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Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur \ We Animals Media
Animal deaths & suffering at the Stampede:
4 animals died during the 2024 Calgary Stampede rodeo & chuckwagon races.
- 3 horses suffered serious injuries that resulted in euthanasia during the chuckwagon races.
- 1 steer suffered a fatal neck injury during a steer wrestling event, after the contestant twisted the steer’s neck until the animal fell to the ground.
Animals die nearly every year at the Stampede rodeo & chuckwagon races. At least 109 animals have died since tracking began in 1986.
- Chuckwagon races are inherently dangerous—the high speed and close proximity of the wagons and horses means if one horse is injured or falls, it can affect the entire team and other wagons.
- Roping, bucking & wrestling events put animals at risk of injury, such as broken bones, neck injuries, and internal damage that may lead to euthanasia;
Many rodeo events rely on pain, fear, and stress, through tools like spurs, flank straps, and rough handling of animals, to make animals flee and buck.
- Research shows that calves experience acute stress during roping events.
- Photos and videos of rodeo events capture visible signs of stress in animals, including widened eyes, excessive drooling, open mouth and extended tongue, vocalization, signs of urination and defecation, learned helplessness (when an animal feels they have no escape from a negative situation and ‘give up’).
Research Co. public polling shows growing opposition to use of animals in rodeo:
- 2022 poll: Removing rodeo & chuckwagon races would have virtually no impact on Stampede attendance rates.
- 2023 poll: A majority of Albertans oppose the use of animals in rodeo.
- 2024 poll: More than half of Calgarians oppose government funding of rodeo events.
Take action
Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur \ We Animals Media
Call for an end to the rodeo & chuckwagon races at the Stampede:
- Take the #SayNoToRodeo pledge to reflect your opposition to rodeo & chuckwagon races.
Tips for writing to decision-makers:
Outline why you’re writing & why this issue matters to you.
- Refer to the fatal incidents at this year’s Stampede and that the statistics show that animals die almost every year at the rodeo and chuckwagon races. Rule changes have not stopped the deaths from occurring.
- Refer to public polling in recent years that reflects growing opposition to the use of animals in rodeo.
Point out that the Stampede is about much more than the rodeo and chuckwagon races and that it will continue to be successful without these inhumane and deadly events.
- Consider pointing out the parts of the Stampede that you support or would like to see more of. For example, the music, performers, rides, the artists, etc.
- Ask that the decision-maker support an end to the inhumane rodeo events and deadly chuckwagon races at the Stampede and instead focus on the many other activities and attractions that don’t put animals in harm’s way.
Point out that major funders or partners of the Calgary Stampede are in a unique position to encourage the Stampede to shift in the right direction.
Ask for a response from the decision-maker and continue to follow up with them and share relevant updates, as appropriate.