Rodeo. "Sport?"

[DrLeftover]

There is no doubt that the people that participate in organized rodeos are athletes.

But, is is a "sport" in the sense that hockey and even horse racing (think 'Triple Crown') is?

To me, and in the broad sense of the Wide World of Sports, yes, it is.

The outcome is not decided by 'scriptwriters' as is the case of professional wrestling.

It is Not determined by team budget like F-1.

The results are not dictated by random chance, such as Poker.

So, Yes, to at least some degree, the human athlete's ability to interact with the animal is a learned skill that requires training and preparation, yes, it is a sport.

Also, in Rodeo, as practiced in the US and a few other countries, the animals are NOT routinely killed as part of the competition, as opposed to the traditional Central American and Spanish version of Bullfighting.

YES, occasionally, an animal is injured, as are the humans. And sometimes, said injuries are fatal. And, you know, that's life. Sorry. If you live long enough, you will die of something.

But in the mean time... "Let's Rodeo".


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YadOEY8k1zM

 

[Damian]

You know, I'm fine with all the violence and injuries and even deaths in other sports like boxing but this is different. Because boxers choose to box for a living. They know there are risks. In rodeo on the other hand, animals are abused, injured and killed (obviusly without their consent)and what for? For the fat, old, prick who likes this shit. He likes violence and cruelty. He loves them. But he isn't even man enough to do that himself so his goes to the rodeo. And YES, humans are injured rarely but I don't give half a shit about that. They're paid back in the same coin. I will never go rodeo and neither should you unless of course you think you're willing to do this for other people's enjoyment:

Spoiler

 

[Jazzy]

In response to animal welfare and animal cruelty concerns, a number of laws have passed regulating rodeo. In the United Kingdom the Protection of Animals Act 1934 effectively made rodeo, as it was then practiced, illegal in England, Scotland and Wales.

In September 2000, California became the first American state to prohibit the use of prods on any animal in a chute. Stringent regulations have virtually eliminated rodeo in Rhode Island, a state which also stipulates that any individual convicted of animal cruelty in a rodeo cannot participate as a rodeo contestant. While there is no record in any state of anyone being convicted of cruelty to animals during the course of a rodeo, several states - Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York,Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming - all exempt rodeo from its anti cruelty laws, making such convictions impossible.

Eleven of the states immunize rodeo events from the provisions of the law, while Utah excludes rodeo animals from the definition of 'animal' in its anti-cruelty laws. Idaho has declared exhibitions that are commonly considered acceptable cannot be charged with cruelty to animals.

Anyone with a heart knows it's wrong to clothesline a baby animal, body slam it to the ground, tie its legs so it can’t move, and drag it by the neck.

If this were done to a puppy or kitten, the offender would understandably be charged with a crime, and likely be jailed. In rodeos, however, it's called calf roping, and supporters claim it’s a sport.

In rodeo events, such as calf roping, steer wrestling, bareback horse and bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, steer roping, and barrel racing, normally docile animals are physically provoked into displaying "wild" behavior in order to make the cowboys look brave.

Electric prods, spurs, and bucking straps are used to irritate and enrage animals used in rodeos. Before entering the ring, cows and horses are often prodded with an electrical "hotshot" so that the pain will rile them.

The flank (or "bucking") strap is tightly cinched around the animals' abdomens, causing them to buck vigorously in an attempt to escape the pain. The flank strap can cause open wounds and burns when the hair is rubbed off and the skin is chafed raw. Former animal control officers have found burrs and other irritants placed under the flank strap.

Rodeo cowboys voluntarily risk injury by participating in events, but the animals they use have no such choice. Countless animals in rodeos have suffered broken ribs, backs, and legs; punctured lungs; deep internal organ bruising; hemorrhaging; ripped tendons; torn ligaments and muscles; snapped necks; and agonizing deaths.

Rest of article: Warning graphic photos and videos

In my opinion; Rodeo, is horrific animal cruelty and should be banned!

