A photo of the chuckwagon races during Sport Days in 2017. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Brady Bateman

Chuckwagon Safety

Chuckwagon safety questioned after Calgary Stampede

Jul 16, 2019 | 4:31 PM

A high number of horse deaths during the 2019 Calgary Stampede chuckwagon races has led to some calling for the event to be banned.

A total of six horses died during this year’s races, bringing the number of deaths to more than 70 since the event began in 1986.

“All of these horses go through a lot of different checks and tests with different people. They are constantly checked by vets to make sure they are healthy, they are treated not like pets, but like members of the family,” former president of the Prince Albert Professional Chuckwagon and Chariot Association, Alex Fiddler said.

“It’s unbelievable how these guys take care of these horses. Most of them are looked after better than pets living in people’s homes.”

Fiddler noted a majority of the horses who compete in the chuckwagon races were bred for such purposes, with a high number being rejected from traditional racing due to a variety of factors.

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“A lot of them, they have been barred off the track. There is nothing wrong with them, they just won’t load into a starting gate or stuff like that,” Fiddler said. “This is actually a second chance on life itself for them. A lot of these horses wouldn’t be around if it wasn’t for the chuckwagon industry. For these people thinking these horses are abused go to one of the ranches where they have these horses and look and see what goes into (caring for) them.”

The Stampede’s chuckwagon event features teams of four thoroughbred horses pulling wagons in figure-eight formations around barrels, who then race down an oval track. The focus of the event is speed, which is believed by some to play a part in the danger of the event.

Officials with the Calgary Stampede released a statement on Monday saying there would be an official review of chuckwagon safety.

“This is as upsetting to us as it is to our community, and is challenging for us. The Stampede’s commitment to the safety of animals and the conditions of their participation in our events is paramount to our values and brand integrity,” the statement said.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) held a Chuckwagon Deaths Protest in Edmonton yesterday.

A release on the group’s website condemned the chuckwagon races and called on the premier of Alberta to end the event.

“The deadly chuckwagon races are an ugly throwback to a more ignorant time and are staining Calgary’s reputation,” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said. “On behalf of its 6.5 million members and supporters worldwide including hundreds of thousands in Canada, and every kind person, PETA is calling on Premier Kenney to end these devastatingly cruel races.”

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Brady.bateman@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TheDigitalBirdy