A horse was seriously injured during the Calgary Stampede’s chuckwagon race on Saturday night—with Prime Minister Mark Carney in the stands—after two chuckwagons collided in the third heat of the Rangeland Derby, causing teams of horses to crash and tangle around each other.
According to Stampede officials, the horse had to receive emergency treatment in the arena before being transported to a veterinary hospital. Although X-rays reportedly found no fractures, the injury has been described as serious. It’s still unknown whether the horses involved in the crash will recover or be “euthanized”, as most horses are after serious injuries.
This avoidable crash is the latest reminder that it’s time for cruel chuckwagon and rodeo events to end. Animals are roped, wrestled, and terrorized in these events, and deaths and injuries happen virtually every year at the Calgary Stampede rodeo.
The collision also comes just days after a rodeo worker was caught repeatedly striking a horse named Ice Cube and pulling his mane during a bronc riding event. Following Animal Justice’s legal complaint, the Calgary Humane Society launched an investigation into the incident, but ultimately decided not to pursue charges.
Sadly, cruelty is common at the Calgary Stampede, and Animal Justice has reported two other incidents of abusive handling at this year’s rodeo.
Why Chuckwagon Racing Is Inherently Deadly
The Calgary Stampede has repeatedly claimed welfare and safety improvements. Yet, horses continue to suffer serious injuries and die as a result of these events. According to data compiled by the Vancouver Humane Society, at least 110 animals have died at the Calgary Stampede since 1986. Seventy-nine of those deaths are from chuckwagon races alone.
Just last year, a horse named Rider suffered a catastrophic leg fracture during a chuckwagon race and was killed. In 2024, three horses died from chuckwagon races, while a young steer had his neck snapped during steer wrestling. In 2019, six horses were killed in chuckwagon races—making it the deadliest Stampede in the past decade.
Alberta Passes Law to Shield Rodeo Abuse
This horrific injury comes just months after the Alberta government changed the Animal Protection Act to give rodeo and chuckwagon racing a free pass from animal protection laws that would otherwise apply.
When the new law comes into effect this fall, “generally accepted practices” in these cruel events will be exempt from animal protection laws—even if they cause animals fear, pain, or distress.
The government also banned making “frivolous or vexatious” animal welfare complaints—which could discourage people from reporting animal cruelty
Rather than update decades-old animal cruelty laws, Alberta has chosen to shield one of the province’s most deadly animal events from legal scrutiny.
It’s Time to End Chuckwagon Racing & Rodeo Events
No amount of safety measures can eliminate the inherent dangers of forcing horses to race at high speeds, pulling heavy wagons around tight turns while racing inches apart from others.
The only way to prevent more suffering is to end chuckwagon racing and other cruel rodeo events for good.
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