It was a special moment for a Strathmore trick rider over the weekend.
Gracie Piper said the crowds at a recent Skijordue event in Calgary put her skills to the test. She performed at the Calgary Confluence Historic Site from Feb. 15-16 as a part of the Skijor Canada festivities.
"I was nervous, and I got out there and that crowd was huge, and they were super loud and that just made me feel so much better."
According to Horse Canada, skijoring features riders on galloping horses who tow skiers or snowboarders towards a ramp for incredible aerial moves.
Piper told StrathmoreNow that her set up this time around was quite a bit different as she had to worry about the snow instead of performing at an indoor event.
"The tricks I find easier because you don't have to deal with the corner. The thing I was worried about was getting my horse stopped in time for the end of the track."
"I opened with what we call the Hippodrome Stand, which is just standing in the air. I had a flag and then there was one lap I didn't, and I got to play with the crowd a little bit, get them louder."
Piper started doing trick riding when she was only six years old. Fast forward 14 years later and she's performed in different spots across Alberta including pro rodeos.
"I do a lot around Strathmore rodeos. My favourite probably being Rockyford because it's the closest to home I can get right now, and I know basically everybody," remarked Piper.
Piper also did a move called the Backwards Fender, where people couldn't see her as she laid against the side of her horse.
"I figured that would be pretty cool just to see a horse running flat out essentially by herself while I was on the side of her."
Piper said the show in Calgary was completely sold out and she's looking forward to showcasing her work at future events.