http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=3d0c51a2-6ef2-4dd8-9e22-f5927b3feea5

City slickers can be part of roundup

Anne Kyle
Leader-Post

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

WILD HORSES: Members of the Piapot First Nation drive some of the 130 wild horses through the Qu'Appelle Valley from Grandview Beach community pasture to Piapot First Nation on the weekend as a trial run for what they hope will be an annual fundraiser to raise money for All Nations Hope Hospital. The horses are owned by Art Francis, who operates a business providing horse stock for the rodeo circuit.

City slickers with a little horse sense will be able to take part in a wild horse roundup next fall.

This weekend, as part of a trial run to what organizers hope will be a successful fundraising venture, riders from the Piapot First Nation moved 130 head of wild horses from the community pasture at Grandview Beach to an acreage owned by Derek Francis on the Piapot First Nation.

"Art Francis, who owns all the horses as part of his rodeo stock business, wants to open up the wild horse drive to 20 to 25 extra riders who will pay a fee for joining the adventure,'' said Cpl. Jim Pratt, a member of the Regina Police Service, who helped with the horse wrangling on the weekend.

"The money raised will go to a charity such as the diabetes association or the diabetic unit at the All Nations Healing Hospital in Fort Qu'Appelle.''

Pratt along with 10 experienced riders and support staff drove the horses through the valley over two days with the assistance of the RCMP and city police to help direct traffic while the animals were herded across major highways.

"We wanted to work out any problems this year so that when we hold the horse drive next fall we know what to expect,'' Pratt said.

"We have to do it in the fall when all the crops are off the field.''

This year the riders corralled the horses overnight and went home after spending seven and one-half hours in the saddle.

They ventured out again early Sunday morning to spend another five and one-half hours on the trail.

"Next year we hope to have an overnight camp with a camp fire and tents just like in the old, wild west.'' Pratt said.

At the end of the day a weary Pratt admitted he was a "tad saddle sore'' and was looking forward to a long soak in the tub.
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007