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Rodeo Truth is raising concerns about transparency and accountability at the Stampede and about a recent update to Alberta’s Animal Protection Act that was passed without public consultation. The change makes it harder to protect animals used in rodeo and chuckwagon races from distress. In summary: Following another controversial year for the Calgary Stampede rodeo…

A new peer-reviewed study adds to the growing body of evidence that calf-roping puts young animals through fear and stress. The study analyzed video footage of calves confined in chutes before being released into the arena for calf-roping events in Australia. The findings are deeply concerning: every calf observed showed at least one behaviour associated…

At the 2026 Calgary Stampede, rodeo and chuckwagon events continued to put animals at risk of fear, stress, injury and death, while also exposing human competitors and workers to serious safety risks.  The 10-day event saw two chuckwagons collide resulting in a serious injury for one of the horses, as well as harsh handling of a bucking horse…

Photo: Reddit user thicketcosplay During a Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby chuckwagon race on July 11, 2026, a horse suffered serious injuries when two teams collided while attempting to round the barrels. Stampede representatives state “an initial exam revealed no fractures but the injury is considered serious”. The incident again highlights the inherent risks of the…

Image credit: Jo-Anne McArthur, We Animals Nearly every year, animals continue to be injured or killed in dangerous rodeo and chuckwagon events at the Calgary Stampede. At least 110 animals have died at the Calgary Stampede since 1986, an astonishing average of one death every 3.5 days of competition. Animal lovers are urging Calgary’s newly…

Photo: Sportsnet As this year’s Calgary Stampede wraps up, it leaves behind another devastating loss. Rider, a horse gravely injured during the chuckwagon races, was euthanized. His death adds to the long, painful legacy of animal fatalities at the Calgary Stampede.  Since 1986, at least 110 animals are known to have died in connection with…

Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur \ We Animals Media The 2025 Calgary Stampede is set to take place from July 4–13, once again bringing with it the controversial rodeo and chuckwagon races—events long criticized for their impact on animal welfare. These high-risk spectacles have a tragic track record, with animal fatalities occurring nearly every year.  Take action…

Most Calgarians oppose government funding of rodeo events – Research Co., July 2024 Surveys were conducted in Calgary and across Canada in both February 2024, before the Calgary Stampede, and July 2024, after the Calgary Stampede. The July results revealed a significant increase in Canadian opposition to rodeo events and government funding for these activities.…

Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur \ We Animals Animals die in rodeo We know that animals used in rodeo events can suffer from acute and long-term injuries, which can result in the animals being euthanized. For example, at the 2024 Calgary Stampede, four animals were euthanized during the 10-day event, making it the deadliest Stampede since 2019…

Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur \ We Animals A recent report from the Vancouver Humane Society outlines several key findings: This year’s Calgary Stampede rodeo and chuckwagon races resulted in four animal fatalities and included footage showing inhumane treatment of animals. Innovative polling indicates a significant rise in public opposition to rodeo events and government funding for…

Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur \ We Animals Media Recent polling reveals a significant surge in public opposition to various rodeo events and the use of government funds to support these events, both among Calgarians and nationwide, compared to results from February.  This shift follows the deadliest year for animals at the Calgary Stampede rodeo and chuckwagon…

Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur \ We Animals Media The 2024 Calgary Stampede is underway July 5-14, and with it comes inhumane rodeo events and the deadly chuckwagon races that result in animal fatalities nearly every year.  Let’s take a look at the controversial history of the Calgary Stampede rodeo and chuckwagon races. The Vancouver Humane Society…

Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur \ We Animals Media https://thegauntlet.ca/2024/07/04/stampede-or-slaughter-the-ethical-dilemma-of-the-rodeo/ In the leadup to this year’s Calgary Stampede, The Gauntlet writer Josie Simon discussed the evolving public sentiment regarding the use of animals for entertainment such as rodeos. “One of the most controversial aspects of the Stampede is the chuckwagon races. Since 1986, more than 70 horses have died…

What’s the Calgary Stampede rodeo hiding about calf roping?  The Calgary Stampede rodeo website doesn’t show calves being roped. Is it because calf roping events (also referred to as tie-down roping) look like this?  The reality of calf roping  In calf roping, a calf as young as 3 months old is isolated on their own…

Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur \ We Animals Media https://albertaviews.ca/should-we-ban-rodeo As the Calgary Stampede rodeo is once again making headlines nationwide for the animal suffering it causes, Camille Labchuk of Animal Justice argues that we should ban rodeo, calling it “a spectacle of suffering, offering fleeting entertainment yet causing serious fear, trauma and even death to the…

Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur \ We Animals Media Four animals were euthanized due to serious injuries sustained during the 2024 Calgary Stampede rodeo and chuckwagon races. Friday, July 5: A horse on Danny Ringuette’s team sustained an injury due to wagon interference during the sixth heat. Saturday, July 6: An outrider horse on Chance Thomson’s team…