Rodeos Are Bully Conventions

Posted by Amanda on January 09, 2025

Countless animals have died to satisfy humans’ desire to pretend it’s the Wild West in events at rodeos such as calf roping, bull riding, steer wrestling, mutton busting, horse tripping, and bronc riding. 💔

Most animals forced to participate in rodeos aren’t aggressive by nature. Instead, they’re provoked into displaying crazed behavior by using electric prods, sharp spurs, and bucking straps. A bucking (or flank) strap is a strap or rope wrapped around the midsection of horses or bulls. The animals will naturally buck to rid themselves of the irritant. This strap can cause abrasions and rope burns; the skin can be chafed raw. 

Cows may be zapped with electric hotshots, so they’ll charge out of the chute. 😰 

In calf-roping (aka tie-down roping) events, young cows’ necks are twisted as they’re slammed to the ground. Even some rodeo operators, including one who said he “wouldn’t mind seeing calf roping phased out,” agree that these events are egregious. Germany has banned calf-roping, as have Baltimore County, Maryland; Vancouver, Canada; and the Australian states of South Australia and Victoria.  

Many rodeo events also target young children and teens to train them to believe that exploiting animals for entertainment is ok. For example, Mutton Busting is an event where kids aged 5-7 try to ride a running sheep for as long as possible. 🤦 As if this wasn’t dumb enough, rodeos for teens often also include the following events:

1. Breakaway roping: The participant tries to rope a calf in the fastest time 
2. Saddle bronc riding: The rider spurs a horse while keeping time with the horse’s action. 
3. Bareback riding: The rider spurs the horse vertically and horizontally 
4. Ranch Horse competition: Horses compete in events inspired by a working ranch, such as Ranch Trail, Ranch Reining, Ranch Riding, Ranch Pleasure, and Ranch Conformation 
5. Steer wrestling (aka bulldogging): The participant rides a horse and jumps off to wrestle a steer to the ground.  
6. Cutting: The participant terrorizes cows while on horseback.
7. Barrel racing: The rider forces a horse to weave through barrels in the fastest time.
8. Wild cow milking: A team of participants tries to catch and milk a “wild” cow in the fastest time.

Animals used in rodeos have died from broken backs and necks, heart attacks, and aneurysms. Those who make it through relatively unscathed are given little time to rest or recuperate. They’re loaded into trucks, hauled to the next event, and forced to participate over and over again. When they’re too old or worn out to continue, “retirement” is a one-way trip to the slaughterhouse. 😢

These cruel events are also super-dangerous for the human participants, especially if they’re young children or teens. Rodeos have an injury rate of 14.7 to 25.2 injuries per 1,000 competitive exposures. Bull riding is the most dangerous event, with an injury rate that’s more than twice as high as others and ten times that of the injury rate of football. Common injuries include the following:

• Fractures in the face or limbs
• Concussions, which account for 5% to 15.3% of injuries
• Knee and shoulder injuries

Also, think of the psychological effect rodeos can have on young minds. Constantly seeing animals scared and in pain due to your actions—plus risking your safety—can greatly damage children’s mental health.

If a rodeo comes to your town, voice your objections to local authorities, complain to companies sponsoring it, leave a leaflet at the gate, and/or protest. Contact us at [email protected] for posters, flyers, and tips on setting up your demo!  

Be sure to check your local laws to find out which types of animal-related activities are and are not legal in your area. Some municipalities, for instance, ban specific rodeo devices. 

*****

Besides rodeos, animal advocates should avoid several other attractions—even at county and state fairs. See which exploitative events you should speak out against!