Jennifer O'Connor: Please steer clear of the Calgary Stampede
Editor's note: Jennifer O'Connor of the PETA Foundation sent us this letter:
The Calgary Stampede is upon us, and for horses, that means their days may be numbered. Nearly every year, horses suffer catastrophic injuries during the event. The Stampede has been given free rein to police itself for far too long, and dozens of animals are dead as a result. It's time for the government to step in and put an end to the abuse.
The deadliest events in the Stampede are the chuckwagon races, in which teams of horses pull "pioneer" wagons and race around a track at breakneck speed. Horses have suffered broken legs, heart attacks, and broken backs. It is indefensible to continue an event in which animals routinely pay with their lives.
Alberta's Animal Protection Act prohibits causing animals distress, and it defines an animal in distress as one who is "abused or subjected to undue hardship, privation or neglect." Since horses used in the chuckwagon races surely suffer hardship, the races may be in violation of the law.
People who care about animals should not support something that causes so much pain and suffering. Please steer clear.
Comments
5 Comments
Richard S.
Jun 29, 2015 at 12:26pm
As someone who has owned and competed with horses for over 30 years, I can attest to the validity of Jennifer O"Connor's concerns. Horses are rather anatomically challenged animals: the narrow bones and complex tendons of their legs can be easily damaged in a variety of minute ways, and potentially cause a horse to suffer lameness, pain and misery for years . For thoroughbreds (the ex-racehorses that the chuck wagon competitors use) this situation is further exacerbated, given the fineness of their bones. (And that's just the legs: hooves are also a huge trouble spot). The speed , narrow turns and the precarious situation of 4 horses harnessed together in these races represent a deadly combination for the equine. Over 50 horses have been killed in the Stampede chuck wagon races since 1986. This number does not the represent those horses that later euthanized due to chronic or acute injuries as a consequence of this entertainment. It is, quite frankly, a very sad spectacle and one which any compassionate person should avoid.
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Jun 29, 2015 at 12:33pm
As much as i agree with what your saying in this article , it has the ring of become a vegetarian to save animals .
If you want to become a vegetarian do it for real reasons , don't you know growing and getting veg cost animals there lives as well .
Not letting people , horses etc. have exiting fun can be a problem too , horses like full throttle fun like people do and if you don't think so you don't understand the whole picture .
What we need is ethics , unbiased thinking and understanding the situation to change things , just like the NDP and most of the Alberta electorate does , change but don't throw the baby out with the bath water .
I agree...
Jun 29, 2015 at 1:57pm
The Calgary Stampede, or anything called or resembles a 'Stampede' should be stopped. Why is wanting to 'save the planet' socially acceptable, but when it comes to horses or cattle we're not ready to save anything?
Laurie
Jun 29, 2015 at 2:52pm
Animals to some people are looked on as entertainment. so what if I caLf neck gets broken or a horse goes lame or has a heart attack or breaks a leg. bulls are poked so that they buck if not off to the slaughter house same as the rodeo horses. I'm sure if animals had voices they wouldn't be thrilled to be doing all this for us. but that's just me I don't find any entertainment in this whatsoever.
ursa minor
Jun 29, 2015 at 4:20pm
The risk to animals at the Calgary Stampede chuckwagon races would be greatly reduced if the organizers went with the 'standing' start used at other chuckwagon race events.
Instead, the Stampede obstinately and stupidly upholds the "tradition" of teams (with four outrider horses) starting with tightly placed figure-8 turns around barrels.
When the Stampede can't be called upon to even modify an event dangerous to animals, that event needs to be taken away from them.