Etsitty 1
Ramona Etsitty
Professor Himerlriech
English 102
13 November 2014
Are rodeo livestock being abused?
A year ago, at a team roping event in Rough Rock, a young man and his partner stretched
a steer to the point where its leg hind leg broke. That steer had to be shot in order to end its
suffering. The anger at seeing that being done was heart breaking and that’s animal abuse to
rodeo livestock. Abuse: “the infliction of physical pain, suffering or death upon an animal, when
not necessary for purposes of training or discipline or (in the case of death) to procure food or to
release the animal from incurable suffering, but done wantonly, for mere sport, for the
indulgence of a cruel and vindictive temper, or with reckless indifference to its pain” (Cruelty
Prevention). Rodeo has been around since the 1800’s and began with participation in ranch
work. Overtime it evolved to a sport where cowboys and cowgirls competed in different
sanctions in the United States; PRCA, PBR, WPRA, NHSRA, CNRA, INFR, and NIRA. Today
society rodeo is viewed as a sport of displaying their roping skills, and riding skills. Are the
animal rights groups doing enough to stop animal abuse and are the current rules preventing
animal abuse?
The first rodeo from a professional perspective began when a group of cowboys decided
to compete among each other and see who could rope the best or ride the best. From there rodeo
has become a show rather than pertaining only to their own entertainment at home. Not far along
has rodeo been introduced as a sport, animal abuse arose in the 1870’s. During the 1930’s,
certain states decided to make different laws for rodeo events pertaining to animals. In order to
keep rodeo alive and a sport in the United States, the (RCA) Rodeo Cowboy Association in the
Etsitty 2
1950’ decided to work with AHA. Both organizations teamed up to come up with humane rules
for animals to protect and ensure their safety. 21st century rodeo has grown to include various
events in rodeo; bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing,
bull riding, goat tying, mutton busting, steer riding, steer roping, saddle-bronc riding, and break
away. Almost every event in rodeo is being charged with animal abuse. There is evidence that
reports animals being injured or killed during rodeos. For example, on July 19 2009, a horse
named Strawberry Fudge passed on by sustaining injuries to the head and neck at the 2009
Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, while engaging in saddle-bronc event. Another case at the 2011
CFD rodeo, a horse named Check Mate died of a back injury due to bareback riding. Also, calf
roping can be threatening to the calf, sometimes the calf sustains injuries pertaining to a severe
neck or leg injuries, but at the 2012 Reno Rodeo did a calf become injured in the neck and a leg
injury while being roped. According to Trevor Brown, “Cheyenne Frontier Days CEO Dan
Cheney said Monday that five steers or calves died or were euthanized as a result of injuries
during the 10-day event” (Brown). There are so many animal abuse incidents happening to
animals while being utilized for rodeos.
Next, the animal rights group or organizations that don’t support rodeo animal abuse
range from different types of animals they advocate for. One major organization that is well
known and really supports for rodeo livestock is Shark. Shark stands for showing animals respect
& kindness. The organization shark has changed its name over the years starting with, “Fox
Valley Animal Protectors” then, “Chicago Animal Rights Coalition”. Until in the late 1990s after
developing to an international level the name was changed to (SHARK). Shark shows any type
of animal abuse most especially rodeo animal abuse through media. They do media because not
only is today society known for their media but you’ll be able to attract a larger crowd rather
Etsitty 3
than only a small group. Having a larger audience and supporters is the only way you’ll be able
to make a difference. Shark the nationwide leader in the animal protection movement stated:
Exposing Animal cruelty and educating the world via YouTube. SHARK has an
extremely successful YouTube Channel with almost 40 million total views and over 500
videos exposing animal cruelty and highlighting important animal issues and educating
the public. Everyday nearly 35,000 people watch one of SHARK’s video exposés (Our
Methods).
Another organization called American Humane Association began in 1877; they protect livestock
from abuse and neglect. They protect animal abuse by educating individuals through different
services. They’ve worked with PRCA but in the 1990’s it was known as Rodeo Cowboy
Association to enact laws for protecting the well-being of rodeo animals. The other organizations
that really targets rodeo animal abuse are PETA and Animal Legal Defense Fund. But these
aren’t the only organizations that fight rodeo animal abuse but there are many more. With animal
abuse in mind there are different ways animal abuse is inflicted on rodeo animals. It ranges from
use of a hot shot, roping, jerk downs, spurs, unpadded cinches, and transporting livestock.
Animals also suffer other injuries from rodeo events, Simon states, “such as internal organ
bruising, ripped tendons, bleeding, broken bones and torn ligaments and muscles” (Casillas).
The hot shot seems to be the main focus of animal abuse because it causes pain and forces an
animal to perform a certain action. . Even quite recently the organization Shark has exposed a
spectator standing on the chute at the 2007 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo prodding a saddle-
bronc horse with a hot shot in the neck. What really made this case controversial was the hot shot
was used as a personal purpose to make the horse buck harder and it was done in front of a rodeo
judge. When Cheyenne clearly states in their animal care, “Professional rodeo judges take their
Etsitty 4
responsibility to report any violators seriously” (Animal care). Cheyenne Frontier Days have
been a PRCA sanction rodeo since 1947 but between 2005 -2008. Shark has reported for the past
three years the hot shot has been used repeatedly for personal use of making the rodeo livestock
perform in certain ways. But until 2008 the hot shot was finally banned from the Cheyenne
Rodeo. Keep in mind though that an animal skin is thicker, 5mm thick for a horse and 7mm thick
for a cow, but for us humans our skin is only 2mm thick. Many different companies manufacture
hotshots from miller manufacture, farm and ranch supplies, wholesale Midwest, QC supply, etc.
Each of these companies states that hot shots, were designed to move large animals, which is
what veterinarians use. By giving care and making the animals get off the ground or to make
them move into a chute to be given care. According to the 2014 PRCA rulebook:
10.1.5.1 and 10.1.5.2, standard livestock prods shall be used only to move and
load livestock when necessary and the animal has an open gate or area in order
to move forward. If a prod is used, the animal shall be touched only on the
hip or shoulder area. Commonly accepted livestock moving tools such as
sorting sticks and paddles are also acceptable, when used appropriately,
to move and load livestock. Once livestock is loaded into the chute which
it will compete out of, the prod may only be used when needed for the
safety of the livestock, contestant or personnel. All determinations of
necessary use of a prod during competition will be determined by a rodeo
judge. Any violation of this rule will result in an initial fine of $1,000 to
Etsitty 5
the stock contractor/stock contracting firm owning the animal with that fine
progressively doubling for any additional offense(s). The contestant will
receive an automatic option for a reride.(214)
Now day’s rodeos use the hot shot to force animals to perform or act in a certain way that
benefits the contestant and spectators. It has resulted in injuring the animal and has caused the
animals to even die. The hot shot generates over 4,000 to 5,000 volts which has been tested on a
human. They stated it’s like a thousand needles going through their body. The hot shot company
claims it shouldn’t be used in rodeos; only used on cows and pigs not horses because they are
delicate creatures; they don’t support the hot shot being used for entertainment purposes; and
should only be prodded on the rear-end, not the head or eyes. The rodeo people still don’t
