Cochrane’s heavy horse puller Dennis Weinberger, 59, chalked up another hat trick win at the Western Canadian Agribition, held Nov. 19-24 at the EVRAZ Place in Regina, Sask.
Weinberger took home first place in all three heavy horse pull categories — light, middle and heavy; after 16 years of winning competitions across North America, including the Calgary Stampede, Weinberger was delighted to finally win the big event in Regina.
“It’s been a goal for quite a while,” said Weinberger. “The place I’d never done this was in Regina.”
The Western Canadian Agribition is one of Canada’s largest indoor fall trade shows and includes more than 250,000 square feet of exhibition space, as well as a rodeo.
Originally from Saskatchewan, Weinberger has been living in the Springbank area for more than ten years; while he competes in both Canada and the U.S., Weinberger said that the competitions south of the border are more fierce, and are therefore a major draw for him to travel across the border with his horses.
“I love horses and I like competitions, and this is one of the few equine sports you can do by yourself,” he said, referring to other sports where trainers and jockeys are hired. “If I’m going to go to all this expense, I want to compete myself.”
With a flock of more than 50 Belgium draft horses, Weinberger’s life is consumed with buying, selling, breeding, training and competing.
Weinberger made Stampede history in 2010 — winning all three heavy horse categories for the first time in history; 2011 saw Weinberger fall to two second place wins and one third.
The veteran horse puller said that following a winter season competing on a horse pull circuit in Florida, he’s going for first in the centennial 2012 Calgary Stampede.
Source: Cochrane Eagle