Posted on 11/17/2004 5:45:47 PM PST by BullRidingLawyer
The Reno Rodeo was really fun for us this year as the wife and I are 30-year best pals of close relatives of Chance Kretschmer, who was helping during the calf roping event. Lots of laughs as the clown was giving Chance a bad time.
Chance is a great kid, and may be the only football player in the history of Tonopah High School to be drafted into the NFL.
At least you didn't say they just 'tickle' again. But you miss the point.
I agree that it is a free choice thing. I'm not saying outlaw it. But it is does not represent a "true" cowboy talent, which, IMO, is what the rodeo did.
I know that the flank strap is put on while the bull/horse is in the bucking shoot, but I thought it wasn't pulled tight until the door was opened. I don't believe it causes pain, but is an irritant that the animal is trying to rid itself of.
Becky
I have to say your "description" of the flank strap and spurs is not an honest evaluation. Sounds like spin to me:) If not to keep an animal bucking what is their purpose? And you don't stay on by anchoring your spurs to the animal. You are suppose to run them up and down on thier shoulders, is what I thought. If they were used as an "anchor" then they would be a pain causer.
Once again, I don't believe they actually cause pain, but they do help to keep the animal bucking.
Becky
Exactly, just like he'd like to be rid of the rider and his spurs. The bull is fighting to be rid of all of it, and it seems silly to argue otherwise. These tools aren't just a fashion statement.
I'm not saying it should be banned either. If I had to make a value judgment, if guys want to bust themselves on broncs, I'd rather they piss off bulls than ruin horses.
I just hate to see this guy talking like people are dumb and will believe spurs aren't there to exact an effect on the bull. Let them wear fleece slippers then ;~D
He's spinning:)
Becky
Well, in all honesty, bucking out horses was the old cowboy way of breaking a horse, so has some credibility. And too...some horses are just going to be buckers anyway, they might as well be put to some use...I guess. I've always believed that bucking one out doesn't make the best horse for riding later, but I don't necessarily see it as cruelty either. Close, but not entirely. It's screws them up more mentally then really causeing them pain. I've heard of several bucking horses that did become riding ones after they were bucked out. Rodeo Cowboys are suppose to bail at the 8 second timer even if they can stay on, so as not to buck the horse out. But after a while I would think some would figure out that not bucking is better, that is when they get retired from the bucking string.
Becky
Another thing, if the flank strap didn't make the animal buck, why does the animal continue to buck after the rider is off. They usually don't stop bucking till the pick up men get the flank strap off. They don't buck as hard, but they do continue to buck until the strap is off.
Becky
(I know you know all this) It would only resemble real life skill if they did try to buck them out till they stopped, but it doesn't make good enough sport, so they try to make them worse. That's why it's a perversion of the cowboy life. What they do doesn't resemble the way you would break a horse. On the ranch there'd be no bucking strap, there'd be no attempt to make the horse buck more and harder, they'd encourage the horse to run and move forward till he got tuckered rather than buck.
The horses retire to slaughter when they stop fighting. I can't imagine them making good riding horses after that start either.
Oh I realize that it is not exactly like the cowboys use to do it. There'd be no way to keep enough stock bucking if they did it the "real" way:). But cowboys did buck out horses, they did not buck out bulls.
Becky
No worse then horses trained at 2 for racing:( IMO. I don't believe race horses are as dependable of horses as they could be with less intense training to run at such a young age.
I've learned recently that in other countries they don't race horses that young. Only in America:)
If the animal rights people are going to go after the rodeo's they need to go after the racehorse industray as well, IMO.
Becky
I agree racers are started too young, and many are ruined by that. If I had to make a change, it would be to stop running two year olds.
Ex racers are a little nutty when they're still fresh, really they just don't know anything but run. The further they get from that, the better they do, if people realize they aren't really trained, just run ;~D
I don't know for sure, I think some rodeo people will have to weigh in here but I think when the horses stop bucking well they go to pasture to raise more bucking horses for the contractor.
Some of them maybe.... the good ones and the mares ;~D
You are correct on the spurs as to bareback and saddle-bronc riding; but not for bull riding. Bareback and Saddle-bronc riders are required to spur; for bull riders its an option but not required for a score (just as bronc riders must "mark out" - bull riders don't have to worry about this). Also - bronc flank straps are pulled as the animal leaves the chute - bull riding is much different.
It is true that the flank strap makes the animal want to kick; but there is lots more to bull riding than just a bull that kicks because that wouldn't be that hard to ride. Bulls do more than that. They lunge, they spin, sometimes they will change directions in their spin, and things like that. I am willing to agree that the flank straps are an annoyance to bull; but not that they cause pain or torment. If the bulls were in pain, they would be less inclined to perform.
Also, you must remember with the spurs about the thickness of a bulls hid compared to that of a human being; a bulls hide skin is even thicker than a horses. I have never heard of an animals bones or internal organs being damaged as a result of spurring - I have never even see a bull bleed from spurring.
Well gosh, I would hope not, jeepers.
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