Imagine going to a PRCA rodeo. You are sitting in the bleachers waiting for the rodeo to start. It’s about five minutes away from starting, and you have not seen one horse line up for the grand entry. Being a rodeo fan, you are confused and start to wonder if the rodeo had started a few hours earlier. You notice a banner hanging up in the arena that says ’PETA HAS BEEN HERE.’ If PETA had their way, there would be no rodeo. There would be many jobless professional cowboys and cowgirls, and many more upset rodeo fans. PETA has been hassling the PRCA for years, with no such proof of animal cruelty being evident; why not give it up already? If things went according to PETA, we would all be vegetarians. The number of animals would overpopulate humans, and animals would be equal to, if not superior to humans.
PETA believes that in events such as barrel racing, steer roping, team roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, bareback, and saddle bronc that normally docile animals are physically provoked into displaying ‘wild’ behavior in order to make the cowboys look brave. PETA claims that PRCA abuses their livestock, but we don’t need to hear anymore from them. Anyone familiar with PRCA rodeo would know that the livestock used in rodeos does not belong to the PRCA. The animals used in PRCA rodeos are leased from professional livestock contractors. A contract is signed between the two parties covering everything from injury of the animal to cowboys harming the animal in any way.
The PRCA has a set of very strict rules about cowboys altering the animal in any way to better their score. Along with strict rules, a hefty list of fines are incorporated with broken contracts between the contractor and PRCA, and between PRCA and the Professional cowboy competing. Besides Strict rules, and heavy fines, the PRCA has an animal welfare program for the livestock used in program. For cowboys to compete at the highest level, the rodeo livestock must be in peak condition. Cowboys share the spotlight with the livestock. They work together to make good runs, and high scores.
PETA claims that the flank strap is too tightly cinched around the animal’s abdomen which causes them to buck, trying to escape the pain. They also believe that the flank strap can cause open wounds and burns when the hair is rubbed off and their skin is chafed raw. They claim to have found burrs and other types of irritants placed under the flank strap. Do you think PETA has read the PRCA Animal Welfare Rules? Rule # 9.3 states “No sharp objects in cinch, saddle, girth or flank straps. No sharp or cutting objects in cinch, saddle girth, or flank straps shall be permitted. Flank straps used for horses must either be sheepskin-lined or neoprene-lined and shall be of the quick release type. Sheepskin-lined or Neoprene line flank straps shall be placed on the animal so the lined portion is over both flanks of the animal. In the bull riding, a soft cotton rope at least 5/8” in diameter is acceptable as a flank strap and does not require the sheepskin or neoprene lining.” I would love to hear where PETA found these irritants placed in a flank strap. Do they openly share where they were found, because I have yet to hear.
PETA says that electric prods and spurs are used to irritate and enrage animals. PRCA rule # 9.2 states, “No locked rowels. Rowels that will be locked on spurs may be used on bareback or saddle bronc horses. Spurs must be dulled.” Rule # 10.6.4 states.” No sharp spurs. Riders shall not use sharp spurs. Rule # 10.1.5 states, “Prods. In the riding events, use of prods and similar devices is prohibited. The only exceptions shall be in the saddle bronc riding and bareback riding, and only in the case of a known chute stalling animals. And only if agrees upon by the contestant, the stock contractor, and the judge before the contestants competition begins. In this instance, the prod shall not exceed 12 inches in length. Use of a prod without the agreement of the contestant, stock contractor, and the judge before the contestant’s competition begins in the saddle bronc, and the bareback riding, or use of a prod in the bull riding at any time shall result in a fine of $1,000 doubling with each violation to the stock contractor and the contestant will receive the automatic option of a reride. Do you think PETA has ever been behind the scenes of a rodeo, and paid much attention to what lengths the cowboys go to, to ensure that the animals are healthy and comfortable?
Being a rodeo fan, you already know what a pretty penny these animals cost. A decent bucking horse can cost more than $25,000, while some bulls sell for more than $100,000. These animals are not only expensive, and require lots of upkeep, but they were bred to buck. Most of their cost comes from their breeding. PRCA stock contractor Skip Beeler explains the “making” of a bucking animal. “You can teach them to handle, load in the truck, stand in the chutes so they don’t hurt themselves, but nobody can train a horse or bull to buck. They’ve got to have it in them! I’d say it’s about 75 percent breeding, 10 percent luck, and 15 percent hard work to teach them the skills they need so you can handle them. A lot of hard work and dedication goes into breeding and caring for the valuable livestock that is a part of today’s sport of rodeo. Now knowing this, why would the PRCA let any harm come to these expensive, professional athletes they are borrowing for rodeos?
An aspect never discussed in any dispute of PRCA and PETA, is PETA going and interacting with the PRCA at a rodeo besides picketing. I call upon all you PETA members to come to a rodeo. Don’t come and watch, but come sit on the bucking shoots. Watch the cowboys treat the animals as an equal. Watch how the animals are cared for, and treated. You won’t see any sick, lame, or injured animals on site. Count how many veterinarians are hired to come check the animals. I am willing to bet after doing so that PETA members will have a change of heart. They will come to the understanding that there is no group other than the PRCA with such high animal welfare standards.
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