Guest OpEd by Glenn Wilson of Waterfall Creek
“Making a horse (or bull) buck for our entertainment is like inducing an epileptic friend to have a seizure so we can watch…”
“Recently Glenn wrote a response to an April, 2011 post on the cruelty of horse tripping in rodeos…his vision had such depth and clarity that I asked if we could feature his comment, here. This may not make a lot of my kinfolk back in Texas very happy but the words, below, speak to a very basic and simple truth; exhibiting compassion to the other beings that are passengers on “Spaceship Earth” is long overdue.” ~ R.T.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Imagine this: In another world where the animals ruled, they select a certain type of human with a special characteristic we would call epilepsy (no offense intended to those afflicted). The animals would use these epileptic humans to entertain themselves in a show called a rodeo.
The animals had figured out a way of inducing a violent physical reaction, to certain stimuli, in the epileptic. Once the ‘right’ buttons on the epileptic were pushed, they would buck, jump, writhe, contort, thrash around and inflict wounds and injury upon themselves for a period of time.
This was all done for the entertainment of the animals. They even developed a competition based on the ‘quality’ of the thrashing display of the epileptic. A horrible thought really.
Making a horse (or bull) buck for our entertainment is like inducing an epileptic friend to have a seizure so we can watch, be entertained and have a laugh. According to my doctor, when an epileptic experiences an epileptic seizure, he or she expends a huge amount of energy and physical effort for a relatively short period of time. Post seizure they are totally exhausted. They need a period of deep rest for recovery. Compare this scenario with a horse or bull that is made to buck.
And then there is calf roping. Here’s where the real men get their jollies off. First they chase a very young calf flat out across the arena, then they hurl a rope at it and jerk it off its feet (a very real jerk on both ends of the rope), they then wrap the rope around its baby hooves to disable it whether it is conscious, injured or not. A definite contest of skill, judgement and absolute cruelty. The injuries often inflicted upon the calves are horrendous.
Some people call rodeos sport. The reality is that participants, spectators and sponsors are complicit in animal cruelty that makes the roughest Indonesian abattoir look like a picnic on the beach.
Perhaps, what is known as ‘judgement day’ is when we humans reflect upon and take full responsibility for each and every one of our actions in this lifetime.
Click (HERE) to visit Australia’s Waterfall Creek
Related articles
- Call to ban calf-roping cruelty at rodeos (news.com.au)
- ‘Horse tripping’ video fuels debate over Oregon rodeo event (oregonlive.com)
- Cancel the Stampede rodeo, says Bob Barker (cbc.ca)
Categories: Horse News, The Force of the Horse
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Rodeos are complete crap, they are in the same category as circuses that torture and make animals lives miserable.
LikeLike
I agree 1000 percent with the author.
It was at the Pendleton Roundup (rodeo in Pendleton, Oregon) at 5 yrs of age where the strong animal advocacy / activism was birthed in me.. in seeing the cruelty of calf roping, bucking bronc riding and other cruel and abusive treatment. I’m not sure how long my parents (and other people in the audience) put up with my screaming at full volume to “STOP HURTING THE ANIMALS!! LEAVE THEM ALONE!!”: All their attempts to hush me up only made me scream louder in defense of the animals.. till they carried me out, still screaming. I cried and grieved, inconsolably, for days over the brutality the animals suffer at the hands of cruel people. And still grieve over every situation of abuse and cruelty yet today – over 60 yrs later. I cannot and will not stand for animal cruelty, and have left plenty of enemies in my wake through the years of advocacy – people who hold to various stupid excuses and justifications for the senseless brutality of the innocent.
The authors analogy is good, of the animals being in charge and making people suffer those abuses for entertainment and for profit. I often use these examples in trying to reason with the unreasonable. The true difference is that animals do NOT have the ability to commit deliberate violent acts for sheer entertainment pleasure and for profitable gain. Only people have that evil ability.
For years I’ve wished we could make a movie similar to Planet of the Apes, only make it farm animals who are in charge – of the kinds who suffer such horrible abuse, brutality and torture. Perhaps that would get through to a few more people as to the extreme suffering the animals endure at the hands of thoughtless and cruel people, and the complete inability for them to defend themselves or escape from it. Some people are so dense, they will never get it, but I believe others would wake up to the fact, and hopefully change the course of things in a good way.
LikeLike
Like you, Sue, I agree 1,000% with the author — and I agree 1,000% with your words in both your posts (above and below mine).
