Behind‑the‑scenes look at Calgary Stampede chuckwagon barns

The Calgary Stampede’s top athletes aren’t only the cowgirls and cowboys in the arena, they’re also the dozens of horses powering the Rangeland Derby.

The Stampede offered a rare look inside its chuckwagon barns on Tuesday, where drivers and animal‑care teams work year‑round to keep the horses healthy, comfortable, and ready to race.

Chuckwagon driver Dustin Gorst, who has been competing since 2014, says the horses are treated like elite competitors.

“If I was to come back, I’d come back as a chuckwagon horse because they’re well taken care of,” he said. “They eat before us, everything comes first, and that’s all year round too.”

Gorst travels across the continent with his horses and says the Stampede’s care standards are among the best.

Teams receive regular check‑ins from veterinarians, as well as chiropractors and massage therapists for both the horses and drivers. Gorst says the animals thrive on routine, especially on race days.

“You know athletes have their routine,” he said. “The horses, the day they run, they’re the same way.

“If they don’t do that same thing, they might not have as good a trip as they usually do. They’ll tell you.”

Building a successful chuckwagon team is more complex than pairing four fast horses. Each animal has a distinct personality, and drivers spend months learning how they behave, communicate, and respond to one another.

Chuckwagon driver Chance Bensmiller says chemistry matters as much as speed.

“When you stick’em together, they just gotta gel,” he said. “Kinda like a good hockey line, on paper they look good, but you gotta see how they work together.”

Bensmiller pointed to one of his horses, Chang, who tends to nip at teammates. The solution was pairing him with Gilberto.

“Everybody else he goes with, he seems to bite, but Gilberto bites him right back,” he said. “It’s a perfect match.”

With nightly crowds packing the grandstand, the Rangeland Derby remains one of the Stampede’s most celebrated events.

A total of 162 horse will hit the track during the this year for a chance to race for one of the most coveted prizes in the sport.