“It was fun.”

That’s how Brad Pedersen described his final championship run in the Open Class of the Cutting Horse competition at the Calgary Stampede.

Pedersen, who is from Lacombe, Alberta, and his horse Downtown Calico are this year’s Open Class winners.

Pedersen says it was a good run.

“I cut three really good cows, stayed in the middle of the pen, the horse was really, really good, she is just a really cool horse to show,” says Pedersen adding the win felt great.

The Cutting Horse competition is all about horsemanship as the horse and rider separate a calf from the herd and then have to keep them separated for a set amount of time, without touching it.

“It’s a thrill to win the Greatest Outdoor Show. I have never won it before, I’ve been second before, so it’s pretty exciting.” 

Pedersen says the victory was sweet, because it was a tough field.

“It was a good group of horses.”

High Brown Clay 012 and rider Cody Smith from Calgary, Alberta took second, while Travis Rempel on Dogs Money Honey took third.

Travis Rempel on Dogs Money Honey competing in Cutting Horse at the Calgary Stampede. #stampedeag #calgarystampede #cuttinghorse #stampede2019 #westernevents #westernlifestyle #equine #cattle #livestock #horsemanship pic.twitter.com/dt4JSx1xrh

— Rural Roots Canada (@RuralRootsCda) July 5, 2019