RED DEER — Selena Dickmann has woven her love of Fjords, skill at horse training and daredevil attitude into a crowd-pleasing act.
As she stood on the backs of two Fjord horses at the recent Mane Event equine show, Dickmann’s horses spun around poles and jogged past flaming torches that passed between Dickmann’s legs.
“It takes dedication to roman ride. It takes a lot of dedication,” said Dickmann, of Carmangay, Alta.
Roman riding is the ability to stand on the backs of two horses.
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Every year, Dickmann adds new features to the act she performs at fairs and shows.
It began when she was told teaching horses to lay down and be submissive could calm spooky and nervous animals.
Before a horse lays down, it must first bow and then kneel. During that training process, Dickmann realized she could isolate the moves and have her horses sit, kneel, bow or lay down on command.
Dickmann began showing off her tricks at 4-H events and was encouraged to put an act together with her Fjords.
“Not too many people do stuff on fjords,” she said of the distinctive Norwegian draft horse.
She has since performed at the Calgary Stampede and at shows in the U.S.
While waiting to enter the ring at the Stampede, she saw a performer roman riding a six-horse team of Percherons.
“I went home and start trying to stand on them,” she said.
The Fjords’ wide backs and shorter stature gave Dickmann confidence to attempt roman riding.
“I love the height. They’re not as intimidating,” she said, because falling is inevitable.
At about the same time, Dickmann discovered YouTube and began seeing what other performers could do with their horses.
During the performances, Dickmann asks her horses to Spanish walk, lay down, sit, rear on command, merry-go-round and ride through lit torches. She also shows off her horses at gymkhana and barrel racing events and open horse shows.
“They’re really fun to have,” she said.
Contact mary.macarthur@producer.com
