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Rodeo - to take pleasure in torturing animals
Participate! International
Campaign against the rodeo show in Hungary
Why are we against rodeo?
Animals don't exist for our entertainment. Rodeo takes away their dignity.
They suffer from injury, pain, stress and fear. Frequent transporting makes
for additional stress. Children learn from rodeo, that the one, who is the
cruelest towards the animals, is rewarded with a prize.
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?
Don't go to rodeo-events.
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.
International
Campaign against the rodeo show in Hungary
In May we attended and filmed a rodeo show in Budapest, Hungary. The
show had been previously banned by the Hungarian authorities, however,
it took place anyway. The organizer simply paid a fine.

The same show will take place again in Budapest on the 15th/16th of September
at the Kincsem Park Lóversenypálya race track.
After the rodeo we sent the Hungarian authorities our video footage and
a veterinary report on rodeo ( www.tierschutz-tvt.de/rodeoengl.pdf ).
Our footage showed a simple and not padded rope used as a flank strap
on terrified bulls. There was sheep riding too. The sheep were not in
good condition. The piglets chased by a crowd of children screamed in
terror.

The Hungarian authorities also have been made aware by us of the in-depth
veterinary report on rodeo by leading German horse experts and ethologists.
This long-term expert opinion is available on the internet in German
and English.
Please ask the Hungarian government and tourism authorities to ban the
same event in September. Tourism is a very important economical factor
in Hungary.
If you are in Hungary please pass this message on to animal rights groups,
media and politicians, who might help. There is also a website in the
Hungarian language.
You could also write to the Hungarian Members of the European Parliament.
The EU-Commission is very much opposed
to rodeo. You will find the Hungarian deputees here.
Please write your own letter or use the Hungarian sample letter:
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Sample:
Tisztelt Elnök!
Tisztelt Miniszterelnökúr!
Tisztelt Hölgyeim és Uraim!
A rodeót állatkínzásnak tartom és
ezúton tiltakozom a 2007 szeptember 15/16. -án Budapesten
a Kincsem Parkban megrendezendö rodeóverseny ellen.
Ezen kivül szeretném arra kérni Önöket,
hogy tiltsák meg a Rodeoshow további rendezvényeit,
amik szeptemberig egész Magyarországon keresztül
húzódnak. Az
EU Bizottság nagymértékben kritizálja
a rodeót. Egy hosszú idötartam alatt elkészitett
állatorvosi szakvélemény alapján majdnem
egész Németországban betiltották az
állatok szijjazását, a sarkantyú használatát,
a bikalovaglást (Bull riding) és a vadlólovaglást
(wild horse race). A szakvélemény megtalálható
az interneten is a következö cimen:
www.tierschutz-tvt.de/rodeoengl.pdf
,
www.tierschutz-tvt.de/rodeo.pdf
.
A rodeó rossz példát mutat a gyerekeknek,
hogy hogyan kéne az állatokkal bánni.
Kérem tiltsák meg ezt az állatkínzó
rendezvényt. A rodeó rossz fényt vet Magyarországra
és negativan fog kihatni a turizmusra.
Tisztelettel:
Név:
Ország:
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Translation:
Dear Mr. President,
Dear Prime Minister,
Dear Sirs,
I think rodeo is animal cruelty and I would like to protest against
the rodeo, which takes places on the 15th and 16th September 2007
in the Kincsem Park Lóversenypálya in Budapest. I
also ask you to prohibit the rodeo show on the other dates, when
it travels through Hungary until September.
The EU-Commission views rodeo very criticaly. On the basis of a
longterm-veterinary report the flank strap, the spurs, the bull
riding and Wild Horse Race have already been banned in most parts
of Germany. You will find the veterinary report on the internet
on:
www.tierschutz-tvt.de/rodeoengl.pdf
(English),
www.tierschutz-tvt.de/rodeo.pdf
(German),
Rodeo gives a very bad example to children.
Please prohibit this animal cruelty event. Rodeo gives a bad image
to Hungary and will affect tourism negatively.
Yours faithfully,
Name:
Country:
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We have compiled the addresses in a batch for people with limited time.
However, it is our experience, that those e-mails are rejected more
frequently. We strongly recommend to paste the sample letter individually
into the e-mail.
