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Extreme Cowboy Association (EXCA) promotes exciting new equine sport: Extreme Cowboy Racing

There’s a new equine sport taking the country by storm: Extreme Cowboy Racing. The brainchild of well known horseman, Craig Cameron, this multi-faceted sport is managed through the Extreme Cowboy Association (EXCA) and popularized through Craig’s award-winning RFD-TV show “The Extreme Cowboy Race”. Cameron's second RFD-TV show,“Ride Smart”, has also garnered awards, demonstrating the benefits of utilizing positive, effective  training techniques. 

 

This is the first in a series of articles on EXCA, local Charlotte area competitor Joyce Lewis, and the upcoming EXCA events in the greater Charlotte area.

 

Congratulations and welcome to Extreme Cowboy Association. Your membership, participation and loyalty will make cowboy racing the fastest growing and most exciting sport in the equine world.

We appreciate your continued support. Don’t forget to “Ride Hard, Live Large, Keep It Extreme” and we will see you on the trail.

—Craig Cameron
Extreme Cowboy Association

 

 

Extreme Cowboy Racing was born of Craig’s desire to create an event that would emulate the way cowboys really work – demonstrating the skills necessary to operate a successful ranch. At the most basic level, an Extreme Cowboy Race is an event which challenges both the horse and the rider to complete a timed ranch-themed obstacle course, demonstrating both horsemanship and speed. No two courses are the same and, in fact, the course is changed between each elimination round during an event. 

 

A fast moving, dynamic event, a competitor’s score is a composite of several factors. First, each obstacle is scored taking into consideration difficulty and mastery. Difficulty is rated on a scale of 1 to 5, based on what the competitor is asked to do. Horsemanship skills exhibited for each  obstacle   are scored on a 1-10 scale.  For example, remounting a horse from the ground will score higher than remounting by standing on a bale of hay.  In addition, a time limit is imposed on each obstacle. If the obstacle is not completed within the time limit, points are deducted. Next, a overall score is given for horsemanship and finally, a score is award for speed. Collectively, these scores provide a run score, with a higher score being better. To be successful, a strong partnership between horse and rider is essential. Horses may be of any age. Western tack and attire is required.

 

Five divisions are offered – although not every sanctioned event will host all divisions. Trainers and other professionals who earn income from working with horses are considered professionals.. 

 

The 2009 EXCA World Championship will be held in Kansas City, Missouri on October 16-19.

 

Tune in for the next article in this series where you will meet Joyce Lewis – a local horsewoman – and competitor in not one, but TWO seasons of RFD-TV’s “The Extreme Cowboy Race”. 

 

 All photos in this article and accompanying slide show:

Charles E. Brooks, Brooks Photography
Marilyn Merrick, www.merrickstudios.com
 

 

To learn more about EXCA:
www.extremecowboyassociation.com

To watch videos from "The Extreme Cowboy Race":
horsecity.com/videos/online_directory

For other writings by Lori Roets:
www.loriroets.com