DELBURNE, Alberta – In its first Canadian event, the United Bucking Horse Association found great success north of the border.

With a payout of nearly $13,000, the 2014 UBHA Tour stop featured 34 colts in an event that was organized and produced by two UBHA board members, Darcy Hollingsworth of Anchor Bar Ranch and Justin Twogood of 7W Ranch.

“The 2- and 3-year-old colts were bucked with a dummy for six seconds and judged on the UBHA’s criteria of kick, altitude, pattern, intensity and rhythm,” said Guy French, the association’s president. “Four judges scored each animal from 0-25 points in quarter-point increments. The high and low scores were eliminated, and the scores from the two remaining scores are combined for the final score.”

There were 16 contractors/breeders involved in the Delburne competition. In addition, two more Canadian events were finalized and a fourth is now in the worlds. Fifteen new members from Alberta and Saskatchewan joined the UBHA.

“We plan to be the primary bucking horse association and the launch pad for the industry,” French said. “Our goal is to bring bucking horses and bucking-horse events to the forefront and increase public awareness.”

The UBHA futurity system allows breeders and contractors to prove their colts and pave the way for their future success in the big leagues. The future bucking stars of rodeo will come through the UBHA. Through three events this season, the UBHA has paid out more than $33,000 and bucked 114 colts.

“We welcome anyone and everyone who has ever had a dream of being a rodeo contractor to join us in the dream,” French said.