Good for you for screaming bloody murder as a five year old at the rodeo. Your voice may have modulated over the years, but your innate sense of justice and compassion — of right and wrong — has clearly not faded one single bit.
I trust those who read R.T.’s blog are familiar with the anti-rodeo organization SHARK: SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (www.sharkonline.org).
LikeLike
Another example:
What if the Olympics had the same standards and ethics as used in these huge displays of animal cruelty (rodeo, circus, and other animal “entertainment”)! What if the competitors in the Olympics were forced to perform torturous and brutal acts, suffering horrible and often fatal injuries, merely for entertainment, and for the huge financial profit of the organizers and sponsors. Everyone would agree that would be unthinkable and outrageous!! THEN WHY do people force animals do torturous acts causing them intense suffering, pain, injury, and agonizing death. The animals can’t protect themselves or avoid doing what the people force them to do. What if someday the tables were turned, and those who caused suffering, agony and violent death in others in this lifetime will get the same treatment from their victims. (That’s seems only fair!)
My Dad always said, if you wouldn’t want something done to you, then don’t do it to others (to other living beings). My Dad spent his growing up years working with my Grand Dad on their big ranch. They did not abuse animals or harm them. They knew it was not necessary to do that. Grand Dad was a Veterinarian and specialized in doctoring horses and was a pretty good trainer too, and he knew very well the harm suffered by the animals if treated violently. (This is why I am surprised my family attended that Pendleton Roundup where I freaked out. I know they didn’t approve of cruelty to animals, or cruelty to any living being. That was the one and only time they attended.. albeit very briefly.)
LikeLike
rodeos are NOT a sport, they are organised shows of the cruelty/abuse of animals.
LikeLike
Agree!
And then many rodeo horses are sent to slaughter if they are not good “performers” at the rodeo and/or as their reward for years of being abused by the rodeo stock contractor.
LikeLike
Agree! And then if the horses do not put on a “good show” at the rodeo and/or when the rodeo contractor is done abusing them for profit … they are sold to slaughter.
LikeLike
I guess old Gram here is going to disagree. No I don’t like Rodeos, but I do like Professional Bull Riding. These animals are not made to Buck, they love it. And they are not exhausted afterwards. After they get a rider off, some prance around just to be admired. Some know (all do know) just where the “out” gate is and they trot over to it They are extremely well cared for.
I HATE calf roping and bull dogging. Perhaps the small rodeos are bad, I don’t know.
LikeLike
With all respect, just about all Western rodeo events (save for tripping) serve a historical purpose based on ranch life: roping, cutting, reining, domesticating horses. There is one event that gets the most TV time, money, machismo cachet. Bullriding. It is also the one event that serves NO purpose AT ALL. If they need bucking straps, then it is artificial (broncs, bulls) and with bulls it is just plain human stupid.
What is the point of riding a bull? Penis enhancement? Go to the market? Trail ride?
p.s. Since the animals can’t be interviewed, I don’t think any human can say they “love” it.
LikeLike
Forgot to add chuck wagon races/stampedes…ridiculous. No more war parties. No more land rush. No more reasons. Get a dirt bike or four wheeler if you need death thrills….just don’t kill the horses with this so called “entertainment”.
LikeLike
Denise, As for serving no purose, I believe it was one of the “games” earlyCowhands used to break up their monotony on long wrangles.
Its always a test of cojones or skill. My Great grandson loves to ride the sheeo or calves at the local “shows” He’s eight.
And you can interview the animals. The sports channel that bull riding is on often shows the bulls at home with their owners (who make very good money raising the proper lines) I think it was Bushwacker at his home, eating away and having nice things to chew. But he would come over to the fence and the owner set his little granddaughter on him and the bull was as gentle as could be. Liked to be scratched and rubbed. .
LikeLike
Shirley:
Human monotony and boredom are not a productive purpose or an excuse to harass and torture an animal…and yes, I knew about breaking the boredom genesis. In the end, that qualifies as no functional purpose.
LikeLike
Roping has seen it’s day. Once this was competition between cowboys and vaqueros on ranches. But it became a National Industry. For me, the horse tripping must end and roping calves should not be a public spectacle. Roping still has a place on the ranch. It would seem we still need to have a Circus Maximus and gladiators overwhelming wild beasts. This is the 21st century. Blood sport must end for us to evolve. War must end. Trophy hunting must end. We have finite numbers of wild things on this tiny earth. In recent years the wild ones have had new pressures on them and to withstand these pressures they need new protections. This is obvious. So we need to be pursuing this with documents for new and stronger, broader reaching legislation.
