When most children are selecting a sport to pursue or an extracurricular activity, its things like hockey, baseball, dancing or some form of music. However, for ten year old Zachary Gladu, his passion is steer riding. This extraordinary young boy, with a smile bigger than he is, at first glance does not look like he’d be fit for the rodeo, but you’d be wrong.
Zachary Gladu has called Chestermere home since he was a tiny six weeks old. Homeschooled by his mom Rachel, the rodeo bug has been in their family for many generations. Zachary decided to cowboy up and take his turn.
For the past four years, Zachary has attended the Johansen Brother’s Boys Steer Riding School near Olds over the Easter weekend. This year, Zachary took 1st place in his division, proving that although tiny, he is mighty. Participants are judged on technique, and of course, they must stay on for eight seconds.
Zachary explains that this is what he loves to do and that the only time he was a bit scared was one year he was starting to slip off the steer, and his head got bumped along the fence of the arena. Thankfully, he was wearing a helmet and was not injured.
When asked what his goals were, with a giant smile, Zachary replied, “I want to ride in the Calgary Stampede”.
