Last year, the Stampede said it generated brand-new precaution for horses, that include lowering the variety of wagons to 3 from 4 on the track for each heat.
Six horses passed away in 2019, which led animal rights groups to raise issues about horses that suffer fractured legs, damaged backs and cardiovascular disease.
“Once they were past the finish line, they were slowing down in a process, and that’s where the horse fell. They were pretty much stopped at that point,” said Mihaly, who lives in Red Deer, Alta., and was going to the Stampede with pals on Friday.
“The horse didn’t get dragged or anything. It just collapsed.”
Mihaly said a team of individuals stroked in and covered the location from view with tarpaulins. A provider was generated, he said, and the animal was moved off the track, all while still under the cover of tarpaulins.
A horse likewise passed away throughout a chuckwagon race at last year’s Calgary Stampede. There were no chuckwagon races in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chuckwagon races are a nighttime phenomenon throughout the 10-day Stampede, which ends Sunday. Crowds see each night as horse-drawn wagons thunder around a dirt track accompanied by outriders.
According to an entry on the World Professional Chuckwagon Association website, Molle, who resides in Chauvin, Alta., invested 9 years on the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association circuit prior to transferring to the WPCA Pro Tour in 2021.
The entry notes he is a licensed farrier and equine dental expert, and began driving pony chariots at the age of 14.
Mihaly said he and his buddies had a conversation about the benefits of chuckwagon races on their method back to Red Deer on Friday night, and he said he’ll never ever go to one once again.
“I don’t understand what the gain from it at this point is, just for pure entertainment,” Mihaly said.
“It definitely put a mark on my Stampede experience.”
This report by The Canadian Press was very first released July 15, 2023.
The Canadian Press