Addresses in a batch:
kozighivbud@konyv.kozig.b-m.hu
, montvai.jozsef@kobanya.hu
, szteriKabinet@fvm.hu
, EU-nemzetkoziFO@fvm.hu ,
peter.olajos@europarl.europa.eu
, hivatalvezeto@keh.hu
, elnokititkarsag@keh.hu ,
ugyfelszolgalat@meh.hu , turizmus@meh.hu
, kincsempark@pegazus.hu ,
blaskovits.zsuzsa@pegazus.hu
,papp.janos@pegazus.hu , talosi.ildiko@pegazus.hu
, ungarninfo@ungarn-tourismus.at
, htvienna@hungarytourism.hu
,htbrussels@skynet.be ,
info@madarsko.cz , htcopenhagen@mail.dk
, htstockholm@swipnet.se ,
htstockholm@mtrt.se , sekretariat@ungarn-tourismus.de
, ungarn.info.berlin@t-online.de
, ungarn.info.frankfurt@t-online.de
, ungarn.info.muc@t-online.de
, info@hungarytabi.jp , info@visithungary.ie
, info@turismoungherese.it
, info@hongaarsverkeersbureau.nl
, htcluj@cluj.astral.ro , hungria@hungriaturismo.com
, info@ungarn-tourismus.ch
, info@gotohungary.co.uk ,
info@gotohungary.com , kom@huembvie.at
, hungcbr@ozemail.com.au ,
huembbxl@huembbxl.be , sysadmin@huembott.org
, huembcph@teliamail.dk , office@unkari.fi
, mission.par@kum.hu ,info@ungarische-botschaft.de
, mission.dub@kum.hu , mission.rom@kum.hu
, ambhongr@pt.lu , mission.hga@kum.hu
,huembosl@online.no , varsnk@2a.pl
, huemblis@mail.telepac.pt
, email@huembmow.macomnet.ru
, pozsony@embhung.sk , info@embajada-hungria.org
, secretariat@huembsto.se
, huembbrn@bluemail.ch , office.lon@kum.hu
, office@huembwas.org
Addresses in detail:
Authorities
Budapest 10th district:
Közép-Magyarországi Regionális
Közigazgatási Hivatal
Hivatalvezetö
1364 Budapest, Pf: 234
Fax: 0036 1 235-1703
E-Mail: kozighivbud@konyv.kozig.b-m.hu
BUDAPEST X. KERÜLET (KÕBÁNYA)
Montvai József, fõépítész
Budapest Kobányai Önkormányzat
1102. Budapest, Szent László tér 29
Fax: 0036 1 433-8390
E-mail: montvai.jozsef@kobanya.hu
President László Sólyom: hivatalvezeto@keh.hu
, elnokititkarsag@keh.hu
Prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsány: ugyfelszolgalat@meh.hu
Secretary for tourism: turizmus@meh.hu
The Hungarian
Members of the European Parliament
Management of the race track: kincsempark@pegazus.hu
, blaskovits.zsuzsa@pegazus.hu
, papp.janos@pegazus.hu , talosi.ildiko@pegazus.hu
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Hungarian tourism offices:
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Hungarian embassies*:
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* If the Hungarian embassy in your country is not listed
here, you will find it here.
It is a disgrace that on its
website the Budapest tourism office promotes the Hungarian rodeo tour
Please tell them what you think about it by either writing your own letter
(English should be fine) or using our sample:
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Tisztelt Hölgyeim és Uraim!
Ez egy botrány, hogy Önök ezt az állatkínzó
budapesti Rodeoshow-t a honlapjukon reklámozzák.
Ez nagyon rossz fényt vet Budapestre és hatóságaira
és károsítani fogja a turizmust.
Tisztelettel
Név:
Ország:
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Gentlemen,
It is a scandal, that you promote the Budapest animal cruelty rodeo
show on your website. This shows Budapest and your authority in
a very bad light and will damage tourism.
Yours faithfully,
Name:
Country:
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Please send your letter to the tourism offices in Budapest: ferihegy1@budapestinfo.hu
, ferihegy2A@budapestinfo.hu
, ferihegy2B@budapestinfo.hu
, suto@budapestinfo.hu , liszt@budapestinfo.hu
, var@budapestinfo.hu , webmester@budapestinfo.hu
Click
here for rodeo impressions (video) - Beware!
Extreme cruelty
Click
here for the campaign against Barclaycard's rodeo advert
International
Campaigns against rodeos Copenhagen (June 2007) and in the Mallorca bullring
(September 2006): successfull conclusion!
Due to protests the rodeos were called
off! A victory for the rodeo animals.
Read an article about cruel German Rodeos
published in "The People" (31st July 2005)
Miss Anti-Rodeo
For the full interview watch this space
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