Texas livestock ban complicates Stampede rodeo plans
American competitors face 21-day quarantine requirement after screwworm cases detected south of the border.
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Canada's temporary ban on Texas livestock is forcing rodeo athletes from the U.S. to scramble for solutions ahead of the Calgary Stampede in July.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced Friday that livestock in Texas within the past 21 days cannot enter Canada, a restriction that came into effect after a New World screwworm—a flesh-eating parasite—was found in a Texas calf. Since then, two more cases have been detected in Texas, and a fourth in a dog in New Mexico.
The screwworm situation is evolving rapidly, making it nearly impossible for competitors to plan. Heidi Billmayer, who operates a horse quarantine barn in Montana, said demand for quarantine services will likely spike as it did during a recent vesicular stomatitis outbreak. "We had probably over 100 horses come in from February through the end of April that were required to quarantine," she said.
The tight timeline is the real problem. The Calgary Stampede kicks off July 3, leaving rodeo athletes from Texas little time to quarantine their animals. Many are instead looking to borrow horses already in Canada, said Tanya Turner, who handles horse transportation to Canada with Peaks and Prairies Equine. "If it's just one rodeo in Canada, even though it's a huge rodeo … they don't want to miss out on rodeos in the States while their horse sits for 21 days," she said.
In a statement, the CFIA said it was working "to minimize the impact of controls on Canadian business and events" but that "it is too early to say if exceptions could be considered" for the Stampede or other events. The agency encouraged participants to "remain up to date on current import requirements and restrictions and adjust plans as needed."
Denny Phipps, CEO of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association, said the situation remains uncertain. "We're not seeing major impacts, but that doesn't mean we're not watching it closely and doesn't mean it's not a worry. I think everybody's kind of on bated breath right now," he said.
For competitors, these horses aren't just animals—they're partners and family members. The association is keeping its membership informed as the situation develops.