High School rodeo cancelled

Times Reporter

 

After reports were released about horses contracting the Equine Neurological Herpes Virus, EHV-1, rodeos all over the province have been shut down, including Strathmores high school’s event this past weekend.

“It showed up within the last couple of weeks and it came to light on Tuesday (May 17) that this virus was around,” said Strathmore and District High School Rodeo Association President Dan Dowler.

“There was a horse down in Southern Alberta that contracted this virus and then, of course, rumours just spread like wildfire, horses were dying and a bunch of other things.” 

Dowler said that’s not the case, and there has only been one confirmed case as of May 18. He called the Alberta High School Rodeo Association executive because of the concern around horses. Nobody wanted to see a horse contract the disease, and Dowler wanted to find out what the association planned to do about the rodeo. He organizes the rodeo but it is sanctioned under the Alberta High School Rodeo Association. 

“So they made the call, and it was a go right up until Thursday (May 19) at about 9:30 p.m.,” said Dowler.

“The directive came from the National High School Rodeo Association, which is actually down in the States, and they wanted the rodeos cancelled or postponed for three weeks, no trailoring for horses.” 

The Alberta executive called Dowler and said the rodeo had to be cancelled. Some associations are choosing to go with it but because this district is sanctioned, that was a call they made. 

The Alberta High School Rodeo Association did ask them to try to reschedule in a week, which is not possible with graduation coming up.  

“We are going to try to get one in, in the fall. It’s unfortunate because it was the last rodeo of the 2010/2011 series before finals, but there’s no way, I just don’t think we can get it done. We’re going to talk about it next week but so far the plan is to go in the fall,” said Dowler. 

There should be a couple of kids who make it into finals, which  will be decided around June 1. The standings won’t be affected in District One even with the delay. The kids had a two-week hiatus and now it’s going to be a little longer, though Dowler said some of the kids will still be practicing.

“Again, throughout Alberta, we don’t know what’s going to happen, and we’re nervous about it. We don’t want to run a rodeo and have a bunch of horses together. Our sanction is under the Alberta High School Rodeo Association, so that’s the directive we followed and unfortunately that was the decision,” said Dowler.

“It’s pretty disappointing for sure, but not much we can do. Nobody wanted this virus to come up. Even if we were to hold the rodeo in a week, what’s going to happen Wednesday or Thursday, what if another case comes up. Then we do all this work again and then they end up pulling the rodeo on us again. There’s so much uncertainty right now in regards to this particular strain of the virus that, it’s a little scary.” 

The Little Britches rodeo in High River was cancelled, and the Foothills Cowboys Association, FCA, was also cancelled, right after Dowler got word to cancel the Strathmore High School rodeo. Dowler said the FCA is lucky in the sense that their rodeo season has just started, so they can postpone until July. 

“Unfortunately…this season is over. We’ll try to run two rodeos next year, that way we can make use of the prizes and all the sponsorship that we’ve attained so far,” said Dowler.