On July 15 a chuckwagon race outrider horse became the sixth equine to die during the Calgary Stampede in Alberta, Canada. The annual event features rodeo-style competitions and livestock exhibitions, including the GMC Rangeland Derby chuckwagon race, which pits four teams of horse-drawn wagons against each other in a series of elimination races over several days. Each team consists of four wagon horses and four horses carrying outriders.

On July 11 a Quarter Horse suffered an apparent cardiac episode and died during a team cattle-penning event. July 12, a bucking horse was euthanized after breaking his back when he continued to buck after his rider came off in the saddle bronc riding event. Two Thoroughbred horses used in chuckwagon races died the same day in unrelated incidents. One horse died after suffering an apparent cardiac episode during a routine training session. The other, an outrider horse, was euthanized after breaking his shoulder during the race.

Another horse died July 14 after competing in a chuckwagon race. Initial necropsy results indicated that an abdominal rupture caused the horse’s death, said Stampede Spokesman Doug Fraser.

Fraser said the sixth equine death occurred when a Thoroughbred suffered a catastrophic injury to his right front leg during a chuckwagon race. Veterinarians on the scene examined the horse, assessed the injury, and euthanized the animal