CALGARY — There’s peace on the western front now that professional rodeo outriders have dropped their opposition to new rules for chuckwagon races at the Calgary Stampede.
The changes were announced in February largely because six horses died and a cowboy was injured at last year’s rodeo.
Two of the horses died of heart attacks, two were destroyed after suffering injuries and another broke its back from bucking too hard. Another died after experiencing health difficulties 40 minutes after a chuckwagon race.
The most contentious change involves reducing to two from four the number of outriders on horseback who accompany each chuckwagon as it thunders around a dirt track. One of the reasons given was that several riders have been seriously injured over the years.
The riders, represented by a group called Preserve the West, had looked at a number of options that included boycotting this summer’s Stampede. They also suggested a compromise that would have seen three outriders per wagon on the track.
A spokesman for Preserve the West said coming up with a protest strategy proved to be difficult.
“We had asked if the Stampede would consider three riders as a compromise and they emphatically said no,” said Bing Runquist.
“There wasn’t a 100 per cent consensus with the outriders in what direction they wanted to go . . . so they went along with the two outriders and that’s the way it will be.
“The outriders themselves have decided that they would not pursue it any further if the Calgary Stampede was not willing to even consider a compromise,” Runquist said.
“They certainly were not in a position where they wanted to boycott as much as in the interest of the sport as anything else.”
An official with the Calgary Stampede said safety is the priority and he expects that this is the last of the debate.
“For the most part it has been accepted. I . . . feel that overall in safety terms we know we’re doing the right thing and we’re moving ahead,” said Doug Fraser.
“It will be a situation where we’re aligning ourselves with (the world and Canadian professional chuckwagon associations) which already run two outriders, so I think it’s going to be business as usual as of July 8th.”
The Stampede this year runs from July 8-17.
Still, Runquist is disappointed that an event with such a long history will be seeing changes. He is worried that since fewer outriders will be allowed in the races, there will eventually be a shortfall of experienced riders.
“The drivers would tend to use the current top outriders but those current outriders are either going to go into the wagon box or retire and who will take their place as in any sport” he asked.
“I guess I’ll have to wait five or six years and then I’m going to say I told you so.”
Chuckwagons were historically used to carry food and cooking equipment. In the Rangeland Derby at the Stampede, outriders toss tent poles and an imitation stove into the back of the wagon. The driver must then execute a figure-eight around a barrel in the start area before bolting onto the track for one hectic lap.
The outriders follow and have to finish within 45 metres of their wagon if they don’t want to incur time penalties.