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Welcome to the fastest growing equine sport in the world                                                  Extreme Cowboy Racing!

We want to thank you for taking time to learn more about the Extreme Cowboy Association (EXCA) and the North Central Region (NCR).

The EXCA is the original and only recognized association for the sport of Extreme Cowboy Racing. The Extreme Cowboy Race™ was originated by the “Original Extreme Cowboy”, Craig Cameron. Craig has achieved national recognition and prominence as a true cowboy and is known as the “Cowboy’s Clinician”, being one of the finest horsemen in the United States.  A member of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and Culver Riding Academy Hall of Fame, he is taking the Extreme Cowboy Challenge across the country with the Extreme Cowboy Association.

Craig has received two Telly Awards from RFD TV, one for his “Ride Smart” show and the second award for the “Extreme Cowboy Race”.The EXCA has been specifically designed to invite riders of all levels to participate and enjoy the “fastest growing equine sport”, The Extreme Cowboy Challenge! 

Chris Vinson from 3S-Ranch in Boyceville, WI is the first “North Central Region Extreme Cowgirl.”  After competing for Craig Cameron in Kansas in the spring of ’09 Chris and her business partner Ellen Waukon decided the NCR (MN, IA and WI) would be competitive in the National EXCA, as a result the NCR EXCA was born.

Ellen Waukon has since been appointed to the National Board of Advisor's by the President of EXCA Bill Hull.  Ellen has contributed to the National Assoc. by helping develop the judges training criteria and also by training NCR’s judges.  Ellen is the first level 3 EXCA judge int he North Central Region.

A EXCA Challenge would include natural and artificial obstacles that are arranged in a pattern inside an arena or out in a pasture or field.  An example of obstacles that riders and horses are asked to master are: walk through tires laid out on the ground, go through water, move cattle around a pen, ring a bell from horseback, side pass along a predetermined path, walk over poles, back around an object and many more. 

These challenges were developed to encourage people to master their horsemanship skills and develop the relationship with their horse that will help keep them safe, sane and successful. The Challenges are split into divisions.  These divisions have obstacle difficulty rating from 1 to 6 with 6 being the most difficult.  An example of a 1 and 2 difficulty rating is walking over a tarp, leading your horse safely, leaning over and removing an object from on top of a 55 gal barrel and replacing it. An example of a 3 and 4 difficulty rating is backing your horse in a straight line, backing your horse around an object, walking over a bridge, riding through strips of tarp hanging from a supporting device. An example of a 5 is walking over a teeter totter, performing roll back maneuvers on a fence, loose rein one handed riding while going through a pond at a trot or cantering through a tunnel. Ratings of 6 are for the professional rider’s only an example would be standing on your horse to drop a tennis ball in a bucket, riding double bareback, or jumping bareback.

Young Guns 7-11  
The Young Guns division was developed to encourage our young people to become involved early in the challenges of horsemanship, partnering and competition in an environment that also supports these values.  The Young Guns will compete on 6 obstacles with difficulty rating of 1 and 2 which is suitable to the age group.

Novice 12 & Over   
The Novice division is for riders that have never ridden in an EXCA Challenge before, those people who need the exposure of a race without the competitive bent the other divisions may exhibit.  The Novice competitors will attempt to master 10 obstacles once again rated to the skill level of a Novice rider.

Youth 12- 17 
The Youth division is for those young riders that have had some exposure to the Challenges and find themselves wanting to compete within their age group.  They are asked to master 13 obstacles with ratings of 2 and 3.      

Non-Pro 18 & Over 
This division is for those who do not make their living or part of their living training and/or competing horses.  They are required to master more difficult skills with the ratings of 3 and 4 and the amount of obstacles being 13.  

Pro 18 & Over   
The Pro division is for professional horse trainers and for professional competitors.  They are required to master the most difficult obstacles and many times their speed is much faster than the other divisions.

 Futurity Division (3 & 4 year olds only)
For the professional horse breeder/trainer/competitor to showcase their horses to add value for their sale.  Futurity divisions are for the World Championships only.  

55 & Over Ride Smart
The Ride Smart division is for non-professional riders over the age of 55. They are not required to perform some of the more physically demanding skills as the professionals. 

We are currently looking for more event sites in both Minnesota and Iowa.  Our team  can run the entire event for you for a percentage of the money’s or handle only what you don’t want to do, including covering your event with our insurance.  You also have the option to join EXCA as a CLUB and run everything yourself.  Whichever option fits into your business plan 3S-Ranch can help include your facility into the NCR EXCA’s growing popularity.

The NCR EXCA completed its’ first season on October 3, 2009, with the Regional Finals in the morning and a Fun Day in the afternoon at 3S-Ranch in Boyceville, WI.  The first 2010 competition was held in Minnesota at the State Fair Grounds in St. Paul on October 24th & 25th for the MN EquiFest.  Tracy Porter from Madison, WI won riding her Paso Fino Caz!

If you’d like to see some live action, feel free to come watch any competition or fun run.  To register to ride in a Fun Run or compete in a Challenge just call or email Chris at 3S-Ranch.  We’d love to have you participate in the “fastest growing equine sport” that’s sweeping the nation the Extreme Cowboy Challenges!  Once again Thank You for taking the time to check out the Extreme Cowboy Association and specifically the North Central Region, “where we can ride as well as the cowboy’s down south!”   To view some spectacular photos of events at 3S-Ranch and elsewhere please go to www.bretthartimagery.com the 3S-Ranch official photographer.