Source:  News Release

Royal West Schedule Highlights North America's Best Jumpers

Calgary, Alberta: The stirring action of this year’s Royal West — featuring the prestigious Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Calgary — kicks off this Thursday night at the Agrium Western Event Centre on the Stampede grounds. Championship jumping, musical entertainment and events such as jousting, falconry and wild ponies will highlight nine days of heart-stopping action from Oct. 22-31.
 
The inaugural weekend’s action is highlighted by the Royal West Canadian Championships and the Royal West International Championship on Saturday on the challenging circuit on the Agrium floor.  Week one also features the $50,000 Western Canadian Hunter Derbies while performance jousting makes its debut at Royal West with the medieval sport taking its place in the ring.
 
Second week highlights start Friday with the Spirit of the West Cup as the best Canadian and international riders take to the course at the Agrium. Saturday marks the second Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League event in western Canada. Talented riders and their horses will vie for $126,000 in prize money as Calgary joins the greatest jumping cities in the world.
 
Week two also brings out the Wild Ponies and more hair-raising Jousting thrills. For Saturday’s FEI showpiece on Hallowe’en, families and kids will also be able to trick-or-treat between events.