CTV News has obtained dramatic video showing a number of horses being rescued from a frozen dugout in northern Alberta over the weekend. 
 
 The video shows rescuers cutting into the ice in the dugout, located off of Highway 43, about 65 kilometres west of Grande Prairie. 
 
 Officials told CTV News ten horses wandered onto the ice, and fell through. 
 
 Rescue crews were first called to the area, a property west of Hythe, Alberta, at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday. 
 
 Crews from Hythe, Beaverlodge, Laglace and Grande Prairie were involved in the rescue operation – rescuing the animals proved to be a challenge, as crews were also dealing with thin ice, cold water, and the risk of being injured by the animals. 
 
 “It is one of the more difficult ones that our crews have had to deal with,” Trevor Grant, Fire Chief of the County of Grande Prairie’s regional fire service said. 
 
 “Fortunately we do have people that are trained in this type of rescue, so it helped reduce that risk.” 
 
 Grant said the type of horses that fell through the thin ice also made the entire rescue more challenging. 
 
 “They weren’t domesticated,” Grant said. “They were a wild broncing horse, used in rodeo. So they’re not the docile horses that are standard riding horses.” 
 
 Rescuers used chainsaws and other tools to cut a path through the ice, allowing most of the horses to walk to safety. 
 
 A total of seven horses were saved, Grant said two died from exhaustion, and one from injuries sustained during the ordeal. 
 
 With files from Bill Fortier ||||| Firefighters near Grande Prairie, Alta., used their specialized training to rescue 10 frantic horses that broke through an ice-covered slough on Sunday. 
 
 Dramatic video shows how firefighters saved the horses, three of which later died from the ordeal. 
 
 The herd had wandered onto the ice before falling through, said Trevor Grant, regional fire chief in the County of Grande Prairie. 
 
 "With the warmer temperatures, the ice on the dugouts the horses are used to being on all winter is a lot thinner," Grant said. 
 
 About 35 regional firefighters and members of a search and rescue team responded to the call about 65 kilometres west of Grande Prairie, which came in at around 4:15 p.m. 
 
 Firefighters used chainsaws to cut pathways to the shore. They then used slings and boards to get the horses over the mud and melting ice at the edge of the slough. 
 
 All 10 horses were removed from the water by 6 p.m., but three died later: two from exhaustion, and one from injuries incurred due to the kicking of other horses, Grant said. 
 
 'That ice can change in a matter of hours. What was safe in the morning may no longer be safe in the afternoon.' - Regional Fire Chief Trevor Grant 
 
 A veterinarian said Monday that the seven remaining animals were in good shape and should be OK, Grant added. 
 
 "To rescue seven was a great feat, especially when having such a large number in the water," Grant said. 
 
 The rescue was especially rewarding for the firefighters from La Glace, as several members are trained in large animal rescue, Grant said. "This program has been evolving over the last couple of years out of the need." 
 
 Grant is warning landowners to be aware of their animals around sloughs at this time of year. 
 
 "With the changing conditions, that ice can change in a matter of hours. What was safe in the morning may no longer be safe in the afternoon." ||||| Duke and Duchess of Hazard: Wills and Kate to visit largest rodeo during north American tour 
 
 
 
 By Rebecca English 
 
 
 
 Last updated at 3:08 PM on 31st May 2011 
 
 The new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are to visit the world’s largest – and richest – rodeo during their first foreign tour together. 
 
 The couple plan to visit the legendary Calgary Stampede when they fly to Canada next month. 
 
 Billed as the greatest outdoor show on earth, it offers $2 million in prize money to competing cowboys and attracts some of the top names in the field. 
 
 Daring: Cowboy Jake Vold rides in the Novice Saddle Bronc riding event at the Calgary Stampede 
 
 Cropper: Cowboy Gavin DeRose is bucked off the back of a horse in the Novice Bareback Bucking event in 2008 
 
 They are also likely to view the controversial sport of ‘chuckwagon’ racing, which involves a team of horses pulling a large wagon, the kind used to carry food and cooking equipment on the prairies of the United States and Canada, supported by a group of four outriders. 
 
 The outriders have to throw two tent poles and a barrel, representing a camp stove, into the back of their wagon before mounting their horses and following the wagons as they circle a race track. 
 
