Why Rodeeos Are Not Animal Cruelty

Rodeos take place either inside large buildings, or outside in dirt arenas. The events in a rodeo can range from bucking bulls, steer wrestling, and roping. Each event has their own rules as well as regulations. These rules keep the cowboys, and livestock safe when competing against each other. However, some people may consider rodeos as a form of animal cruelty. It is understandable why it can be seen this way because everything happens really fast, and it is hard to keep up with what’s happening in the arena. It would also be really easy to think it was hurting the animals if a person simply didn’t know everything that goes into each event. Rodeos are not animal cruelty due to all the rules, and the effort that goes into the care of each

animal competing in a rodeo.
Rodeo is a sport that not only incorporates people, but animals as well.

This type of sport gives people the chance to show off their skills at handling wild livestock. Each cowboy or cowboys do an event, and are scored based on their performances. Then the team or individual with the most points wins. Rodeos even have events for the younger generations. Of course, the kids don’t rope cows or ride broncs, but they do sometimes get to catch pigs or chickens to win money. Tremendous amounts of time, and work go into rodeos, and they are extremely entertaining to watch. However, some people believe rodeo is nothing but torturing innocent animals. They believe animals are thrown into an arena without anyone caring what happens to them. Some people also believe after bulls, and horses can no longer be used in a rodeo they are sent to slaughter. A big reason people are so determined that this is animal cruelty is because they believe that the cowboys are purposely hurting animals to make themselves look like a good

cowboy.
However, the first thing on most cowboy’s mind is getting a score without hurting the animal in the arena. There are also rules to keep cowboys from injuring the animals at hand. Rodeos also allow the animals to refer back to their natural instincts during the bucking events. It also gives the animals exercise, which is better than the animals eating grass all day and foundering. Rodeo animals are also checked by a vet once or twice a month just to make sure they are healthy. This means the animals have constant care. If an animal is sick or injured the vet will not release that specific animal to compete until it healthy again. Also, most retired cows and horses from rodeos are sent to private owners, or sent to sanctuaries where they can grow old. Even the animals that are no longer being used because of simple things will be given back to their original owners in most cases. They also provide a fun and safe environment for friends, and family to be able to compete with spectacular animals.
People may say rodeos are nothing but animal cruelty, but this is simply not true.

Rodeos go out of their way to protect the animals during their performances. For example, the flank strap is said to be sharp and painful. However, in reality it is made up of sheepskin which protects the animal from cuts, and sores. There are actually rules against flank straps causing pain to any animal. It has also been said that animals are shocked with hot shots when they are to slow to start performing. This is false due to the fact that there is now a law banning any hot shots or electric prods on livestock during a rodeo. Not only are there rules during before the events begin there are rules also during the events. During the events if a cowboy is seen being to rough with the cattle they will receive a no time. This is another reason why they are so careful with the cattle. Having one no time can result in last place at a rodeo, so cowboys will go out of their way to insure no animal is injured. It is also said the care of livestock is horrible. This is false because stock contractors can get fined up to $20,000 for not treating the animals with good care. Not only do the cowboys, and stock contractors care about the animals the whole rodeo community does. Profits from most rodeos are sent to organizations to help injured bulls, and also provide then with everything they could ever

need.
It is understandable why some people believe it is animal cruelty. There are misfortunate events were animals can be injured, and have to be put down. Also, it is true that animals in rodeo are less safe than the ones out in a pasture. However, things happen and sometimes we can’t control them. Animals can get injured, and that’s a possible outcome anytime someone handles cattle even if it isn’t in an arena. But animals are not purposely being abused by people for entertainment. They are well taken care of, and many precautions are taken to make sure the animals are safe. Rodeos are well organized animal sport events that should be considered as such instead of seen as merely animal cruelty.