Latest news with #Léguillette
Calgary Herald
24-06-2025
- Health
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Stampede and University of Calgary continue research into animal welfare
Article content 'We're an industry leader in partnership with the University of Calgary,' Barnes said. 'This is incredibly unique research.' Article content Dr. Thilo Pfau, a professor of animal locomotive biomechanics at the faculty, is studying how the track conditions affect the safety of the horses, as well as predicting injuries before they happen. Article content 'One of the things that has been measured in thoroughbreds in flat racing is that the horses slow down before they get injured,' Pfau said. Article content When it comes to chuckwagon racing, because there are four horses pulling each chuckwagon, it's harder to track the speed of individual horses — one of several factors that adds complexity to his research. Article content 'There's also some unique associations between how the animals move and how the tracks have to be maintained for the chuckwagon horses, because it's a really unique setup where you have horses and wagons going on the same track at the same time,' Pfau said. Article content Article content Though his research is still in its early stages of data collection, it could have major effects on preventing injuries in the future. Article content Article content Dr. Renaud Léguillette, another faculty professor who specializes in equine health and performance, is conducting research into the heart health of the chuckwagon horses. Article content 'In the last three years, we've done a screening project where we test to identify horses at a higher cardiac risk during the races,' Léguillette said. He and his team take a blood sample from each horse the day after their first race and test them for troponin. Troponin levels in the blood, he said, indicate microscopic damage to the cardiac muscle. Article content 'We've been successful at understanding which horses could represent a higher risk versus which horses are totally fine, and the horses that are kind of in the middle,' Léguillette said. Article content Article content This year, Léguillette's team will also be outfitting horses with ECG belts to monitor electrical activity while they're racing. Article content Article content The emotional well-being of the animals is also being studied by Dr. Ed Pajor, a professor of animal behaviour and welfare. His Five Domains method assesses the state of animals based on factors such as nutrition, environment and behaviour. Article content Last year, Pajor's findings were mostly positive, with the main concern being the heat. This year, tented structures will be added, and Pajor's team will conduct tests to determine whether the added shade benefits the animals, or if the tents will trap humidity or block airflow. Article content
Hamilton Spectator
24-06-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Calgary Stampede rodeo safety to include shaded pens, heart monitors for horses
CALGARY - Tents are being set up to provide shade for bulls and broncs and some chuckwagon horses are to be fitted with tiny electrocardiograms at the upcoming Calgary Stampede. Based on scorching heat at the rodeo last summer, Ed Pajor, a professor of animal behaviour and welfare in the University of Calgary's faculty of veterinary medicine, says the animals could use a break. 'We saw things like increased respiration rate in some of the bulls. We saw some bulls drooling. These are signs that the animals might be experiencing some discomfort due to the heat,' Pajor said at a news conference Tuesday. The university is working with the Stampede to study some of the animals this year. They'll specifically look at whether bucking bulls and broncos will be happier and healthier if they have a shady place to hang out right before the competition. 'It seems like a pretty straightforward question,' said Pajor, adding if shade is beneficial, the Stampede would have to decide whether to invest in more tent coverings in the future. Additional research at the rodeo is to focus on the heart health of horses in the chuckwagon races. Dr. Renaud Léguillette with the university's veterinary school specializes in equine health and performance, and works closely with chuckwagon horses during the Stampede. His research includes identifying in equine blood a baseline for troponin — a protein released when the heart muscle is damaged — to track underlying cardiovascular or other health issues. 'The goal of our research is to prevent cardiac accidents during the chuckwagon racing due to a cardiac problem,' said Léguillette. 'There are some horses who have more electrical activity issues when they race or have a harder time to recover from the races.' At the Stampede, outrider horses and horses pulling the wagons are to be fitted with electrocardiograms before and during the races. Léguillette said the devices and the blood tests can show what horses are at a higher risk of cardiac arrest and that information is passed on to chuckwagon drivers. 'I call it like a green light, an orange light and a red light. The red light horses, I will definitely have a discussion with the drivers ... they are very responsive, concerned and will make the right decisions.' An official with the Stampede said research in this area could benefit an entire industry. 'We know there is an element of risk in all sport. Our goal is to create the safest conditions possible. That's why all of this research takes place ... to remove all of those elements of risk,' said Kristina Barnes, the Stampede's director of agriculture and western events. 'Can we remove completely that element of risk? No. But anything that we can control we certainly will.' The 10-day celebration of western culture, which runs from July 4-13, has long been a target of animal rights groups. The Vancouver Humane Society wants the rodeo portion of the Stampede eliminated. 'We're seeing deaths at the Calgary Stampede almost every single year. It's really not a matter of if another animal will die at the Stampede ... it's when,' said Chantelle Archambault with the group. 'Last year, there were four animal deaths. It also marks at least 109 animals deaths at the Stampede since we began tracking fatalities in 1986.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
24-06-2025
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Calgary Stampede rodeo safety to include shaded pens, heart monitors for horses
CALGARY – Tents are being set up to provide shade for bulls and broncs and some chuckwagon horses are to be fitted with tiny electrocardiograms at the upcoming Calgary Stampede. Based on scorching heat at the rodeo last summer, Ed Pajor, a professor of animal behaviour and welfare in the University of Calgary's faculty of veterinary medicine, says the animals could use a break. 'We saw things like increased respiration rate in some of the bulls. We saw some bulls drooling. These are signs that the animals might be experiencing some discomfort due to the heat,' Pajor said at a news conference Tuesday. The university is working with the Stampede to study some of the animals this year. They'll specifically look at whether bucking bulls and broncos will be happier and healthier if they have a shady place to hang out right before the competition. 'It seems like a pretty straightforward question,' said Pajor, adding if shade is beneficial, the Stampede would have to decide whether to invest in more tent coverings in the future. Additional research at the rodeo is to focus on the heart health of horses in the chuckwagon races. Dr. Renaud Léguillette with the university's veterinary school specializes in equine health and performance, and works closely with chuckwagon horses during the Stampede. His research includes identifying in equine blood a baseline for troponin — a protein released when the heart muscle is damaged — to track underlying cardiovascular or other health issues. 'The goal of our research is to prevent cardiac accidents during the chuckwagon racing due to a cardiac problem,' said Léguillette. 'There are some horses who have more electrical activity issues when they race or have a harder time to recover from the races.' At the Stampede, outrider horses and horses pulling the wagons are to be fitted with electrocardiograms before and during the races. Léguillette said the devices and the blood tests can show what horses are at a higher risk of cardiac arrest and that information is passed on to chuckwagon drivers. 'I call it like a green light, an orange light and a red light. The red light horses, I will definitely have a discussion with the drivers … they are very responsive, concerned and will make the right decisions.' An official with the Stampede said research in this area could benefit an entire industry. 'We know there is an element of risk in all sport. Our goal is to create the safest conditions possible. That's why all of this research takes place … to remove all of those elements of risk,' said Kristina Barnes, the Stampede's director of agriculture and western events. 'Can we remove completely that element of risk? No. But anything that we can control we certainly will.' The 10-day celebration of western culture, which runs from July 4-13, has long been a target of animal rights groups. The Vancouver Humane Society wants the rodeo portion of the Stampede eliminated. 'We're seeing deaths at the Calgary Stampede almost every single year. It's really not a matter of if another animal will die at the Stampede … it's when,' said Chantelle Archambault with the group. 'Last year, there were four animal deaths. It also marks at least 109 animals deaths at the Stampede since we began tracking fatalities in 1986.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2025.
