Horse injured during chuckwagon races but X-rays show no fractures: Stampede CEO

A horse fell during the Rangeland Derby at the Calgary Stampede Saturday night.

A horse fell during the Rangeland Derby at the Calgary Stampede Saturday night. Stampede CEO Joel Cowley delivered an update on the injured animal Sunday morning at a press conference. “In third heat last night, there was a collision between two wagons.

A horse was injured,” Cowley said. “It received immediate medical care in the arena. It was transferred into an ambulance and it was transported to a local veterinarian clinic, the best veterinarian clinic in Alberta .

“An initial exam revealed no fractures but the injury is considered serious,” Cowley said. “It’s undergoing ongoing evaluation and we’re hopeful that that horse will be OK.” Cowley said he witnessed the disturbing incident. "

I was actually standing on the bucking chutes and watching this," he said. “It appeared to me – and this is my own speculation, be mindful of that because it’s under review with regard to the driver-- that one of the horses acted up and bucked and had a line underneath one of its legs, meaning the driver had no steering. “And so equipment problems are probably the most common thing with regard to collisions,” he added.

“We certainly don’t want to see those.” He said the Stampede is hopeful that the animal recovers. “I can’t give (any further) update on the animal other than X-rays indicated no fractures,” he said.

“And it is now being cared for at one of the finest veterinary clinics in Alberta and we’re hopeful that that horse will be OK.” Prime Minister Mark Carney attended the Rangeland Derby Saturday night.