Comments on: Omak Stampede Begins in Washington State

By: Jax

Jax — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:00:01 +0000

I have attended this race many times as a child, and returned this year for the first time in 8 years. It’s awesome. They have really changed it as far as safety, but the thrill of the event remains in tact. They should never stop it. Horses are put on this earth to ride either for leisure or for the thrill of the speed. Leave it alone..find something else to protest

By: Tina

Tina — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:19:46 +0000

I actually attended the event this year for the first time. I felt like many people that in this day and age, it is crazy to put the horses through this type of event. But once you see it in person… it is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen! The talent of the riders and horses, and speed of the event is incredible. I can understand how someone would want to keep this tradition alive. The horses train for this and go through multiple vet checks to make sure they are capable and healthy. Yes there is danger, but I believe animals can have the same desire to push themselves and compete the same way that humans can!

By: joe

joe — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:10:48 +0000

It appears that some Native Americans are as insensitive as most rodeo cowboys.
Ugh, indeed.

By: none

none — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:48:11 +0000

It was actually started by a white guy who owned a shoe store in the 1930s. It’s being said to be a spiritual thing to keep it going. Otherwise, PETA would have shut it down years ago…Omak actually has about 8,000 people. Okanogan has about 4,000

By: Alyssa

Alyssa — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:01:58 +0000

That is awful!! how do you live with your yourself for doing that sort of thing to a horse??!!

By: Galadriel

Galadriel — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:41:39 +0000

Too dangerous. They should have some safeguards in place.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:07:02 +0000

Wow… terrible. What goes through people’s minds that they can get pleasure out of this. Would they do it on their own two feet with a pile of other crazy humans?

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:57:02 +0000

I would never run such a race. But who am I to judge what the Native Americans consider a spiritual experience. They take some precations and safe guards. Horse racing of any kind has risks.

By: ??

?? — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:34:04 +0000

I dont think the death rate is too high. 21 horses died in the past 26 years. It’s about one death per year. I’m sure that on the racetracks and cross-coutry events, many more horses had to be put down because of injuries.

By: Bernice

Bernice — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:29:45 +0000

You can’t really compare this race to cross-country. Thousands of horses compete in eventing every year, compared with just a few dozen in the Omak race. Omak’s fatality rate is much, much higher than cross-country or any modern equestrian sport.