 

[Damian]

Rodeo cowboys voluntarily risk injury by participating in events, but the animals they use have no such choice. Countless animals in rodeos have suffered broken ribs, backs, and legs; punctured lungs; deep internal organ bruising; hemorrhaging; ripped tendons; torn ligaments and muscles; snapped necks; and agonizing deaths.

Exactly my point.

 

[DrLeftover]

I'm not a fan of anything found in the file folder "rodeo", however, I do enjoy researching various topics.

This one being no exception.

Hence:

Fiction: Rodeo animals are treated cruelly.
Fact: Cheyenne Frontier Days takes pride in our animal care policies. We value our animals and we are committed to making sure that rodeo is as safe as possible for the animals and the cowboys. We are sanctioned by PRCA and we follow their very strict guidelines on animal care, and in some cases we even go above and beyond those guidelines. We have veterinarians on-site at every rodeo event to make sure that the animals are treated humanely and well cared for.
Fiction: The injury rate for rodeo animals is exceptionally high.

Fact: The animal injury rate in rodeo is extremely low, less than five-hundredths of one percent (0.0004). The findings are based on a recent PRCA survey involving 75,472 animal exposures, 194 rodeo performances and 78 sections of slack (qualifying). Veterinarians conducting the survey reported 28 injuries, mostly minor.

...

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association sanctions Cheyenne Frontier Days, and we strictly adhere to their animal care guidelines. PRCA has more than 60 rules to ensure the proper care and treatment of rodeo animals. Here is a brief summary of some of the most important safeguards we use to insure that all our animals are treated as humanely as possible, with their care and safety in mind.

A veterinarian must be on-site at all rodeo events.
All animals are inspected and evaluated for illness, weight, and injury prior to the rodeo. No animals that are sore, lame, sick or injured are allowed to participate in the event.
The spurs allowed in PRCA-sanctioned rodeos must have dull rowels, which is the wheel of the spur. Contestants who violate the rules can be fined or disqualified.
Cheyenne Frontier Days bans the use of “hot shots” (electric prod devices) except to aid in moving the livestock to prevent injury. Its use is prohibited in any riding event.
Any contestant or stock contractor caught using unnecessary roughness or abusing an animal may be immediately disqualified from the rodeo and fined. This holds true whether it is in the competitive arena or elsewhere on the rodeo grounds.
Weight limitations are set for both calves (between 220 and 280 pounds) and steers (450-650 pounds).
The flank straps for horses must be fleece or neoprene lined. Those for bulls must be made of soft cotton rope or lined with fleece or neoprene.
Steers used in team and steer roping have a protective covering placed around their horns.
At CFD, an animal ambulance is on site at all times as well as a stretcher to humanely transport any injured animal.
Chutes must be constructed with the safety of the animals in mind.

http://www.cfdrodeo.com/animal-care/

 

[Damian]

Bullshit....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozY5IeGNARc&list=UUC7K5BrapNSnk6XcXbpqXNg

 

[Jazzy]

The treatment of animals in rodeo has been a source of concern for the industry, the public, and the law for decades. Protests were first raised in the 1870s, and, in the middle twentieth century, laws were enacted to curb events using animals. The American Humane Association (AHA) has worked with the rodeo industry (specifically, the PRCA) to establish rules improving animal treatment in rodeo and the treatment of rodeo animals. Today, animal cruelty complaints in rodeo are still very much alive, and continue to be a source of aggravation to the rodeo industry.

The PRCA acknowledges that they only sanction about 30 percent of all rodeos, while another 50 percent are sanctioned by other organizations and 20 percent are completely unsanctioned.

Source

Proof that the PRCA does not have veterinarians on-site at every rodeo event to make sure that the animals are treated humanely and well cared for.

 

[DrLeftover]

Believe it or not.

We went to one today.

I got to sit within arm's length of the fence. We saw "face to face" the stock animals (cattle) used in the event as well as the humans in the events. I will work on the photos we took and see if any came out (it was far from ideal photography conditions) and post them.

Just from this one event.

I would say the livestock involved fared better than the human participants.

They had one guy in a suit jacket with a clipboard in the ring whose job it was to make sure the animals were OK.

The only ones worried about the humans were the clowns.