by Erika Mourar

Created on: June 17, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Sport is defined as a leisure activity governed by rules requiring physical exertion and competition. Under this definition it is clear that rodeo is a sport. That part of the debate was easy, nobody can even begin to argue that rodeo riders get physically active during their events and for those interested the rules for each event can be looked up on the websites of the PRCA, PBR or any local Rodeo Circuit. Competitions are held world wide and are frequently broadcasted on television. Beyond a doubt rodeo is a sport.

The harder question to answer would be if rodeo is animal cruelty. Well it would be harder if I was somebody that took everything I see on television and in the newspaper at face value, if I believed everything negative said and written without doing any kind of research of my own. The media very often misrepresents things, not necessarily intentionally, but because of a lack of research perhaps.

I will try to clear up some of the main misconceptions about rodeo and animal cruelty. First and foremost the most common point of controversy , the flank strap. It is rumored to press on the animal's genitalia.
This could not be further from the truth, in fact the flank strap is not pulled tight at all. It is a strap covered with lambs wool tied loosely around the hip of the animal. It irritates the animal and thus causes it to buck harder to get it off. If the flank strap is pulled to tight the bull or bronc will do the same as any human would do, their legs will cave in. Yes, on occasion that does happen and it isn't pleasant for any involved. The animal doesn't appreciate it I am sure and the cowboy or cowgirl is stuck with a re-ride. So you see it is definitely not the goal but rather human failure. And if this didn't convince you that tying off genitalia is not part of rodeo, then check out the broncs, half of which are female horses. They buck just as hard as their male counterparts. For some odd reason that fact is always forgotten in the many reports bashing rodeos for animal cruelty.

The use of spurs is often frowned upon by the animal activists. What they do not mention is the strict guidelines for spurs and other equipment in place. Spurs worn in rodeos do not harm the animal, just as in riding any other horse they are used to guide the animal. If a rider were to cut any animal in rodeo they would be hit with huge fines. Clearly anybody would avoid paying a fine, especially since at the time they are not certain if they will be paid at all. That

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