Draft Horses Pulling Timber at Pioneer Acres, Irricana

 

 

At Pioneer Acres during Alberta’s Pioneer Steam Power Festival, the steam engines get most of the noise. The horses still do some of the oldest work on the grounds.

A team of black draft horses, harnessed with red-trimmed collars and traces, leaned into a heavy timber and walked it across the dry yard. One handler walked behind with the lines. No engine, no whistle—just weight, footing, and the sound of hooves on packed grass. This is the other half of the show: before traction engines broke sod and ran threshers, this is how timber, stone, and implements moved.

The log is the point. It is not a pretty wagon. It is a dead weight on a chain, the kind of pull that used to happen every day on a farm or in a woodlot. The horses stay in step. The driver stays quiet. The crowd watches because you can see the work in their shoulders.

Pioneer Acres puts steam and horsepower on the same weekend on purpose. One did not instantly replace the other. For a long time both were on the same farms. Watching a team walk a timber past a metal-clad shed and a horse trailer is a clean reminder of that overlap.

If you are there for the Case engines and the Parade of Power, stay for this. The horses do not need a boiler. They still move the load.

Spectacular Cavalry Precision at Spruce Meadows Alberta

 

 

Lord Strathcona’s Horse Musical Ride

Calgary’s world-famous Spruce Meadows was the perfect stage for a thrilling display of Canadian military heritage in this captivating video from KassDays.

Watch as the Strathcona Mounted Troop — the ceremonial display unit of Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) — delivers a high-energy Musical Ride and skills-of-arms demonstration. These skilled soldiers on horseback move in perfect synchronization, performing intricate patterns, fast-paced charges, and the exciting traditional sport of tent pegging. Every maneuver echoes over a century of proud cavalry tradition.

 

Filmed in beautiful 4K, the video beautifully blends the live action at Spruce Meadows with informative overlays that dive into the regiment’s epic story:

How Lord Strathcona personally funded a private army of Western Canadian frontiersmen for the Boer War. The regiment’s role as Canada’s first significant overseas force. 

Inspiring tales of bravery, including recipients of the Victoria Cross, Canada’s highest military honour. 
 
Whether you’re a history buff, horse lover, or simply enjoy stunning equestrian performances, this video captures the power, pageantry, and living legacy of one of Canada’s most storied armoured regiments — still proudly keeping its cavalry roots alive.

A must-watch for anyone who appreciates Alberta’s rich military heritage and the breathtaking horsemanship on display right here in Calgary! Video Link: https://youtu.be/ghhpT7gQS7A 
Channel: KassDays – Calgary adventures & Canadian stories.