ALL ABOUT RODEO

THE MYTH
A great many people in the world especially in Europe don't really know what rodeo consists of. At face value it seems like a bit of harmless fun. Most of the animals are (mean) and the cowboys are showing their skill in handling the tasks of the 'Old West' Anyway the animals suffer no harm and if they do it's nobodies fault but their own.

THE TRUTH
The animals are ordinary farm animals that are made to appear wild by a number of 'Tricks'. Most of the disciplines, for example Bull riding and Ribbon roping etc, were never a requirement for a cowboy. The disciplines of the rodeo are totally different, when carried out in an arena, with a race against time, to what happened on the working ranches when the health of the animal had more importance.

ANIMALS USED IN RODEO
Cattle and Horses are used in European rodeo. In the USA pigs and sheep are also used.

THE TREADMILL FOR THE ANIMALS

The same animals are used again and again in rodeos, having to perform several times in one event. Afterwards they are loaded up and transported to the next event. Frequent transporting is stressful. The animals live in small pens for days on end, before, during and after the rodeo.

ANIMAL INJURIES
As a result of the abuse of the rodeo on the animals, many injuries occur, broken bones, contusions, concussions, skin-abrasions and internal bleeding are quite common. Some injuries can result in an animal's death.Some disciplines can cause broken necks and spines.

THE DISCIPLINES

Bareback riding
Horses are ridden without a saddle; the rider has to stay on for 8 seconds

Saddled bronc riding
Horses are ridden with a saddle; the rider has to stay on for 8 seconds

Horse tripping
A Mexican specialty, horses are thrown to the ground

Bull riding
Bulls are ridden for 8 seconds

Wild horse race
A team of three men tries to break a horse, one has to be on the horse in the end

Steer wrestling
A steer is wrestled to the ground

Calf roping
A calf is roped from horseback and thrown to the ground

Breakaway roping
A calf is roped from horseback, the rope falls from the saddle

Team roping
A calf is roped by two riders and thrown to the ground

Steer tripping
Larger calves are thrown to the ground and dragged through the sand

Ribbon roping
A young bull is caught with a rope; a ribbon has to be taken off his horns

Barrel racing
Horses race around barrels at high speed

Pole bending
Horses race around poles at high speed

Mutton bustin
Sheep are ridden by young children

Wild Cow Milking
Teams of men chase a herd of non-dairy cows around the arena, forcibly hold and try to milk them

Wild boar chasing
Pigs or piglets are greased and chased through the ring by children

ONE OF THE TRICKS TO MAKE THE ANIMALS BUCK (The flank strap)
This is a strap put around the lower abdomen that is pulled tight when the horse or bull leaves the chute. This is a very sensitive area on a horse's body and he has no alternative but to buck as a reflex action. On occasions they are so stressed out with this action against them that they rear up and collapse before leaving the chute. As soon as the flank strap is taken off, the animals stop bucking

In the case of the bulls it puts pressure on the uretha.

OTHER TRICKS

Spurs are used as an additional means to make the animals appear wild.

The use of electro shocking devices is forbidden in Germany, but quite common around the world.

RODEO IN GERMANY
Rodeo is a legacy of the US-Army. At first it was only carried out in or around US-Army barracks in Germany. It is still legal in Germany, because the term "rodeo" is not clearly defined in the animal protection law. The individual veterinary officer has to make a decision whether to allow a rodeo in his area. Rodeo in Germany takes places in German-American Festivities and so-called Western Towns and on private property too.

GOOD NEWS FOR GERMANY
In the year 2004 the "Wild boar chase" and "Wild Cow Milking" were banned nationwide. An expert opinion by German vets has led to the "Wild Horse Race", "Bull Riding", spurs and flankstrap being banned in most German federal states in 2006. The two remaining states will follow. Read it here.

WHAT CAN YOU DO

• Don't go to a rodeo-event. Don't support rodeo by your entrance fee. Ask your friends and family to stay away from rodeo too.
• Inform us, if you know about a rodeo with animals that happens in your area of Europe.
• Protest to your local and national governments.
• Write letters to the editor, when you find an article that advertises rodeo.
• Please inform us, if you come across a travel agent who advertises trips to a rodeo.
• Please protest against Italy's cruel rodeo events.

FAACE is a member of the European Anti-Rodeo Coalition (EARC) www.anti-rodeo.org