And the need for a 5 to 10 year moratorium to do thorough independent study on the wild herds and their ranges in order to create management based on science is the answer we need and which will give us time to implement also. That is what a moratorium is used for to save wild species. It has been done for mountain lions and grizzly bear as well as pronghorn antelope and the black footed ferret. Moratoriums are for making intelligent change in managing wild animals in their home ranges and to design laws and accountability to preserve them there.
Velma Johnston made a heroic beginning for our wild horses and now it is up to us to back up her good work and finish what she began and that which has not yet been done; use independent study to create intelligent management.
Our wild horses and burros are ending up in rodeos. They are dying at the hands of men before family spectators in huge annual rodeos. This is not going to continue if folks like us have anything to say.
It may also be we need to “take back the country” in order to get things done in a democratic way once again. If our government was functioning we should have been able to do a great deal by now.
LikeLike
This is where you are wrong. and I solely disagree with you. In the sport of professional rodeo, cowboys share the limelight with the rodeo livestock. For a cowboy to compete at his highest level, the livestock also must be in peak condition. Both are athletes in their own right. These Rodeo athletes value their animals as do all the stock contractors that provide the livestock for the rodeos. Consistent proper treatment of animals by rodeo members in and out of the arena has been well documented by veterinarians who have witnessed the health and condition of the animals first hand. In scottsdale, AZ equine vet Dr. Jennifer Schleining has this to say about the PRCA, ” The PRCA uphold the standard of humane care of rodeo animal athletes, and in my professional opinion rodeo remains a healthy, humane, family oriented sport.” Obviously like a well-conditioned athlete, an animal can only preform at its best if its healthy. any cowboy will tell you that he takes home a paycheck only when the animal is in top form. Stock contractors have an obvious financial interest in keeping the animals healthy. So simple logic dictates that no sensible businessperson would abuse an animal that is expected to perform in the future. Hundreds of Vets compete in professional rodeo. Doug Corey, a Pendleton Vet says that he thinks they participate because they have a deep interest in animals. They wouldn’t participate if there was any mistreatment going on. Anyone who attends a Rodeo can be assured that the greatest care has been taken to prevent injury to animals or contestants. Members are bound by the not-for-profit corporations bylaws and rules which include a section that deals exclusively with the humane treatment of animals. The associations rules and regulations include more than 60 rules dealing with the care and treatment of animals. Anyone who violates these rules may be disqualified and reported to the PRCA, which will levy fines.
and if injured, all animals recieve prompt care, but since experience has shown that the animals and experienced cowboys, few animals are injured in this sport. And just so you know, the rodeo animals aren not forced to perform. Vets and other large animal experts say rodeo animals, expecially bucking stock, enjoy their actvity. “these are not animals that are forced to buck and perform ou in the arena,” said Dr. Eddie Taylor, attending vet for the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros in Tucson, AZ. It is virtually impossible to make a 2000LB animals perform at the great level that good rodeo stock does each and every performance. and all equipment used in the rodeo, such as the flank strap is sheepskin-lined strip of leather. it is used to enhance the bucking action, but it does not hurt the animal. Rules Strictly regulate the use of the strap, with must have a quick release buckle. Vets have testified that the flank strap causes no harm to the animals. The horses and bulls buck on pure instinct.
and I read the article said things about roping. People wonder if roping is hard on calves. A calf has more than tripled its weight when it is first roped which is at 225-250 pounds and is a strong animal. It takes special roping and handling skills exhibited by the rodeo cowboy to manage the strength of a calf who instinct is to flee or fight rather than cuddle.
The roping contest is an extension of the necessary skills developed by ranch cowboys to hold cattle for doctoring etc. Without benefits of pens and corrals. The muscular structure of a calf and its hairy, thick hide allows prudent roping without harm. As is observed, immediately upon removal of the rope, calves jog trot out of the arean ain a most unconcerned manner. A calf, who soon outgrows its weight limit for the event, then fulfills the same purpose it would have in the dairy or beef industry if it had not been in in rodeo or perhaps grows up to be a bucking bull.
LikeLike
OMG!!!! Come on Corinna, WAKE UP!!!!! Have you not seen the videos that show horses and bulls being shocked! Have you not seen the vidoes of calves not getting up after being roped? Have you not seen 20 cowboys standing over a downed horse so the crowd can’t see? Have you seen the vidoes??? Come on now!! I am a child of the 50’s. A child that grow up watching Roy Rogers and Hop-alone. Going to a rodeo was my birthday present. At that time I thought it was the was it was and animal were animals. But now all that I see are the guys standing behind the cowboys on the fence, seeing him as he shocks a horse or bull to buck. That for me is NOT entertainment. Why would a pay to see an animal being pushed to do something its heart is not in? As a child I thought that it was all real and the horses were really working to get that guy off their back so they could go back to being wild horses. Well that is not reality nor are rodeos. Rodeos are no longer entertainment they are animal abuse. Its time to move out of past centuries and move ahead. How about some games from Mars?
