Rodeo - to take pleasure in torturing animals

Where do rodeos take place?
Rodeos are carried out in the USA, Canada, Latin America (foremost Brazil), Australia and New Zealand, Asia (Philippines) and Europe (Portugal, Germany, Poland, Tcheck Republic, France and Italy). Rodeo in Germany takes places in German-American Festivities and so-called Western Towns and on private property.

Which species are used in rodeo?
Cattle and Horses are used in European rodeo. In the USA pigs and sheep are also used.

What happens in a rodeo?
There are several disciplines in rodeo:

• Bare back 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,
• Break-away 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 prior attached 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. (The "Wild boar chase" and "Wild Cow Milking" have been banned regionally in Germany in the year 2004. A nationwide ban is expected soon.)

Why do the animals buck?
The flank strank makes them buck. This is a strap around the lower abdomen that is pulled tight when the horse or bull leaves the chute. In general this is a very sensitive area on a horse's body. In the case of the bulls it puts pressure on the uretha. As soon as the flank strap is taken off, the animals stop bucking. Spurs are used as an additional means to inflict suffering on the animals. The use of electro shocking devices is forbidden in Germany, but quite common around the world.

How frequently do the animals participate in rodeos?
The same animals are used again and again in rodeos, having to perfom several times in one event. Afterwards they are loaded up and transported to the next event.

Does rodeo pose a threat to the animals' health?
Most certainly. Broken bones, contusions, concussions, skin-abrasions and internal bleeding can occur. Some disciplines can result in broken necks and spines. Sometimes the injuries result in an animal's death.

Is there a risk of injury for people too?
Yes. But in contrast to the animals people participate voluntarily in rodeos.

Why is there rodeo in Europe? Why is it legal 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. However, in June 2006 the Federal States of Germany agreed to ban bull riding, wild horse race, the flank strap and the spurs in saddle bronc riding and bareback riding due to a veterinary report by the Veterinary Association for the Protection of Animals (Tierärztliche Vereinigung für Tierschutz e.V.) Read the report here.

According to the Federal German Ministry of Agriculture the German animal protection law also applies to US-Army barracks. This means a German veterinary officer must have access to check out the animals and supervise the rodeo events. The stock contractor must inform and register with the German veterinary office in the area beforehand.

What can you do?

Due to protests the rodeos were called off! A victory for the rodeo animals.