An all Canadian team that included a local resident was able to win the rodeo for the first time in the history of the World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Cowboy Mardi Gras.
Wilfred Titanich was one of a team of three that attended the three-day event in Miles City, Montana from May 15-18. Titanich along with two brothers, Cory and Cody Loken, were the first all Canadian team to win at Bucking Horse since the first Miles City Bucking Horse Sale started in 1951.
Each member of the team came home with around $7,500 US, says Titanich.
“We got Championship Buckles and we got Championship Holders, too,” he says.
The team participated in the Wild Horse Racing event, which involves at least three people and an untouched horse. The horse starts out in the bucking chute and two members of the team follow the horse out, holding onto a long lead. One person is the mugger, and their job is to control the horse’s head by covering its eyes with his arm, which calms it and prevents it from rearing and hurting someone. The shanker holds onto the rope so it doesn’t run away. The rider saddles it, mounts, and holds on tight as they race to the finish line on a wild horse.
“Wild Horse Racing is one of the oldest events in rodeo,” says Titanich.
Though the event is called Wild Horse Racing, the horses used in the event are owned, but untouched.
Throughout the year, Titanich works the Canadian Wild Horse Racing Association Circuit, spending most of his time in Alberta, but also attending some events in B.C. and Saskatchewan, where he competes in both amateur and pro rodeos.
“Honestly, it’s really addicting,” says Titanich. “It looks really crazy, and it is pretty wild, but it’s super addicting. It’s an adrenaline rush in sport.”
He says he would encourage people who like competitive events to try Wild Horse Racing.
The Loken brothers have both been in the sport for about 15 years, says Titanich. Both of them were about 14-years-old when they first started out. Titanich has been in the sport for three or four years.
Normally, the Lokens race with their dad, Jason, and Titanich has his own team. But the three of them thought it would be fun to head down to Miles City for some fun.
The Bucking Horse Sale was a stand-alone event, says Titanich. His team is getting ready for the circuit this summer.
“We can rodeo every weekend from now to the end of October,” he says.
Anyone looking for information about which wild horse racing rodeos are coming up can visit www.wildhorseracing.ca. Titanich says he will be in Brooks at the Lea Park Rodeo this weekend and in Killam for the Killam Rodeo that will be held outdoors in Sedgewick this year.
