Inside the life of a Calgary Stampede veterinarian

As we get into gear for the 2025 Calgary Stampede, I want to reflect on my visit to the chuckwagon barns last summer. It was there I met with Dr. Jessica Romanow, an alum of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary, and the "vet to the Chucks."

Tucked away behind the GMC Stadium at the Stampede, Dr. Romanow, DVM, can be found throughout the duration of the 10-day event. A popular and experienced veterinarian on the chuckwagon circuit, Romanow’s expertise is sought after by many of the drivers invited to race in Calgary. 

In addition to a large team of veterinary care experts providing both medical oversight and care to the thousands of animals that participate in exhibition and competition at the Stampede, supplementary care to competition animals is provided by a select group of approved veterinarians, including Romanow. 

She works for the horses’ owners year-round and knows these animals intimately. Following them throughout Western Canada on the World Professional Chuckwagon Association’s circuit, she is there 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Starting in February, she helps prepare them for competition, sees them through the competitive summer season, and monitors them throughout the fall and winter break in partnership with their owners.

Morning rounds 

Romanow starts her Stampede day at 7 a.m. with morning rounds. She checks not only on the horses but also with the chuckwagon drivers. They are the first line of treatment, as they know the horses best, she points out. They’re often the ones who intuitively know if a horse needs a day off, some extra fluids, or maybe even a turn in the salt bath. 

Romanow then proceeds with her daily soundness exams to ensure the horses are in good shape for racing. Much like at professional sporting events, she’ll wrap her clients’ legs, massage tendons, and ensure they’re at peak fitness. And each night, before the Evening Show, the horses must pass another veterinary inspection by the Stampede’s team of vets. 

Mid-day, before the shows start, is the quiet time of day for the equine athletes. They’ll be resting in their stalls, lights dimmed, fans blowing a cool mist. There will be a marked temperature difference between the heat of the summer sun outside, and the quiet, cool din of the horse barn.

Salt baths for recovery

“Why don’t we go see if there’s a horse in the salt bath?” suggests Romanow. A horse salt bath? This I’m curious to see.

We walk across the road beside the barn, as the chuckwagon kids run past in their bathing suits and floaties, about to jump into the Elbow River. Just outside the chuckwagon horse barn is the biggest horse trailer I’ve ever seen. There’s a horse standing outside in the shade of the trailer with its owner, awaiting its turn.

We pop our heads inside to see a beautiful thoroughbred relaxing in a cold plunge tub. This isn’t your average cold plunge tub, though. It’s horse-sized, with customized entrance and exit doors so that the horse can calmly saunter in and out. Just like human athletes use cold plunges to soothe sore muscles and speed up recovery, these horses benefit from the same treatment. I have to remind myself that I’m at the Stampede, where elite animal athletes have access to top-tier amenities and care, not just your average horse day spa.

Chuckwagon traditions through the generations

As we continue back into the barn and walk down another alley, she asks a young boy running alongside us, “What generation are you? Fourth? Fifth?”

“Fifth, I think. Oh no, fourth. Grandpa Lanny drove. Then Grandpa Smith. And now Daddy.”

Growing up in a chuckwagon family, it’s not surprising that after completing her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) at UCVM, she now serves as the practising veterinarian to many of the horses participating in the chuckwagon races at the Calgary Stampede. Romanow's journey from UCVM graduate to a key figure in this unique aspect of veterinary medicine shows how vast the world of veterinary medicine is.

Indeed, the tradition of chucks transcends not only history but bloodlines. Most chuckwagon drivers today come from a long line of chuckwagon drivers. A family tradition of hard work, discipline, and care. As I watch the boy casually give each horse a pat as he runs along playing, I can see the love and respect for animals that has been nurtured in him.

“I’m so glad for the advancements in welfare and safety that I’ve seen in the past 10 years. Even in this short time we’ve seen the implementation of Fitness to Compete health check standards, drug testing, safety arms on the racetrack so that there is a safe place to pull over, improvements in racing surfaces, and a decrease from four wagons racing at a time to three to provide an extra margin for error,” says Romanow.

Veterinary experts are invaluable at Stampede

Kristina Barnes, Calgary Stampede director of agriculture and western events, echoes Romanow’s enthusiasm for advancements. “We are proud to be leaders in this industry and are focused on continual improvement within our unique Fitness to Compete program,” she says. “We can continue to innovate through the partnership and support of experts in research, animal behaviour and veterinary medicine. In addition, the day-to-day support provided by the vast group of veterinary experts on site during the Stampede is invaluable,” she continues. 

This story isn't just about tradition, but about evolution. It's about the melding of knowledge from diverse disciplines and the wisdom gleaned from experience. A thread weaves through each horse stall, connecting past to present, and charting a course for the future — a future that respects and protects the very heart of chuckwagon racing, the horses. 

Dr. Romanow and other UCVM alumni are dedicated to providing animal care across the province. Their work spans beyond the Stampede, ensuring that, through their care, the highest standards of veterinary care and innovative practices are available to equine athletes across Alberta's rodeos and equestrian events.