I love animals. I think they are amazing. They are able to communicate in ways we can’t.
I’m also not personally one that enjoys rodeo or chuck wagon races. They aren’t my personal form of entertainment.
Chad Harden and his family loves horses. He loved them enough to care for them. He was devastated by the accident yesterday. As a matter of fact, one of the horses was meant to go to his son. Here’s a video response. http://www.calgarysun.com/videos/1732626760001
After yesterday’s mishap in the Heat 4 of the chuck wagon races, Animal Rights Groups, specifically the Vancouver Humane Society, have called for another discussion of a ban of chuck wagon races. Read here.http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourcommunity/2012/07/should-the-calgary-stampedes-chuckwagon-race-be-banned.html
As well intended as some of these groups are, I wonder if any of these people will talk to Chad Harden or any of these racers for that matter. They have ranches, or farms and generation after generation of families who have spent hours upon hours with horses. They love them and cherish them as their own family. I don’t believe there is any intent of cruelty here. And it feels to me, that some of these groups go to a suggestion of banning and missing the point
Yes, we have seen some issues and the Stampede even attempted to improve safety as there was an issue in 2011. All recognize that there needs improvement and NOBODY wins when a tragedy like this happens.
What would help is if the protesters put down their signs and engage in real dialogue. A man has been devastated by this.
It’s not my thing either but I disagree. Radicals (i.e. PETA) are blind to all/anything that don’t precisely obey their philosophy.
I love horses and support 18 of them myself (altho none of mine are TBs). The chuckwagon horses are not gentle, mild creatures that could easily be re-trained to be saddle horses. They are off-the-track thoroughbreds (TBs) that have racing in their blood but were not fast enough to make the grade. Many (if not most) would have been slaughtered for meat as soon as they failed at the race track. Their alternatives to the chuck wagon circuit are generally not plentiful or pretty. The drivers are usually ranchers who provide daily care for the animals, and as a rule, pretty good care.
Am I saddened to see these horses die? Yes, I am. Do I think that banning the chuckwagons would make the world a better place for off-the-track TBs?? Unequivocally not.
I do my part to care for horses. Those that support the idea of banning the chucks should also be supporting horse rescue organizations financially. If you don’t have any skin in the game, it’s easy to get on your “high horse” and pass moral judgement on others….