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4th horse dies at Calgary Stampede

CALGARY, Alberta, July 13 (UPI) -- Four horses have died during this year's Calgary Stampede, including three on a single day, officials say.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported three horses died Monday, the fourth day of the annual event, including one that was euthanized after collapsing at the end of a chuckwagon race heat Monday night.

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"It is horrific, and the fact that we still have quite a few days left (of the Stampede), it really makes me sad because there could be quite a few more deaths," the CBC quoted Heather Anderson of the Calgary animal rights group Daisy Foundation as saying.

Stampede spokesman Doug Fraser said the rodeo works closely with the Calgary Humane Society and the Alberta SPCA to ensure animals are treated well.

"We've had four incidents that are totally unrelated," Fraser said. "It's a concern, but of course we believe we have the best animal care in the industry."

A chuckwagon horse died Monday morning, possibly of a heart attack, during a training session. In the afternoon, a bucking horse was euthanized after breaking its back when it bucked after throwing off its rider.

Heart attack was suspected to be the cause of a horse's death during the team cattle penning competition Sunday night. That horse fell on its rider, sending her to hospital with a serious head injury and broken shoulder blade.

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