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.