, Alta.
It's also about making them comfortable so they don't miss each other, he says.
Molle's horses hang out, eat and race together.
If separated, they don't work well together and "they're fighting you," Molle says.
Ever wonder what it’s like to be in the driver’s seat of a chuckwagon? Check out this spring training video with driver <a href="https://twitter.com/KrisMolle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Krismolle</a> preparing his animal athletes for the summer run. You can see Kris and his team race each night at the <a href="https://twitter.com/calgarystampede?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CalgaryStampede</a>, July 6-15! <a href="https://t.co/mFmoPMMil2">pic.twitter.com/mFmoPMMil2</a>
—@CSchuckwagonsThis year marks Molle's sixth year competing at the Stampede.
He has a handful of horses, including a one-eyed horse, who Molle says has been his top outriding horse for the past six years.
The first stampede chuckwagon race is this Friday at 7:45 p.m.
With files from Josie Lukey