Morris rodeo distances self from Calgary controversy

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This article was published 16/07/2019 (2418 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ORGANIZERS of this year’s Manitoba Stampede and Exhibition don’t anticipate a negative impact on them from the death of six horses during this year’s Calgary Stampede.

Mike Bellisle, rodeo chairman with the Manitoba Stampede, which starts this Thursday and runs until Sunday in Morris, said, “Anybody involved with rodeo and the western way of life obviously feels horrible about what happened there.

“It’s just a terrible thing.”

But Bellisle, who has been involved with the Stampede in Morris for 26 years, said he doesn’t believe what happened in Calgary will cast a shadow over Morris’s version.

“There really shouldn’t be an effect on us,” he said. “We operate pony chuckwagon races. They are a different size animal and a different size wagon. There’s more room in the arena.

“Could an accident happen? Sure. We’re dealing with high-spirited animals bred to run. But I’ve been here since 1993, and no animal has been put down during that time.”

Six horses died during the 10-day Calgary Stampede, with three of them put down after they were hurt during the chuckwagon races on Sunday. Two were put down because of severe leg injuries earlier in the event, while a sixth collapsed and died because of a medical condition.

The Winnipeg Humane Society is not calling for the Manitoba Stampede to stop using animals during its event.

In a statement, the humane society says, “Fatalities and serious injuries to animals have long been documented in rodeos across our nation.

“The Winnipeg Humane Society supports events that put the welfare and dignity of the animal first and avoids any act or activity which may cause stress, pain, injury or death. We support the position of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association in terms of ensuring proper care, enrichment, planning and supervision of animals participating in entertainment events.”

But the society also said it hasn’t been contacted by the Stampede’s organizers, “so we do not know the specifics of their animal-welfare program.”

The Morris rodeo is in its 56th year, but the fair that goes with it is celebrating its 124th year.

Besides the pony chuckwagon races, the Stampede also features the Gathering of Nations, with members of the Roseau River First Nations sharing beading, dancing, wildlife tanning and leather working, as well as the province’s only professional rodeo with bareback riding, bull riding and team roping, a petting zoo, midway and music.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca