Tradition can grow kinder
The Stampede can celebrate Alberta’s heritage without the rodeo & chuckwagon events that put animals at risk of fear, stress, injury or death.
A better future for animals starts with you
Join the call for a kinder Calgary Stampede
Rodeo Realities
The animals can’t tell us, but the evidence can.
Animals have died in connection with the Calgary Stampede’s Rodeo & Chuckwagon events since 1986.
of those deaths were horses used in chuckwagon races.
That’s one animal death every 3.5 days of competition.
Animals experience more than the crowd can see.
Rodeo events are designed to be fast, forceful, and timed for entertainment, but animals are the ones who face the consequences. The speed, chasing, roping, wrestling, bucking, and sudden stops can put animals at risk of serious injuries, including broken bones, neck injuries, internal damage, and death.
Bucking events rely on tools that cause discomfort, stress, and fear responses in animals.
In bucking events, horses and bulls are placed in chutes before being released into the arena with a rider on their back. Just before release, a flank strap or rope is tightened around the animal’s sensitive underbelly, causing discomfort and stress that can trigger a defensive bucking response. Riders use spurs to grip the animal and encourage more forceful bucking, with scores based in part on the rider’s spurring action. These practices show that bucking is not simply a natural performance, but a reaction caused by stress, discomfort, and fear.
Chuckwagon races are the most deadly with near-annual deaths.
The Calgary Stampede’s Rangeland Derby chuckwagon races are known as the “half-mile of hell,” and the name reflects the danger horses face. More than 70 horses have died in the races to date, including six in 2019. With horses racing at high speeds in close quarters beside wagons, the risk of crashes, injuries, heart attacks, and death remains significant.
Roping and wrestling events rely on chasing, catching, and forcing animals down.
In calf roping and steer wrestling, young animals are made to flee at high speed while being chased by a rider on horseback. The sudden noise, pressure, and pursuit can cause visible fear and stress before the animal is even caught. In calf roping, the calf is lassoed around the neck, brought to an abrupt stop, thrown to the ground, and tied by three legs. In steer wrestling, the rider jumps from their horse onto a fleeing steer, grabs the animal’s horns, and twists the neck until the steer falls. Research shows that calves display visible signs of fear, anxiety, and stress during the chase, while both events rely on rough handling, forceful restraint, and the animal’s instinct to escape.
If you decide to watch the events:
Public Opinion is
Shifting
Tradition can grow kinder. Polling shows that it Must.
Most Canadians disagree with the use of animals in rodeo.
Across Canada, more than half of people surveyed disagreed with the use of animals in all five rodeo events tested: calf roping, steer wrestling, bronc riding, chuckwagon racing, and bull riding. Opposition was highest for calf roping at 68% and steer wrestling at 67%.
Four of the five events were opposed by a majority of Albertans.
In Edmonton, a majority disagreed with every event tested, including 70% who opposed both calf roping and steer wrestling. Even in Calgary, home of the Calgary Stampede, more than half of residents disagreed with the use of animals in calf roping, steer wrestling, chuckwagon racing, and bronc riding.
The majority of Calgarians disagree with government funding for rodeo.
The new polling also reflected stronger public opposition to the government funding of rodeo events, with Canada-wide opposition. In Calgary, opposition was as high as 67%.
The results show a clear trend: many people, including Albertans, are questioning whether animals should be used in rodeo.
(Research co)
See the Truth. Sign the Pledge. Speak Up.
If this made you rethink rodeo, take action to help protect animals used in rodeo & chuckwagon events at the stampede!
1.
Take the #SayNoToRodeo pledge to reflect your opposition to the use of animals in rodeo. The number of signatures will be shared in engagement with decision-makers.
2.
Use the template email below to send a message to Calgary City Council and Alberta decision-makers. If you live in Alberta, the message will also be sent to your MLA.
Calgary’s vision of the Stampede’s future
A 2022 public poll found that removal of the rodeo and chuckwagon events from the Calgary Stampede program would have virtually no impact on attendance rates and would bring in new crowds.
Rodeo Truth asked Calgarians: “What animal-friendly activities would you love at the Stampede?”
Western Fun, Minus the Animal Harm
Cruelty-Free Stampede
Find cruelty-free events near you
From live music and local food to markets and community gatherings, discover the many ways to enjoy Stampede season around Calgary without supporting the rodeo and chuckwagon events that harm animals.
Join the Rally to #BuckTheRodeo
Take action on July 4, 5, 11 and 12 by joining local advocates for a peaceful demonstration against rodeo and chuckwagon races. Meet at the Victoria Park Stampede C-Train Station at 12pm!