The 10-day Calgary Stampede wrapped up on Sunday. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

Thousands of people packed the Calgary Stampede grounds on Sunday for the final day of what's been billed as "the greatest outdoor show on Earth."

"We love horses, we just love Stampede, we love everything that goes on here," said visitor Colleen Sankey.

This year's Stampede, however, has not been without its trials.

The trouble started earlier this week when a severe thunderstorm ripped through the city, causing hail damage.

The storm led Stampede officials to cancel chuckwagon races for only the second time since 1925. The grandstand show was also cancelled.

"I've been [involved] for 24 years now and not too sure I've ever seen a year as varied as this," said rodeo announcer David Poulsen.

"We've had years that are maybe a little colder, we've had years that are wetter, but we've had absolutely everything throughout the course of the 10 days."

In addition to the bad weather, six horses died during the 10-day event, prompting animal rights groups to call for a ban on the chuckwagon races and calf-roping and steer-wrestling.

"Our next best move is to work with Stampede … giving them advice on how to improve the events for the welfare of the animals," said Desiree Arsenault with the Calgary Humane Society.

Ride comes apart

Over at the midway, a ride malfunctioned Friday night, injuring several teenagers. A mechanical arm on a ride called the Scorpion broke off, sending the attached carts crashing to the ground.

"Well, that was pretty bad, but you know, it goes on," said visitor Anne Sullivan.

"You can't run and you can't change a lot of things for one happening."

Despite the accident, the weather and the death of the six horses, Sullivan and her husband will continue to come to the Stampede, just as they have for the past 60 years.

"We use to live … just above the grounds and we use to watch it from there when we were kids … and we've been coming ever since."

After the accident on Friday, the Scorpion was shut down.

An investigation by the province is expected to begin Monday, but it could take several months before a report is completed.