The twisting, bucking and running will make hearts race. The shouts, chute clanging and ropes whistling through the air bring people to their feet. The smell of dirt, the singing of the national anthem and the smile on a cowboy’s face after he completes an eight second bull ride are all factors of a fun, entertaining and challenging rodeo.
Since I was a little kid, I have attended a variety of rodeos, and I relish in the excitement of all the events. Competitors, volunteers, stock contractors and even the people who clean up the trash complete an enormous amount of work to execute a rodeo. A large part of a successful rodeo is the animals. Bulls, steers and horses are competitors just like the cowboys and cowgirls. Both human and animal have a partnership involving respect, patience and consideration.
Just like any sport, rodeo can hurt any competitor, human or animal. From my experience in watching and participating in rodeos, more humans than animals suffer from injuries. Nonetheless, I have spoken with people and read many stories that claim rodeos purposefully abuse and mistreat animals. What people don’t realize is that rodeos would not be possible without these animals and purposefully hurting them is never the goal of this sport.
Rodeo is a western tradition that dates back to around the 18^th century. Spanish cattlemen called “vaqueros” embodied the first image of the modern-day cowboy. They influenced the American cowboy, and the tradition of large ranches with cattle and horses spread rapidly as the west opened up. These cowboys would host competitions amongst themselves and other ranches to see who had the best riders and ropers.
Modern-day rodeo competitions are a tribute to a part of American history. In analyzing the use of animals in the sport, one also has to evaluate it in the context of where the sport originated. Rodeos developed in a period of time that was far less sensitive than the world we live in today. In the 1700s, cowboys roped calves around the neck to catch them and brand them. They rode bucking horses to turn them into workable horses. Rodeo events are not new. They pull from historical occurrences that simply gave cowboys a way to test their skills and win a little money.
A majority of competitors have lived and worked on ranches for a large part of their lives. These cowboys and cowgirls understand how to work with and care for animals such as bulls, steers, and horses. They are not going to mistreat an animal that could help them win their respective event. For example, the flank strap that cinches around a bull or horse is not tightened to the point of pain. It is only made to make the animal feel tension directly in front of the hind legs, and once the ride is complete the strap is immediately removed and the animal knows to relax. According to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s livestock rules, this strap must be lined with fleece or neoprene.
The PRCA has around 60 rules that govern animal welfare. The bulls, horses, and steers are well provided for and any competitor that purposefully harms an animal will be disqualified from his or her event. Any animal that is obviously ill or mistreated before the rodeo begins will not be allowed to participate in the event.
Furthermore, rodeo athletes can potentially win a large sum of money. To win an event, the animal needs to perform well. A sick, beaten or underfed bull will not leap out of the chute to challenge a cowboy in an eight second ride. That bull would simply not have the energy.
Rodeo animals are bred specifically for their events. These animals are not pulled from a random farm and thrown into the arena. The Christensen Brothers Rodeo and Stock Company and Harry Vold Rodeo Company are just two examples of businesses dedicated to raising and breeding high quality rodeo animals. These companies make money when rodeos want their cattle or horses, so it would be wise of them to provide animals that are healthy and happy.
Rodeos are challenging and it is possible that both people and animals can be hurt, but this sport embodies tradition, hard work, and spirit. Cowboys, cowgirls and the animals work together to preserve an important part of American history.