Media Release Media Release Media Release

29 March, 2009

Nothing Glam About Rodeos

Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania (AACT) will be holding a protest outside the Hamilton Show Rodeo tomorrow from 12.00 – 12.30pm Members of AACT will be dressing up in cocktail frocks and tiaras in order to draw attention to the fact that there is nothing glamorous about rodeos. AACT believes that Rodeos encourage spectators and rodeo participants to be insensitive to animal suffering and accept inhumane treatment of the animals used in rodeos.

Jennifer Beer, spokeswoman for Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania commented:

“Rodeos are not an exhibition of human skill and endurance; they are a demonstration of man’s attempting to dominate terrified animals. Cattle and horses are flight animals and it is appalling that practices to terrify and torment them are seen as entertainment for the amusement of what is in reality a small group of people.”

Events such as calf roping are particularly cruel. A frightened calf is released from a chute, at which point it runs as fast as it can to try and escape the horse and rider chasing it. The calf is lassoed around the neck, the horse skids to a halt and the calf may become airborne before crashing to the ground, with a risk of breaking their back, neck or legs in the process.

Tearing of ligaments, disc rupture, damage to the thymus gland, trachea and subcutaneous tissue, and haemorrhaging is also common. Dr Hugh Wirth of RSPCA Australia described calf roping as ‘horizontal hanging’ and these events are no longer held in Victoria. Video evidence shows calves being violently roped and slammed into the ground.

“Bucking events also involve animal suffering. 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 bred to do so. They buck because the flank strap irritates them, and they stop bucking as soon as it is taken off. The strap can cause bloody and painful open wounds, which observers have noted at virtually every rodeo. In addition, bucking horses often suffer back and leg injuries from repeated bucking or accidents in the loading shoots. Bucking bulls also suffer the same flank strap, spur, muscle and skeletal injuries as horses,” said Ms Beer.

“AACT has video evidence that shows horses that refuse to buck, raked repeatedly from neck to rump with spurs in an attempt to make them ‘perform’ while the crowd laughed on. It was truly appalling to see this footage. It demonstrated such little respect for animals, nor an understanding of the cruelty being inflicted.”

One vet, attending an Australian Rodeo is quoted as saying: “The immorality of rodeos extends to the arrogance of the riders and their attitude to the animals, and to the way the audience is demeaned by watching such a tawdry spectacle."

Media Contact:

0408 970 359 – Jennifer Beer, Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania.