Rodeos are a pretty common 'entertainment' option in many areas around Australia. There are a number of different events that happen at rodeos. These include calf roping, horse and bull bucking, steer wrestling and
more. This 'entertainment' comes at a price. In order for this
'entertainment' to occur, horses and cows have to be placed in
stressful and uncomfortable situations. Horses and bulls being ridden in the bucking events will have spurs,
electric prods and flank straps used on them in order to make them buck.
Many try to escape the holding stalls by climbing out as they are so distressed.
The
flank strap is a piece of rope, often covered in the skin of a sheep, that is tied tightly around the flank of the animal in order to irritate him/her more and get him/her to buck more. As the animal is already irritated by the presence of the rider, one can imagine that they must be rather uncomfortable, if not distressed.
Spurs "have blunt, free running rowels - the star shaped wheel on a spur" (APRA). They are used to get the animals to do what the rider wants; buck. There are rules by the APRA dictating how thick they must be.
Calves will be caught with rope lassos while they are running (bringing
them to a sudden halt and risking injuring their necks). They are then forced to the ground and have 3-4 of their legs tied up.
Steer wrestling requires a person to ride a horse while chasing a steer, then jump off the horse, grabbing the steer's head and forcing it into the ground. There is absolutely no reason for the animals to have to suffer like this, but because of humans who want to be 'entertained', they continue to go through this.
"There is considerable inherent welfare risk to animals participating in
rodeos. These risks are exacerbated by poor or non-existent levels of
regulation and enforcement at a state level, and the involvement of
multiple rodeo organisations with varying welfare standards. Many rodeos
take place in remote areas where there is little monitoring or
enforcement of animal welfare codes of practice. Consequently the
Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) is concerned the welfare of the
animals used is compromised by rodeos which can be conducted in a manner
that is cruel and unnecessarily dangerous." - Australian Veterinary Association
Please do not support the rodeo. Let these animals live in peace, instead of being poked, prodded and pushed into the ground for human entertainment. Animals should not have to suffer so that humans can be entertained. There are many other forms of entertainment that can be had; seeing a movie, going out for a bike ride, etc. Animals should not have to bear this pain for our pleasure.
Animals Australia has a
great fact sheet put together that covers the issue in even more detail, as well as a
petition.
If I have missed anything, let me know in the comments or send me an email! :)
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