Calgary Stampede officials have made the unprecedented move of eliminating a competitor because of the alleged mistreatment of his horse.

Judges say cowboy Tuf Cooper, who is from Texas, aggressively whipped his horse with a rope during the tie-down event Wednesday afternoon.

“It is believed to be the first of this kind,” Kristina Barnes of the Stampede said about the punishment. “Under that specific rule, it is believed to be the first.”

She added, using a rope as punishment or correction is unacceptable under the Stampede’s animal care protocols, which they take very seriously.

Cooper is out for the remainder of the event.

The 25-year-old was the 2011 Calgary Stampede tie-down roping champion.