Ironic given much of SouthWest Florida was built by cattle ranchers.
I announced rodeos in the late 80s and 90s, and can certify what you said.
Rodeo stock are the assets of the stock contractor's business. He will not tolerate abuse of his assets. Injuries to animals used in rodeo are few; rough stock used in bucking events work an average of 2 minutes a year for year-round care. Bulls, especially, with their thick skins, are almost never injured.
Rodeo is the oldest sport in America and provides clean, wholesome entertainment. Let's keep it goin'.
I live in California's Stanislaus County, where Oakdale, the "Cowboy Capital of the World" is located. Occasionally some crank writes in the paper about the "cruel treatment" of animals, but what with people from the Bay Area invading our space and all, a rodeo ban does some imminent.
I like Adriano Moraes. I hope he recovers soon.
The animal rights wackos claim that their problem with rodeos is the "abuse" the animals receive and that all roping events should be banned.
End game is that they oppose livestock auctions as well considering the animals are only going to be slaughtered for meat.
You are correct. To suggest that rodeo stock is abused is ridiculous, the livestock owners simply wouldn't stand seeing all their investment harmed. The animals are cared for, fed, transported, boarded...all in the idea of keeping them in good shape to run the sport.
I love a good rodeo. Been much too long since I've seen one. Probably the most dangerous job is that of the clown.
Prairie
.................Stop cutting the heads off of all the horses during the Rodeo Show?
Rodeo, especially roughstock events such as Bull Riding, do not hurt animals.
But:), sorry I have to say this. Bull riding does not hurt the bull, I agree. But the sport it self is NOT a part of the American Cowboy Culture. All the other events in rodeos, have come from the old day cowboys actual work. Roping, racing, breaking horses. They never rode bulls.
I fear bull riding is being romantized and younger boys who do not understand the danger are trying it. I was at a rodeo awhile back where a 18 year old was throwed off backwards in the shoot and got his head smashed. He was dead right there.
If there was some history to bull riding that came from the real cowboy days, it would be different, but there is not. It wouldn't hurt my feelings at all to see this event stopped even if it was for the bulls sake:)
Becky
We will never see an event in Pittsburgh because the city has outlawed the use of the flank strap in city limits. I swear these people are morons.
Heck, even Filthadelphia hosted a PBR event last year.
I live in southcentral Michigan.
A few years ago, some activists cut the fence on the rough stock pen at the Saline/Washtenaw fair grounds. It was a nitemare..
Here is an account.
I don't know anything about the NAIA, I just googled for the incident.. This was a good accounting.
http://www.naiaonline.org/body/articles/archives/horsesinjured.htm
Re: flank straps: They are cotton ropes that cause a minor discomfort - like a tickling sensation - encouraging the bull to extend his back legs and kick.
You look silly for writing that. Tickling? Get rid of tickling. It's not ~painful~, you are right. You should have stopped there, and with the clarification that it isn't tied around sex organs. But the flank strap is put there because it makes the bull madder than he'd be without it. You have to own that. Explain why making the bull madder so he'll buck harder is not in and of itself causing pain.
Similarly, spurs do not break the ribs of bulls, cause internal injuries, or even cuts. Bulls have extremely thick hide and rodeo cowboys use extremely dull spurs for the purpose of anchoring their feet.
Another goofy statement that will only fool those who have never watched the sport. Dull? No they are not. Anchoring the feet? BS. Admit to me this. Your score goes down if you are not moving your feet and actively spurring. And if you ask me, anchoring your feet with sharp objects into the side of the bull sounds worse. Your good argument was the first sentence, and the concept that bulls have a thick hide, and the duller senses and higher pain tolerance of a prey animal, and the spurs are there because without them, the man's heels alone may not make the bull continue to buck. They do cause pain, pain is what the bull is trying to avoid by bucking you off. But they don't cause injury. That's the fact you have to live with and promote.
Just my two cents. You are in effect buying into the animal rights wacko's thesis if you must reduce your argument for the sport into their terms of acceptability. You can't, they won't find it acceptable, but the populace will, if you don't lie to them. People like bull riding, if they can be shown that the bulls are valuable and valued, which they are, and that few are actually injured in the sport.
So is the Confederacy and the Confederate Battle Flag.
events such as Bull Riding, do not hurt animals.
Doesn't matter. It's the perception the uninformed general public forms after the left stream media distorts the facts.
a small number of animal rights extremists are trying to ban this fun family-oriented sport.
That's the way it always is. A small, but very vocal group that gains the attention of the left wing media and financial backing from 'progressive' sources.
I'm on your side. I used to do a little calf roping and still enjoy going to the rodeo. The cold hard facts are, the liberals control the media, therefore, the minds of the unwashed masses.
And, as you know, representatives from your profession have been instrumental in the 'progressive' movement.
