Three more horse deaths shadow final day of the Calgary Stampede
Posted Jul 15, 2019 5:49 am.
Last Updated Jul 15, 2019 1:45 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Three more horses have died during the final night of chuckwagon races at the Calgary Stampede.
During one of the races, the right lead horse on the wagon of Evan Salmond suffered a broken leg and two other horses on the wagon team suffered injuries.
All three horses were attended to by a veterinarian who determined there was no treatment available. All three horses were euthanized.
This is the fourth horse belonging to Salmond to have died, and the sixth during this year’s Calgary Stampede.
Salmond was involved in the incident that resulted in a lifetime ban for driver Chad Harden. Harden was also fined $10,000 after he interfered with a wagon that resulted in that crash.
On Wednesday, a horse was euthanized after it broke a leg during a race, while another animal collapsed and died Monday due to what the Stampede called a medical condition.
The deaths are once again prompting calls from animals rights groups to take action.
“When the Stampede starts, everyone waits with bated breath to see when the first horse will die and this time we had to endure six deaths,” said Camille Labchuk with Animal Justice. “It’s high time that authorities investigate this even for illegal animal cruelty and appropriately charge it.”
Labchuk said that more than 100 animals have died at the Stampede since the mid-1980s and believes that authorities are turning a blind eye.
She adds that that no rodeo has been prosecuted since the 1950s.
“This is as upsetting to us as it is to our community, and is challenging for us,” said the Stampede’s website in reference to Sunday’s crash.
“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. We will continue to be open in our communication with our community.”
The Stampede said they will carry out a thorough review process on Chuckwagon safety but aren’t sure yet what it will look like.
WATCH: Calgary Stampede reflects on 2019 event
-With files from The Canadian Press
