Harry the Horse mascot celebrates 40 years with the Calgary Stampede
Article content
Harry the Horse debuted as the official mascot of the Stampede on March 14, 1985, at the Rodeo Royal, after replacing Jim Dandy and his horse, Nellie.
Article content
Article content
The original design and sketches of Harry were created by Wendy Issacs, a local artist and wife of the Stampede promotion committee chair at the time, James Issacs.
Article content
Article content
Since his establishment four decades ago, Harry has secured a soft spot in Calgarians' hearts, said Bob Ell, current chair of the Stampede promotion committee.
Article content
Article content
Harry serves at several events, including Stampede breakfasts, the Stampede Parade and several events outside of the 10 days of Stampede.
Article content
'If it's a major event that the city or someone is sponsoring, then Harry is there,' Ell said. 'More recently, he's been at the Rotary International Convention and the Stampede Bowl.'
Article content
Although Harry can't speak — he is a horse, after all — he still delivers the message about the traditional western values associated with the Stampede wherever he makes an appearance.
Article content
'He's representing the Stampede in that flavour, and just the desire for people to lean more about what we do in Alberta,' he said.
Article content
Throughout the course of the year, Harry attends between 60 to 80 events.
Article content
Article content
Ell estimates that hundreds of thousands of Harry the Horse photos are taken every year.
Article content
Ell said Harry's 40th anniversary has been promoted on social media, alongside a celebration of the milestone at the Stampede Parade on Friday.
Article content
'We run into so many people who have fond memories about Harry, and they still have photos of him from when they were kids,' Ell said.
Article content
Harry's fame and notoriety extends past the Stampede, and has gone international.
Article content
'Harry has actually done a lot of work, even globally, by visiting countries like Australia, China and New Zealand,' he said. 'He's performed for around 40 million people, including things like prime ministers, dignitaries and even Muhammad Ali.'
Article content
Similarly to how Disney has Mickey Mouse, Ell said their mainstay figure is Harry the Horse.
Article content
'Harry has become that for the Calgary Stampede, and it's just the way he portrays the hospitality — welcoming and so forth. So many kids have fond memories of Harry.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Calgary Herald
2 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
RODEO NOTES, Day 3: Shelby Boisjoi-Meged lighting quick in victory
The local cowgirl has done her city, province and country proud … Article content Two days after making history with the first-ever breakaway roping go-round win at the Calgary Stampede main rodeo, Shelby Boisjoi-Meged, of Langdon, Alta., was a second-time day-money victor. Article content Her lightning-quick 2.6-second time Sunday afternoon shoots her through to Showdown Sunday as the top qualifier over the first three days of the Stampede show. Article content Article content Boisjoi-Meged will be joined from Pool A by Colorado's Kinlie Brennise and Oklahoma's Cheyanne McCartney. The 1-2-3 qualifiers respectively wrapped up $14,500, $14,375 and $9,750. Article content Article content The only other Albertan — and Canadian — to advance through to Showdown Sunday among the 21 Pool A rodeo finalists was Stampede veteran Scott Guenthner. Article content The Provost cowboy was king of bull-doggers in Pool A with $18,000 pocketed from the three rounds. Included in the massive money haul was his second-place $5,500 payday picked up Sunday, after he timed in at 4.7 seconds. The day-money winner ahead of Guenthner was Justin Shaffer, with a 4.3-second run. Article content With that victory, Shaffer snuck into third spot in the three-day aggregate. His $10,250 collection joins Guenthner and Florida's Kyle Irwin as the Pool A steer-wrestling qualifiers for Showdown Sunday. Article content Article content Article content Again. Article content But he wants more from the final day than what has transpired the last two years. Article content 'I have yet to make the short-round here (on Showdown Sunday) — that one's eluding me still,' said the Texas bareback artist. 'I've been one hole out and two holes out (the last two years). Article content 'I've been really close, but this year is going to be the year.' Article content Franks secured his spot Sunday with a 79.5-point effort on Erotic Tango, good enough for a sixth-place draw, a $500 pay-hole and the $13,000 top-spot aggregate in bareback. Article content With the day-money win Sunday, Louisiana's Waylon Bourgeois — on an 88-point ride aboard Expose Not — advanced alongside Franks out of Pool A to Showdown Sunday. As did young Mason Stuller, a 21-year-old Oregon bareback artist, who was second Sunday with an 87.5 score on Welcome Delivery.
