I was perusing the internet the other day, looking over different sites with information on rodeos. The Moose Mountain Pro Rodeo was coming up and Manor Fun Daze PBR was around the corner.
As I read through the material I found people's thoughts on rodeo events which ranged from indifference to people defending them to those who are completely against them.
This is how I came to the website for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) talking about rodeo.
The first paragraph of PETA's article focused on how animals in rodeo are treated. It said that the roughstock animals are provoked in the chute with electric prods and sharp sticks. I don't know if they've ever actually been to a rodeo, but I've never seen these methods used in the ones that I've attended. In fact from what I've seen, the animals are taken care of extremely well.
The animals competing in rodeo and roughstock events are genetically bred to buck. There's a science to it in the same way humans bred other animals for desired traits.
These animals are essentially high calibre athletes. Just as an ambulance is present for the human participants a veterinarian is present for the animals. If the rodeo were such a terrible thing and practices like poking and prodding the animals were commonplace why would it be necessary for a vet to even be there? If the animals are so mistreated, why would it be important for a vet to be there to take care of them?
This led me into different forums with dialogue both for and against rodeos. Though I've never raised an animal to compete in rodeo, when speaking and seeing how those that have raised these types of animals it becomes evident that they love the animals they work with.
They begin with the animals when they are young, getting them used to the chutes and the arena. They're trained at an early age for their safety and to ensure they are up to the task of competing.
One opinion was that rodeos are sick and cruel, but then referred to the PETA article which seems very accusatory.
Essentially most people commented that rodeos were negative feats and included the belief by PETA that the animals are poked and prodded. This is a misconception as I've stated above, because the animals are bred to buck.
Another common comment included the flank strap was either being tied around their testes or of the strap being sharp and spiky. The flank strap is usually lined with sheepskin and is simply uncomfortable to wear. The strap is simply used to enhance the bucking of an animal. After all if a flank strap was the only thing needed to make a bucking animal then any animal would do, the amount of work put into breeding good bucking stock would be moot.
When something is literally born to do something, then why stop them from doing it? Humans use animals in numerous ways, especially on the farm or ranch. One of the happiest animals I think I've ever seen included a cattle dog in New Zealand. The rancher used whistling and arm motions to help direct the dog in its job, but it rounded up the animals quickly and efficiently, happily panting as it finished up.
Rodeo animals are comparable because their entire lives they have been bred for the events and trained all of their lives to compete. Not letting them show off their skills is essentially stopping them from doing a job that they were literally born and bred for.
