In what appears to be a first for the Calgary Stampede, a competitor has been disqualified for allegedly mistreating an animal.
Tuf Cooper of Texas was ordered to leave the competition after stampede officials said he repeatedly hit his horse with a rope while competing in a calf tie-down event on Wednesday.
Cooper is a three-time world champion in tie-down and won the event at the 2011 Calgary Stampede.
Stampede spokesperson Kristina Barnes said she believes the disqualification is a first.
鈥淢istreatment of livestock is certainly not something the Calgary Stampede wants to see or does see very often,鈥� she added.
Tuf Cooper鈥檚 agent Shawn Wiese told CTV Calgary that his client will not challenge the decision and has already left the city. Wiese added that Cooper treats his horses 鈥渓ike kings鈥� and would not do anything to hurt them.
The tie-down event involves a cowboy roping a running calf, dismounting from his horse, turning the calf on its side and tying three legs, before getting back on the horse as quickly as possible.
It鈥檚 not the first time Calgary Stampede competitors have been accused of mistreating animals.
The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies opposes rodeo events 鈥渢hat are likely to cause unnecessary suffering to animals.鈥� The animal protection group noted last year that at least 60 animals have died or been injured at the Calgary Stampede since 1986.
On Thursday night, Cooper's team released a statement that criticized the Stampede for its decision.
"Tuf's horse was late coming out of the box. Just like a barrel racers (sic) whips her horse home to the finish line or a chuck racer whips their horses to the finish line, Tuf had to get his horse going to catch up to the calf."
The statement continued: 鈥淭he decision of the Calgary judges comes from a long time fight with animal activists that want to get rid of calf roping all together. If the Calgary Stampede keeps making rules up as they go to please animal activists, there will be no Stampede in years to come."
Cooper comes from a well-known rodeo family. His father, Roy Cooper, is a member of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.
