Selkirk rodeo changes its rules after horse injured during event, euthanized

The Triple S Fair and Rodeo in Selkirk, Man., is amending its rulebook after a horse broke a back leg and was euthanized by a veterinarian who was not officially on call.

The incident is now being investigated by the province's Animal Health and Welfare Branch.

The horse was out of the gate for seconds before it fell backward during a bronc riding event — where a rider has to stay atop a horse that's trying to throw them off — as seen in a video shared with CBC.

In the video, audience members are heard gasping as the horse thrashes on the ground, its leg appearing injured, as it tries to get up.

"I didn't see what happened after the horse broke its leg," said Ilona Borovlova, a Ukrainian newcomer who shot the video on her phone. She said she'd never attended a rodeo before, and the accident sent her running away in tears.

A member of the rodeo's board of directors said crew members immediately sprung into action.

"I tried to help because you don't want a horse to hurt itself further," said Tim Airth, who also competes in cattle roping events.

He said the horse was placed on a platform and sedated in the arena, then he drove the animal behind the stands with a skid steer, out of view of the crowd, where it was assessed and ultimately euthanized.

However, the veterinarian involved was at the rodeo as a competitor, said Airth, and did not have a medical kit nor Euthasol, a barbiturate formula commonly used to put animals down.

"Only a licensed vet can carry that," said Airth, who said he can't comment on how the horse was euthanized.

Manitoba's Chief Veterinarian's Office said it would not comment on the incident until it completes its investigation.

Airth said organizers asked the competitor veterinarian to help since the