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Article - August 2002
In
The Shadow of Equus CHUCKWAGON
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The deaths of six animals at the Calgary Stampede this year have once again inflamed the emotional controversy over the sport of rodeo, or the cruelty of it, depending on your point of view. In the perspective of some, this may be nothing more than seasonal collateral damage for engaging in high-speed sport that involves animals. But in the bigger picture, has it put us on a collision course with Canadian culture that, on one hand, celebrates equestrian competition while, on the other hand, demands safeguards for animals at risk? Four horses suffered fatal broken bones (legs, shoulders and back) during the chuckwagon races, a fifth horse suffered a heart attack and a calf was put down after being injured during a rodeo event. It was the worst toll since the disastrous 1986 Calgary Stampede when a chuckwagon fell in the path of two other teams. The resultant crash killed 11 horses and sparked a complete overhaul of chuckwagon racing and safety protocols. The wagons were redesigned, barrels were made of collapsible materials, the surface of the track was upgraded with clearly defined lane markers, and safety rules and regulations went through a remake with severe penalties for driver interference. The vast majority of animal and human injuries and deaths at the Calgary Stampede occur during chuckwagon races that involve four-horse teams hitched to wagons racing around a five-eighth mile track. A spill, a crash, a breakdown is both dramatic and traumatic. Horses used in chuckwagon racing today are Thoroughbreds off the track, retrained for a career in harness. The athletic ability of Thoroughbreds makes them highly appealing to competitors whose considerable financial investment in livestock, rigging, wagons and equipment to bring a sound team to the races must be justified by a return from winnings. Clearly, the loss of a good horse to injury or death must be a setback. But, for the sports industry, there may be a greater setback. The paying public may choose not to pay an entry fee to a spectator sport only to watch animals die. In a Globe and Mail report (July 15, 2002), a spectator from Ontario said the deaths of the six animals are too high a price to pay for live entertainment. The Calgary Humane Society has had its phones ring off the desks with complaints. "People are saying they don't see the importance of rodeo," commented spokesperson Cheryl Wallach. "They don't see why people think this is fun."
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When Ms. Wallach points out that there is a more sensitized global movement to take better care of animal species and the planet's ecosystems, the rough edges of rodeo cut sharply into focus. And therein lies the cultural rub - a movement toward more respect for, and better stewardship of, animals and nature while adhering to cultural traditions and activities that built Canada in the first place. The chuckwagon, of course, was the meal wagon on cattle drives and wagon trains. "It is true that people who have grown up in the city may not understand rodeo," she added. "But people in rural areas who grew up on a ranch or farm take time out when the rodeo comes to town. A lot of rural people do this (rodeo competition) for a living." This puts chuckwagon racing between a rock and a hard place. Working with livestock, rural folk know very well that accidents happen, fatal injuries occur, animals are put down. But having this happen in front of an audience is a public relations nightmare in motion. The Calgary Stampede attracts thousands of local people every year. It also draws thousands more visitors from across Canada and around the world who attend this highly promoted event. "Our track is the only one in the world that can safely handle Thoroughbred racing, Standardbred racing and chuckwagon racing," stated Brenda Hanchar, Media Manager for the Calgary Stampede. "We provide exceptional care in terms of food, water and shelter and we enjoy a really good relationship with the Humane Society and the S.P.C.A. We meet with them before the event; we discuss concerns and issues. They are on the grounds every day watching events. They provide us with a report. We review it, discuss deficiencies, make changes." The position statement of the Calgary Humane Society is that the Society is against the use of animals for entertainment when they are put at risk. "Our society makes the laws (of the land)," pointed out Ms. Wallach. "The law says this event is okay. What can we do to make it as safe as possible?" What can society do to find that common ground for safety, excitement and fun? Chuckwagon racing remains the most popular event with attendance at this year's Stampede at 175,000 over 158,000 last year. But if fatal carnage on the race track continues in future years, will the paying public turn away? Like it or not, the paying public is in control. There is fierce competition for their disposable entertainment dollars. The Stampede is billed as a family event - but will parents think twice about exposing their children to sports events that carry a high risk of injury or death to animals? If they go elsewhere for their entertainment, rodeo revenues will drop. Prize money will shrink. The impact of that on the future of professional chuckwagon racing is obvious.
Read Margaret Evans' column "In The Shadow Of Equus" each month in The Pacific & Prairie Horse Journal |
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