Rodeo rider takes a tumble in Calgary
A RODEO rider redefines the words "saddle sore" as he takes a heavy fall off his horse in the ring.
Wade Sundell was taking part in the annual Calgary Stampede in Alberta, Canada when he was flung from the saddle.
Bucking wildly, his horse Get Smart unseated the cowboy in front of a cheering crowd.
But Wade had little to complain about at the 10-day festival — as he walked away £64,000 richer after winning the Saddle Bronc event.
The 100-year-old rodeo is a much-loved tradition in Calgary — but animal rights activists want to see it shut down.
Sun readers may agree with them after learning that THREE HORSES had to be put down after Thursday's chuckwagon racing event.
The biggest draw of the entire rodeo sees outriders race around a track in covered wagons pulled by teams of horses.
The thrilling sport is a Stampede favourite — but it has claimed the lives of dozens of animals over the years.
Disaster struck for driver Chad Harden as his wagon neared a bend at the end of the Rangeland Derby competition.
One of the lead horses fell and took the rest of his team with them — which also caused another team to crash behind them.
One horse died instantly, two were put down on the track and another was seriously injured.
Harden, a veteran of the chuckwagon circuit, has described the deaths as "devastating for our whole family".
But animal rights groups have called for the suspension of the big-money competition.
Peter Fricker of the Vancouver Humane Society said: “The Stampede has run out of excuses. Now is the time to take real action to stop these horses from dying.”
Fifty horses have died in the chuckwagon races since 1986.
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