by Darmon Richter

Created on: June 18, 2009   Last Updated: June 20, 2009

Due to its rough nature and the heavy involvement of livestock, rodeo as a sport has always experienced condemnation for its treatment of animals. Major protests were first raised in the 1870s, and as concern over animal welfare grew, this led to laws enacted in various states that curtailed some of the events appearing in rodeo competitions.

The main governing body for rodeos is the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association). The early PRCA were very aware that appeasing protestors was crucial if the sport was to survive, so in the 1950s they worked closely with the AHA (American Humane Association) in establishing mutually acceptable regulations to protect the welfare of all animals involved in rodeos.

It cannot be denied that conditions for animals in rodeo have improved drastically over the years, with stringent rules applied by the PRCA to ensure the safety of livestock. These guidelines include the use of padded straps, horn protectors and spurs that feature blunted, free-spinning rowels.

The position held by animal welfare groups towards rodeos, can be broken down into several approaches. Firstly, there are those concerned with the conduct of rodeo cowboys (how they twist tails and bring down animals with ropes), and the equipment used (such as tight bucking or flank straps and powerful cattle prods).

Some protestors worry more about non-sanctioned, amateur rodeos, which are less likely to abide by regulations, and tend to be more geared towards all-out entertainment, with events such as 'mutton busting', calf dressing, wild cow milking, calf riding, and chuck wagon races. Then, there are those who believe that by its very nature, the practice of rodeo is an act of animal cruelty.

Many of the larger animal welfare groups (such as PETA, SHARK and the United States Humane Society) take the third standpoint, arguing that regulations are vague and ineffective, or often ignored by rodeo organisers. The ASPCA on the other hand is more tolerant, objecting only to events that "involve cruel, painful, stressful and potentially harmful treatment of livestock, not only in performance but also in handling, transport and prodding to perform." While most of these groups focus on big competitions, the ASPCA is particularly interested in practice sessions, which they claim are more often the location of serious abuse towards animals.

In many states, training sessions are exempt from animal cruelty laws; however, the AHA (American Humane Association) advocate the strengthening

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