CARDSTON, Alta. — They’re small, but they’re feisty.
The miniature horses on the mini chuck wagon racing circuit have a racing spirit, but their size makes them more manageable than their full-sized counterparts.
At the Cardston, Alta., stop on the Alberta Miniature Chuckwagon Racing Association circuit, billed as the World Miniature Horse Chuckwagon Championship, Charlene Bier of Vulcan, Alta., fitted her four-horse team with her trademark pink harness.
The small, black horses stood still for the process in 28 C heat and still air behind the famed Remington Carriage Museum.
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What makes a good mini-chuck wagon horse?
“The rankest one you can find,” Bier said. “We find the most grumpiest, not-liking-anybody-to-touch-them kind of horse makes the best racehorse. If they have a really crappy attitude, they like to run.”
Some miniature horses are good with children and extremely tame, she said.
Bier comes from a racing family. Her husband, father and brother-in-law are all chuck wagon racers who participate in a circuit of more than 20 races each year. Between them, they own 58 miniature horses.
From Cardston, the mainly Alberta circuit moved to Armstrong and Grand Forks, B.C., before winding up for the season.
Bier said the appeal of mini-chucks is the ease of handling compared to horses and equipment in standard chuck wagon racing. And although it’s competitive, it’s not the same as the big circuit.
“Basically ours is for points and just for fun. We race for money and we race for whoever’s buying dinner or buying the next drink.”
The miniature horse is an actual breed and has horse rather than pony characteristics.
Bier favours all-black horses, but they come in various colours and coat patterns. She said they are quickly trained and easy to handle.
