The Franklin Rodeo Company lost more than just a prize rodeo horse, they also lost an animal owner, Shane Franklin described as a “true character that was loved by all.”
Franklin drove down the driveway of his home south of Muriel Lake on Tuesday, Oct. 17, to find his rodeo horse, Crazy Day Job, lying on the ground dead. The over 1,200-pound animal had been hit by a vehicle after being let out sometime the night before, along with over 30 other horses.
“He was a saddle bronc horse that we had raised right from a baby colt. He had been selected to go to the Canadian Finals again this year,” described Franklin. “When your competition is wanting to buy a horse off of you, that tells you what that animal may or may not be worth.”
Although Crazy Day Job was valued at over $50,000, it isn't just the financial loss the ranching family has suffered.
“That horse's personality, he was similar to a guy that has never gotten into trouble, someone everybody likes. He was not an aggressive horse. He wouldn't hurt anyone, and everybody liked him,” Franklin told the Nouvelle.
Crazy Day Job was around 15.2-hands tall, and would have caused significant damage to the vehicle that hit it.
Franklin said there was a grill and headlight glass all over the road near where he found the horse, one indication that there would be “horrendous damage” to the vehicle.
Although he believes the incident was clearly intentional, the RCMP are still investigating and claim there isn't enough evidence to start pointing fingers.
“What had happened, as far as we can tell, is someone left the gate open, either on purpose or by accident. What we mean by accident, is maybe they went through to go quadding or something, and just failed to close it behind them,” explained Bonnyville RCMP S/Sgt. Luis Gandolfi.
This isn't the first case the local RCMP detachment has seen. In fact, over the past few months, they have had a couple of similar calls about livestock being let out.
From what Franklin can tell, someone had intentionally opened the gate, drove into his pasture, and left the gate open after departing.
“I am just surprised there weren't more that got hit,” he said, adding the rest of the horses have since been recovered.
Gandolfi recommends farmers and ranchers update their gates as a method of deterring someone from releasing their livestock.
“There's always the option of locking up, or putting some kind of secure structure there. A lot of people use barbed wire and makeshift fences that can be removed or cut with wire cutters and things like that,” he said. “Bottom line, if you see something suspicious, call it in. We respond to all of those. We may not be able to drop everything and go right away, but we do go.”
Anyone with any more information about the incident is encouraged to call Bonnyville RCMP at 780-343-7200. If you wish to remain anonymous, call 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
