by Brenda Nelson

Created on: June 18, 2009   Last Updated: March 19, 2010

People involved with the rodeo industry will frequently deny any actions of cruelty to animals. However, every year many animals used as rodeo stock will suffer injury or death as a result of their use in, or before, the rodeo. They will be poked with electric prods, and sticks, hit with whips and spurs, they will be encouraged to act wild to delight the crowd and to earn the cowboy more points.

-Cattle-

Most cases of cruelty are held against bovines. Calves that are used in the roping events are scared little creatures forced to run over and over, only to be jerked back when a rope lands around their neck, horns, or legs. Although not desired, a few calves are killed or injured in these events,  and certainly the others are stressed and afraid. The most common injuries for the animals used in roping events are bruised trachea's, damage to internal organs, and broken bones.

Cows are mishandled by keepers prior to rodeos so that they remain fearful of people, thus they are a bit more exciting to watch in the Wild Cow Milking events.

Bulls are not only mishandled but strapped with a bell to encourage them to buck more. While not cruel, the bell is annoying to the animal, and these animals are raised so they act in a negative way to humans.

-Horses-

Bucking horses receive terrible treatment. Prior to the rodeo itself they are handled roughly to encourage a wild look about them. At the rodeo itself they are kept in crowded pens with the other bucking stock. Still worse is how they are treated in the arena. Bucking horses have a flank strap which causes them to buck higher. The strap is placed loosely around the sensitive area just ahead of their hind legs and is tightened as soon as the shoot opens. Supporters say the strap does not hurt the animal, and true it does no lasting damage, but if it did not hurt them to any degree, they would not buck higher when it is on.

Although the bucking event lasts only eight seconds, during that time the horse is not only tormented by this strap but also by the required raking of the riders spurs on the shoulders of the animal. Horses can be injured in these events while they are in the shoot, or due to strain while bucking. In their efforts to rid themselves of their discomfort they can hurt themselves easily.

Most of the horses ridden by cowboys for roping events and such are well cared for animals, but occasionally you may find one horse that has become sour. This is more common in barrel

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