In a media release sent out this week, “The Winnipeg Humane Society (WHS) and national animal law organization Animal Justice are calling on the organizers of the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair and law enforcement authorities to cancel planned calf scramble and sheep wrangling events at this year’s event. They say the calf scramble and sheep wrangling, or “mutton busting”, events likely violate Manitoba’s Animal Care Act and must not be allowed to proceed.
The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair is being held in Brandon from March 25-30, 2024. In past years, the event included pig and calf scrambles, where young animals are chased and wrestled. After the WHS and Animal Justice contacted law enforcement authorities in 2022, and hundreds of concerned citizens wrote in to call on Fair organizers to cancel the cruel events, the Fair cancelled its pig and calf scrambles, replacing them with fun and humane events for children.”
They said the “Fair left animal scramble events out of its lineup for 2023, but brought them back in 2024, rebranded as a “barnyard challenge featuring calves” (calf scramble), and “sheep wrangling” (mutton busting). The rules have not changed.”
The groups said the “calf scramble involves 15-21 year olds chasing and grabbing terrified calves by their tails, necks, or bodies in order to grab onto a calf and remove a halter from the animal’s neck. The mutton busting involves 5-8 year olds being placed upon the backs of sheep, clinging to their wool, heads, and ears as the frightened animals try to free themselves.”
Mark Humphries, general manager with the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba told the Brandon Sun, “How they are describing the events, to be honest, is not accurate. There are no animals that are wrestled to the ground or put in distress or fear. And as far as chasing animals around in a brightly lit, unfamiliar arena, the animals are familiarized with the arena before the show even starts, which obviously these guys aren’t aware of.”
“The animal protection office witnessed both events last year,” Humphries told the Sun. “We asked them to rigorously observe and report back on their findings. We did not have any wrongful interventions within the Animal Care Act, or with any of our protocols and practices. We asked them to review, and all the reviews came back as good,” he said.
Humphries also said he wished the animal welfare groups had requested having a direct conversation with him to discuss their concerns. “We’re bringing world class entertainment and equestrian right to your doorstep in the Keystone Centre, so there’s a lot of positives here. And it’s a great shame that these two items are being looked at as negative, and sometimes these organizations speak without doing proper research and proper in-depth conversations with the people actually involved. I find that very, very sad,” he told the Brandon Sun.
(With files from the Brandon Sun)
