New University of Calgary research looks to help Stampede animals

The W.A. Ranches facility was gifted to the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 2018. It’s still a working ranch but its also become home base in world-leading research into the four-legged athletes that compete at the Calgary Stampede, says Dr. Ed Pajor, professor of Animal Behaviour and Welfare and director of W.A. Ranches.

And for the first time, every horses that run in the chuckwagon races will be given a blood test to try and prevent equine heart attacks, says Dr. Renaud Leguillette, Professor at the U of C’s faculty of  Veterinary Medicine.

“We validated a test that allows us to measure how the cardiac muscle, the heart muscle, is dealing with the effort in the races.  Then we can…red flag a horse.”

Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.

Leguillette says it’s like finding a needle in a haystack. Very few horses, maybe five of 500 tested, will indicate a problem.

“Those horses are prepared truly like Olympic athletes, they have a diet program, a fitness program and a training program. They are monitored very closely.”

But he says the test is already being used by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. It’s a tribute, he says, to the relationship the U of C shares with the Stampede.

“The beauty is we have that strong relationship with the Calgary Stampede. They have really opened the doors to us.”

Leguillete says he will be on-site every day of the Stampede, which will run July 5 to 14.