LikeLike
Corrina, I guess you have not seen any of SHARKS videos……………
1. if an animal loves to buck so much why do those cowboys that love and take care of their animals and treat them so justly~have to hotshot them when they come out of the shoot?
2. and as far as vets being reliable in their information goes~well alot of us here have had to listen to the lies being told by BLM vets, that we know they can be bought off.
3. and animals are given prompt care~the videos show them with broken legs being wisked away to what fate~ we all know the slaughter house……..now I ask you if a cowboy is injured and broken is he sent to slaughter…NO, yes these are athletes each and every one, but there is something in this workd called choice and rodeo and circus and feedlot animas have no choice.
4. when a human being feels that he has to abuse an animal, be it a baby, a young animal, or the old for any reason, and especilly to prove his worth as a person, then we as humans need to evaluate our worth on this earth. Because we soon lose our compassion and empathy if that is how we treat animals.
This is something we all should remember…………….. Auschwitz begins whenever someone looks at a slaughter house and thinks: They are only animals.
old
LikeLike
It is unfortunate for veterinarians who make statements that certain activities are humane when clearly Americans can see with own eyes, hear with their own ears, and feel with their hearts that animals are suffering unnecessarily.
Tom Lenz, who, during his Vice Presidency and Presidency of the AAEP, made the mistake of telling other members of his profession and getting some of them to agree with him and push the ridicules notion that horse slaughter is more humane that starvation, as if the American people and horse lovers in particular were so gullible. Perhaps had he known that the USDA was going to do its own 900 page report on APHIS in 2005, and that, even though it took three years to get the documents released through FOIA, anyone in the world can see just what the leaders of the AAEP were willing to endorse as humane and even lobby against the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. The AAEP and AVMA may be inching towards a realization that their endorsement of horse slaughter has created a cynicism among equine owners and their trust in the profession they must rely on to care for their horses. By the way, Dr. Lenz is part of the Veterinary Advisory Board for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association—all I know is that any group of professionals who are willing to lobby for horse slaughter has lost any shred of credibility it has with regard to what is humane and what is not.
Moreover, not only does the public not find horse slaughter humane, we know that no professional group is more aware of the quantity of drugs that are banned in all food animals used ubiquitously throughout the US horse industry. Yet, unlike veterinary groups in the EU, the American group of veterinary medical professionals does not feel the need to speak out against the danger that horse meat produced by horses not raised as food animals poses to human health. In fact, it would be very interesting indeed to know what those veterinarians records would reveal about number of horses in their practice that they have not treated with carcinogenic phenylbutazone. Not only has the AAEP failed to protect horses from barbaric practices like horse slaughter and horse tripping, they have also failed to protect human beings from the threat that drugs banned in food animals but used in horses present to human health.
Thank goodness for Veterinarians for Equine Welfare.
LikeLike
This doesn’t look much like a ‘sport’ to me. My heart goes out to the animals that have to endure this kind of stupidity.
LikeLike
Amen!
I don’t consider it entertainment either.
LikeLike
I published this. Hope it is OK.
Robert Winkler, Publisher
The Desert Independent ( http://thedesertinde.com)
LikeLike
I also agree that rodeos are not a “sport”, the participants are not athletes. They are terrified, abused animals, & “wanna-be” cowboys. Rodeos at the most, can be considered a “spectator sport”, or an exhibition, more like exploitation. Bucking horses & bulls are made to do so by force, usually by abusive treatment & pain. The only humane form of roping is where two or more riders & their horses “humanely sort” the calf, not by chasing it at full speed & possibly breaking its neck, but by gently lassoing it after it’s been sorted, just to see if the rider can actually lasso the calf, then it’s released. Girls riding in barrel racing & other western equestrian games, are athletes, as are their horses. True equestrian events & participation are indeed a sport, as anyone who’s ever ridden a 1,000 pound animal, all the while trying to get it to obey & do what you want instead of what it wants, can atest to. Any event designed to harass, injure or terrify an animal is abuse. Rodeos fall into this last category, this is not entertainment, or a sport.
LikeLike