Vote with your feet to stamp out rodeos
Abuse of animals in the name of entertainment.
RSPCA Victoria disapproves of rodeo events since they serve no useful
purpose for the animal as some events have a high potential for cruelty and
subject animals to great stress and high risk all in the name of public
entertainment.
Did you know?
Horses and bulls have broken their neck or back in bucking
events.
Cattle have broken a leg in roping events.
Calf roping causes severe bruising around the throat.
Flank straps, spurs and electric prods are used to make
animals buck.
Rodeos are brutal events that cause stress and injury to
animals for the sake of entertainment.
Events such as calf and steer roping and bulldogging bear no relationship
to the Australian ethos or to existing Australian farming practice. Animal
roping and bulldogging are considered to be cruel as they may cause terror
and abuse to the animal, physical distress and the strong possibility of
injury without any consequent benefit to the animal.
The use of electric or sharp prodders and flank straps is unacceptable in
that they inflict pain upon the animals, terrify them and cause them to
react in a way likely to cause physical distress and injury.
The RSPCA regularly inspects rodeos that tour Victoria on matters relating
to animal welfare, however, such inspections do not mean that the RSPCA
endorses these rodeos.
RSPCA Inspectors are only able to check if the codes of practice are being
met and that they are at least to the minimum standards. Inspectors
investigate any breaches of the conditions of the rodeo permit or the
occurrence of cruelty as defined under Section 9 of the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.
In Victoria it is compulsory to have a veterinarian in attendance. However,
veterinarians cannot prevent injuries. They can only treat injuries after
they have occurred, or euthanase severely injured animals.
Rodeo events
Calf roping In this event, a calf is released from a chute and chased on
horseback. Once the calf has been lassoed around the neck, the horse skids
to a halt, the rider leaps from the saddle, and then throws the calf to the
ground. To get points, any three legs must be tied within 30 seconds of the
calf being released from the chute.
The frightened calf is traveling at high speed when lassoed and therefore
hits the end of the rope with great force. The force can be strong enough to
jerk the calf off its feet and into the air. According to the voluntary APRA
Code of Practice, calves should be in the weight range 100kg-130kg. However,
as Dr Hugh Wirth AM KSJ RSPCA Australia has said: "... there is no body weight you
can enact that will stop the cruelty associated with calf roping "
Steer wrestling
In this event a steer is released and chased by two riders. One rider keeps
the steer running in a straight line, while the other grabs the steer by the
horns and leaps from his horse. He twists the steer's neck to force him to
fall to the ground. The contestant has 30 seconds from the time the steer is
released to throw him to the ground.
Apart from the stress of this brutal treatment, it can also injure the neck
of the steer. Strained muscles and tendons are painful, but are not visible
to the observer.
Team roping
When the steer is released from the chute, a pair of horsemen attempt to
rope him within 30 seconds. One rope must be around the horns, neck or half
a head, while the other must be around the back legs. A correctly roped
steer is stretched between the horses and will usually fall to the ground.
Bucking events
In all bucking events the aim of the riders is to stay on the animal for
eight seconds after it is released from the chute. Horses are ridden either
with a saddle and lead rope or only with a girth strap and handle to hold on
to (bareback). On bulls, a rope is pulled around the girth.
All horses and bulls buck because of the flank strap that is pulled
tightly around their flank. Animals don't buck because they are wild or
mean. They buck because the flank strap irritates them, and they stop
bucking as soon as it is taken off.
In addition, bulls in particular are often given an electric shock as the
gate of the chute is opened. A hand held prod is used to deliver a shock to
the shoulder or rump. The APRA Code of Practice says that electric prods
should not be routinely used, but observations at country rodeos show that
they are.
In Victoria it is compulsory to have a veterinarian in attendance.
However, vets can't prevent injuries. They can only treat injuries after the
event, or euthanase severely injured animals.
RSPCA Victoria will continue to urge government to have rodeos banned and
seeks community support to choose not to attend rodeos.

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