While some may think it’s just “horsing around,” for many it’s an important long-standing Grey Cup tradition: a horse marching into the lobby of a fancy hotel and munching on a little snack.
Beloved Grey Cup Festival mascot Tuffy the horse arrived at the Hilton Garden Inn and Suites to much fanfare on Thursday as part of the ongoing celebrations ahead of Sunday’s big game.
The 107th Grey Cup game is being played at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium and players from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats are already in the city getting their heads in the game.
Tuffy is a 12-year-old, black quarter horse mare who likes hay, grass and apples.
Her favourite drink is water but as a treat, Tuffy enjoys a “cold malted beverage,” according to the Calgary Grey Cup Committee.
When she’s not celebrating the Grey Cup and taking part in the excitement, Tuffy’s regular day job is that of a cowboy horse, meaning she does barrel racing, team roping and ranch work.
She’s made appearances in the 2017 and 2018 Calgary Police Rodeo, the 2017 Edmonton First Responders Rodeo and last year’s Grey Cup Festival in Edmonton.
In her downtime, Tuffy is “queen of the pasture,” the committee said.
The 2019 Grey Cup Festival kicked off on Wednesday and runs until Sunday.