Less Nine

'Less Nine'

The Story Behind the Fine Art Image

In 2005, Alberta was celebrating its Centennial. A trail ride was organized to celebrate the province's centennial year as part of the Calgary Stampede and Exhibition.

Two hundred bucking stock horses left the Stampede Ranch
near Hanna, Alta., led by a chuckwagon and accompanied by approximately 50 trail riders. They were to travel across open prairie land on a six day/ 206 km journey, stoppingin several communities along the way. They were scheduled to arrive in Calgaryon Sunday at 3 PM.

Nine of the Calgary Stampede's prized rodeo horses perished, after being spooked, by a train whistle, while on a bridge and fell into the Bow River, just a few kilometers from the end of the trail ride.

The remaining 191 horses arrived at Stampede Park, where I had been awaiting there arrival. I captured this Fine Art image as the herd made its entrance and was limited to just four frames before the dust shrouded most of the horses. This image is frame number two of the four.
I had managed to meet with the Trail Ride a couple of times enroute. The same route taken for trail rides in 1987 and 2000 with no incidents.
Although this image was captured in July 2005, I intentionally did not release this Fine Art print until August 2019. It is a beautiful print with a tragic story that honours the horses that survived, less the nine that perished.

Ken McCurdy