It’s the biggest show on the Canadian Prairies: the Calgary Stampede.
There are parades, exhibitions, concerts and the rodeo–the richest tournament-style rodeo in the world with over $2-million in prize money.
Two years ago, the Stampede celebrated its 100th birthday.
Backers of the Stampede say the giant party is a celebration of the Prairie way of life.
There are others who disagree. They say some of the rodeo events go too far–that too many of the animals are victims of abuse and unnecessary cruelty.
Animal activists are especially concerned about chuckwagon races where teams of horses compete to pull wagons around a track.
The figures differ depending on who you talk to, but it is certain that the chuckwagon races are very dangerous for the horses–and many of the humans–involved.
The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies says that since 1986 least 60 animals have died or been injured at the Calgary Stampede, half of which have been related to the chuckwagon races.
Make that 61 animals.
On Tuesday, a horse died and a rider was injured in separate incidents during training.
Tim Haroldson is in serious but stable condition after a chuckwagon driven by Jerry Bremner rolled and Mr. Haroldson was thrown.
In a separate incident, a 12-year-old horse collapsed and died after completing a run.
A necropsy concluded the horse died of a ruptured aneurysm.
The Stampede has made efforts to cut down the injuries and deaths–tightening the rules around chuckwagon racing.
In 2011, new rules regarding mandatory rest days, vet checks and limits on the number of outriders used brought the Stampede’s Rangeland Derby in line with the World Professional Chuckwagon Association and the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association.
Those rules also brought in changes for several other Stampede events, including tie-down roping and steer wrestling.
But a year later, three horses died in a chuckwagon crash after the lead horse had an aneurysm and pulled down three other horses and an outrider.
Opposition can be fierce. Last Friday, protesters from the Vancouver Animal Defence League chained themselves to the gate surrounding the race track, putting the event on hold for about half an hour. In a statement, the League said they hoped their efforts would prevent “the cruel chuckwagon bloodsport” from happening
Following Tuesday’s events, the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies called on the Stampede to immediately end chuckwagon races.
RCI’s Terry Haig spoke by phone with the CEO of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, Barbara Cartwright, at her office in Ottawa.Listen
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