 The rodeo sport, which is particularly popular on the Canadian prairies, is controversial as horses and drivers are sometimes killed or injured, prompting animal welfare groups to call for the sport to be banned. 
 
 Three horses died following chuckwagon races at the 2009 Calgary Stampede and a spectacular wagon crash during the event in 2007, in which three horses were killed and a driver hospitalized, led officials in Calgary to review the safety of the sport. 
 
 Chuckwagon: Dirt and mud fly as a chuckwagon driver and outriders try to catch the other three wagons at a previous Calgary Stampede 
 
 The couple will be in Calgary, Alberta, from July 7 to 8, the last stop on their nine-day whirlwind tour through Canada which takes in eight major cities: Ottawa (June 30-July2), Montreal (July 2), Quebec (July 3), Charlottetown and Summerside on Prince Edward Island (July 3 and 4) and Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories (July 4-6). 
 
 During their visit, which is being paid for by the Canadian government, the newly-weds will make an emotional visit to the Canadian airfield where Kate’s late grandfather, Peter Middleton, was based as an RAF pilot during the Second World War. 
 
 Kate was very close to Mr Middleton, who died at the age of 90 last year, and even delayed the announcement of her engagement so that she could attend his funeral. 
 
 Flying Officer Middleton was posted to the No37 Service Flying School in Calgary in 1942 (now home to Calgary International Airport) when he was a volunteer reservist aged just 22. He spent two-and-a-half years as an instructor there training Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster pilots. 
 
 We're going to America: The young Royal couple meet U.S. President Barack Obama, left, and first lady Michelle Obama, right 
 
 They will also make a trip to the country’s smallest province, Prince Edward Island, which features in Kate’s favourite childhood book, Anne of Green Gables. 
 
 A royal source explained that the trip had been organised to allow William – who visited the country in 1991 and 1998 - to ‘get to know Canada better’. 
 
 ‘The duchess’s late grandfather was stationed near Calgary as a trainee bomber pilot and therefore the country is very much part of her own family’s story too even though this will be her first visit to the country,’ they said. 
 
 ‘The trip is designed to show them the diversity and vibrancy of Canada and its people, visiting provinces and territories that aren’t so often visited by the Royal Family. There will be both traditional and formal elements and more informal elements appropriate to their age and interests.’ 
 
 After Canada, the couple fly to LA for three days at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. 
 
 The Hollywood leg of their trip has created huge excitement in Tinsel Town where stars are said to be falling over themselves to meet the Cambridges. 
 
 And this is how father did it: Prince Charles, in a white stetson and western outfit complete with polo (strings) tie, rides in the Calgary Stampede parade in 1977 
 
 But a royal aide warned that they wanted to concentrate on issues such as armed forces, veterans, vulnerable people, the arts and William and Harry’s own charitable foundation. 
 
 ‘Unfortunately it is unlikely to feature many celebrities and there will be no down time. The trip isn’t about that. It was very much generated by the FCO and has an official itinerary,’ he said. 
 
 The cost of flying William and Kate to Canada on an airforce jet will be shouldered by the country’s government and the couple will take scheduled flights back from LA. 
 
 ‘They are keen to keep their costs down and will keep their entourage to a minimum. They haven’t made any decisions yet on who will travel with them and whether this will include hairdressers or anything like that,’ said a source. 
 
 A spokesman for the Canadian Department of Heritage said: ‘The 2011 Royal Tour of Canada by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will give the royal couple the opportunity to visit every region of the country – east, centre, west and north – on their first official tour as a married couple. 
 
 'It will enable them to meet as many Canadians as possible and, in the process, come to know Canada even better. 
 
 
 
 ‘It is hoped that, upon their departure, they will come to regard Canada as their second home – a term of endearment often used by the Queen to describe her special bond of affection for and pride in this country.’
– Dozens of firefighters and rescue crew risked their own safety to save 10 horses that fell through the ice Sunday in Canada—and it was all caught on video, CBC reports. After the horses fell through the thinning ice in northern Alberta, rescuers had to use chainsaws to cut a path back to the shore before using boards and slings to get the horses to dry land. Rescuers were at risk not only from the cold temperatures and thin ice, but from the frantic animals, which were "wild broncing" horses used in rodeos and not domesticated, according to CTV News. All 10 horses were removed from the water after two hours, though three later died. "To rescue seven was a great feat, especially when having such a large number in the water," a local fire chief tells CBC.