Well, keep in mind Senator that groups like the VHS don't exist so much to benefit animals as they do to promote themselves. There's no real reason why a Vancouver humane society should be more interested in the Stampede than one from Edmonton, Toronto or Tokyo. Likewise, you don't see VHS making a fuss about the Ponoka Stampede. They focus on Calgary because it is the most important event of its kind in the world, and therefore stands as easy publicity. They really do want crashes like last night, because they otherwise would be irrelevant.
As far as demographics changing goes, 20,000 people attend the chuckwagon races, while about 8 people protest outside. The anti-chucks people are LOUD, but simply stating they are a minority is a considerable overstatement.
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Isn't there already a thread for this conversation? Why are we filling up this thread with it too? Can we return this thread back to the other aspects?
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I don't view a group like VHS or PETA as actual animal rights activists. I wholeheartedly agree they are attention seekers who choose the LCD method to get their point across rather than trying to engage in an actual dialogue. There is an actual debate here as to how to maximize animal safety, but they would rather go for the cheap headlines
To the demographics, I think its more of an infusion of people from outside the province, plus the growth of the more liberal (at least compared to the rural areas) urban areas, that will drive an increase in not necessarily people who will be protesting against the Chucks, rather, they simply won't care about the Chucks.
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Anyone going to The Oxford Stomp/have an extra ticket for me?
As in the former Oxord Properties now Pension Fund Oxford? I was sad I didn't get an invite and wondered if maybe it wasn't the same Oxford. Sounds like it was.
I think its inevitable that at some point the Chucks and Calf Roping will go the way of the dinosaur. I think at some point there will be a catastrophic accident (10+ horses dying) and that will ratchet up the pressure to 10. And as demographics change, eventually those who think this is cruel will very much outnumber those who think it's fine.
I also think its strange to suggest animal rights activists revel in this and are happy the animals died because it allows them to spew their viewpoint. I'm guessing all the anti-war activists weren't cheering that Iraq happened and was a disaster cause it furthered their point.
We have to keep some traditions. What's the point of Stampede without horse events. We might as well call in the Calgary Exhibition Show. Everyone I know were clambering for tickets for these events.
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I assume that they get put down. A serious question for you.. do they snap the hell out of their legs before they do it just for ####s and giggles? It's nice that they euthanize them as quick as possible, but its still completely unnecessary and it's not like they don't suffer at all. All for the sake of "entertainment".
And what makes it worse is that it's not even entertaining unless you're as drunk as your typical stampede going hill billy idiot is. Yes J-Bo.. it is very much red neck, hill billy crap. Nascar with horses. Humiliating.
So here is the question then now that we all agree on the basic facts.
The choices in the current environment for these horses is immediate humane death after their racing career or racing for the next 10 years with a say 1 in 20 chance of dying each year, and the death from racing would be painful for 5 minutes and then you are euthanized. What is your preference for the horse. For me from a utilitarian standpoint chuck racing makes sense.
As a human I would choose life with a high risk of death each year so if someone said we can put you to death humanely or once a year until you die you have to climb Everest. I would live and climb Everest once a year until I died up there.
One reason the heart attack rate might be higher in the chucks is that the horses are older. A horse only lives about 25-30 years?? So are they still racing them at 20 and would age limits reduce the health failure type of accidents?
According to the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association FAQ, "on average drivers will haul 14-16 horses to a show depending on how many they own and who they feel is in the best condition to race" and "a number of drivers who have experienced success have upwards of 30 horses or more".
Since we're talking about the Stampede specifically, if we use the first number and call it 15 then you're looking at a 1/270 chance of dying each year at the Stampede (assuming an average of two deaths a year). If we assume that each driver owns an average of maybe 22 horses (which could be low) and assuming that they are all rotated through the lineup equally, that number drops to nearly 1/400. Although this doesn't take into account other chuckwagon events, I'm thinking your number of 1 in 20 isn't even in the same area code as the ballpark.
Edit: Which I realize, of course, strengthens your point.
Can't say no to a free paper. Besides its not like the Herald is all that much better. Newsmedia in general mostly sucks. It's almost more fun to read than it is informative.
Looks like the only way the attendance record won't be broken is if tomorrow is if truly awful weather rolls in and makes the grounds inhabitable. TTC will be disappointed.
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