Calgary Herald
13 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Stampede, July 6: Politics and pancakes Tough choices for rodeo athletes
Prime Minister Mark Carney, Premier Danielle Smith and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre made public appearances in Calgary Saturday as part of Stampede-related festivities. Article content Meanwhile, officials at CF Chinook Centre say their pancake breakfast as broken Guinness world record for number of pancakes served over a given length of time. Article content Article content Article content Article content The only ticketed show at the Big Four Roadhouse is led by Americana singer-songwriter Jason Isbell, an artist who enjoys cult-like devotion from his growing legion of fans. Released earlier this year, the acclaimed Foxes in the Snow was the songwriter's first acoustic solo album. However, he will backed by his 400 Unit, suggesting those songs will be suitably revved for the stage. Make sure you arrive early enough to see Alberta up-and-comer Noeline Hofmann, whose star has been on the rise since country superstar Zach Bryan recorded the very Albertan ballad Purple Gas with Hofmann for his 2024 album The Great American Bar Scene after hearing it on YouTube. Article content Article content Monday, July 7
Calgary Herald
18 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
Review: Shania Twain proves yet again that she is masterful at giving audiences what they want
Article content 'Fellow Canadians, we are in this together,' Shania Twain told the enthusiastic crowd at the Saddledome Saturday night. Article content It was hardly a political treatise, but it was a nice and subtle call for unity of the third day of the Calgary Stampede. It was also telling that Twain had just proudly told the Calgary crowd — during Stampede, no less — that she was from Ontario and was still loudly cheered. Article content Article content The Timmins, Ont.-raised superstar started the festivities with a jolt of patriotism, offering a fiery run through Rock This Country! (NOTE: All exclamation marks in this review are Twain's). With its pounding, pop-metal drums and double guitar-crunch, the song sounds like a Def Leppard-Bryan Adams hybrid and all the geographic shoutouts in the 2000 original are actually to American states. Article content Article content Nevertheless, Twain and her four-piece backup band came bounding out to a backdrop of flapping Canadian flags projected on the jumbotron and risers. Granted, she may not have been quite as Canada-forward a few nights ago when she opened the tour in Montana. Article content But after years of global success, stadium tours and Las Vegas residencies, Twain is nothing if not masterful and giving audiences what they want. Article content Twain's performance on Saturday is the lone Saddledome concert at the Stampede this year. For context, last year the Stampede presented back-to-back concerts by Motley Crue, Miranda Lambert, The Jonas Brothers and Nickelback. Presumably, the thinking this year by programmers was that they would give the Stampede crowd a concentrated dose of superstardom right out of the gate. (Twain was also the marshal of the Calgary Stampede parade Friday morning.) Article content Article content The night started with a blast of energy, as Twain and her bouncing backup band — everyone was dressed in matching white attire and Twain sported some sparkling red cowboy boots — followed the opener with equally revved-up runs through Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You), You Win My Love, Waking Up Dreaming and Up! Article content Other than a few strange, momentum-muting segments late in the set, the show offered steady pace and a polished if predictable song list. Even the most cynical naysayers have to admit that Twain's songs all have remarkably sharp and endearing sing-a-long hooks that are nicely sweetened by those ABBA-esque gang-vocal harmonies and counter-melodies and powered by pummelling hard-rock beats and guitar riffs. They simply sound great in a stadium. Article content Still, it could be argued that the nicest musical moments were also the ones that showcased the band's nuance and subtlety. Early on, Twain sat on a stool with her band surrounding her for tender versions of You're Still the One and No One Need to Know. Both were highlights.
