Rodeos Abuse Animals

Systemic abuse is rampant in the rodeo industry. Learn how you can make a difference.

WHY RODEOS ARE CRUEL

Rodeos, and stand-alone bull riding events, glorify animal abuse while they masquerade as sport and family entertainment. For example, horses and bulls do not buck naturally. These are terrified animals trying to get away from something that is causing them fear, pain, and discomfort. Animal injuries can be numerous; broken bones, ripped tendons, torn ligaments, and snapped necks.

WHAT HAPPENS TO ANIMALS AT A RODEO?

Animals suffer horrific injuries. These include compound fractures, snapped spines, and crushed skulls. Injuries and deaths to rodeo animals are chronically underreported.

Why rodeo events are cruel

BULL RIDING

Horses and bulls do not buck naturally; instead, they are forced to buck beyond their natural capabilities by riders using spurs. The rider jabs the spur into the animals’ side to get them to buck. A flank strap held by the rider is tied around their abdomen and pulled to increase the pressure. Injuries can be numerous; broken backs and bones, nd snapped necks.

STEER WRESTLING

The horseback rider chases the steer out of the holding chute. He grabs the steer’s horns while dismounting, and twists the animal’s neck to force the animal to the ground. This is a timed event and when the steer is on his side with all four legs pointing in the same direction the clock stops. Steers suffer injuries such as broken necks, horns, and limbs. They have been trampled. They can also die.

TEAM ROPING

This violent timed event involves two horseback riders roping and taking down a steer. First, the running steer is jerked with a rope around the head and one horn, or around the neck, or around both horns. The horns must be wrapped to prevent them from being ripped out of the animal’s skull. Then, the hind legs are tied together for final domination. Steers suffer injuries such as broken necks, horns, and limbs. The animals can also be trampled.

CALF ROPING

Three to four-month-old calves flee quickly from a holding pen into a ring. A rider on horseback chases the calf and lasso’s the animal around the neck. This fast and violent rope action often jerks the calf into the air and snaps their head back. The calf is then thrown to the ground where the rider ties three of the calf’s hind legs together. These baby calves suffer broken necks, broken legs, being trampled, not to mention being scared to death.

BAREBACK BRONC RIDING & SADDLE BRONC RIDING

After the gate of the bucking chute is opened, the rider attempts to stay on the horse for eight seconds. Wild and dangerous rides score the most points. The flank strap, the spurs, the electric prod, and the noise of the crowd, all combine to cause the horse, or “bronc” to be terrified and buck excessively during this timed event. Horses have collapsed and died of sheer terror (i.e. cardiac arrest) while still in the chute. They have also come flying out and run into walls. “Bucking blind” has also resulted in catastrophic injuries (i.e. broken neck).

PROTEST RODEO AND BULL RIDING
EVENTS IN YOUR TOWN

PROTEST

RODEO AND BULL RIDING EVENTS IN YOUR TOWN

HOW TO RUN A SUCCESSFUL PROTEST

Create a Facebook event page to get the word out.
Create posters. Slogan ideas: Only Bullies Ride Bulls, Stop Bull Riding, Bull Riding is Cruel, Rodeo Animals are Electrocuted, Tormented, and Terrified.
Reach out to LCA if you need help with material, we often have extra t-shirts, posters, pamphlets, and banners.
Protest at the entrance of the venue.
Plan to protest for 2 hours before the bull riding event starts.
Tell your local newspaper, TV news station, and radio station about your protest.
Pass out our Rodeo B.S. Fact Sheet. Download and print it here.
Do not engage anti-protestors.
Keep focused and strong for the animals.
Take photos of your protest, post on social media, and tag LCA.
Know your protester rights:

Your rights are strongest in what are known as “traditional public forums,” such as streets, sidewalks, and parks. You also likely have the right to speak out on other public property, like plazas in front of government buildings, if you are not blocking access to the government building or interfering with other purposes the property was designed for.
Private property owners can set rules for speech on their property. The government may not restrict your speech if it is taking place on your own property or with the consent of the property owner.
Counter-protesters also have free speech rights. Police must treat protesters and counter-protesters equally. Police are permitted to keep antagonistic groups separated but should allow them to be within sight and sound of one another.
When you are lawfully present in any public space, you have the right to photograph anything in plain view, including federal buildings and the police. On private property, the owner may set rules related to photography or video.

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