Rodeos are a long-standing tradition in many countries. Originating from necessity they are now nothing more than entertainment – entertainment that is created from the suffering of livestock animals and horses.

The breaking of horses by capture, rough riding and requiring total submission was done out of the need for expediency as well as ignorance. People used horses for travel, farming and managing cattle. Horse breeders were far and few between so wild horses were sought out and brought into the world of human need with little regard for their welfare. Good horsemen took great care of their mounts once they were performing up to their required tasks – and as is true today – bad horsemen (people) take too little care.

Bronc riding mimics the rough and ready approach to schooling horses. Points are scored for the duration of the ride but also for the rider’s ability to roll their sharply roweled spur along the shoulders of the horse. The horse wears a bucking strap – a leather cinch that is pulled up tight into the animals’ groin causing enough discomfort to encourage the horse to buck. Horses that grow used to this strap are then often subjected to various additions that cause even more irritation. Once the horses no longer buck or they fail to produce a ride that elicits appropriate ye haws from the crowd they are retired – often they are sent to auction where they wind up at slaughter.

Bull riding has never been anything but a form of entertainment. These beasts are also subjected to bucking straps and spurring. Commentators portray the bulls as angry and fierce. In truth bulls may not be the sort of animal with which you would choose to snuggle but when not adorned with human devices to entice bad behavior they are generally peaceful animals that are content to graze and watch after their harem of cows.

Sheep, calves, goats and cows are all used for various rodeo games that involve a length of rope with a noose at the end. These animals are chased, roped and upon reaching the end of the rope are slammed to the ground in order for their legs to be tied which presents the animal ready for branding. Most modern rodeos forgo the actual branding but many of these animals suffer broken necks and limbs. They are then thrown away and all for the roar of the crowd and the thrill of the throw-down.

Pigs are spared the rope but are often subjected to carrying children on their backs as freewheeling jockeys. Pig races are not only run during rodeos but can often be found at county fairs. These animals are not designed to carry weight on their backs and many animals are fatally injured during these races.

Activities from our past that once involved less than humane methods of handling animals were, at the time, necessary for survival. These same activities continue today but have the singular purpose to entertain. Finding joy and satisfaction by inflicting pain and suffering on any creature should not be considered entertaining. Perhaps it is time for cowboys and rodeos to ride off into the sunset.