Calgary Stampede officials says they are going to review animal safety.
The announcement follows the death of a four horses during the chuckwagon racing event at this year’s rodeo, bringing to 65 the number of horses who have died in the races since 1986.
Two of the horses had to be euthanized this past weekend after suffering ligament injuries. Both were outrider horses who did not make contact with any other horses or wagons.
Two others that were harnessed to chuckwagons were put down after track-related accidents earlier in the week.
The Stampede’s communications director, Kurt Kadatz, says the organization is not proud of its safety record this year.
He says the Stampede has made advances in animal fitness and welfare but says it will try to figure out what to do differently to achieve a better result.
The national animal-rights organization Animal Justice, which last week called on the Calgary Humane Society to prosecute what it called “inhumane rodeo practices” at the Stampede, was sceptical about the announcement.
“The Calgary Stampede’s plan to undertake yet another review of its animal welfare policies is a classic case of the fox guarding the hen house,” stated Anna Pippus, director of farmed animal advocacy with Animal Justice.
Chuckwagon racing is a team event, led by a driver who commands a team of horses pulling the chuckwagon, and is supported by two or four outriders, each racing individual thoroughbred horses that follow the chuckwagon.
Thirty other animals have also died at the Stampede since 1986.
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