There’s a new champion in the Calgary Stampede’s Working Cow Horse – Open Bridle.

Veronica Swales and her horse ‘Annie’s Playin Cat’ took top spot in the recent event.

Swales says winning it meant a lot.

“I haven’t won the Open Bridle yet, I have watched my brothers do it lots, but I haven’t won it,” says Swales, adding,  “I’ve won limited, won reserve, but have haven’t won it.  So, it means a lot to finally do it.”

Swales says she had a great run.

“So my horse was really good in the rein work.  He doesn’t run super hard usually, in his reining, he ran really hard in his circles and ran me down to the stops real good, so he set me up really good to go into the cow work.  My cow wasn’t the greatest, but he handled it really well and got us through it.”

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Her horse, “Annie’s Playin Cat”, has been with Swales for a long time now.

“So my horse is 10 years old, I bought him as a 2-year-old and showed him as a snaffle-bitter and a derby horse and now a bridle horse so he is kinda my all-around horse.  I rope on him and kinda do everything and show him at the major events.”

Swales says the competition at the Calgary Stampede is always top notch.

“The competition level is big, everybody, who is anybody comes here and shows and so it really tough.  It makes you really work for it.”

Swales says anyone who wants to get into the sport should find a trainer and then go to the smaller competitions to get their feet under them.