It’s time to ban cruel rodeo events at the Calgary Stampede The Calgary Stampede, like all rodeos, is a cruel spectacle of animal abuse. Fear, pain and stress are used to coerce animals into performing for the entertainment of human beings - a barbaric concept. Yet here in Canada, in the 21st century, we offer this as a tourist attraction and as a symbol of our culture. We’re asking compassionate Canadians to urge the Stampede to drop these events. It’s time for the Stampede to listen to Canadians who oppose abusing animals for entertainment. Below are some of the inhumane rodeo events that should be eliminated from the Stampede’s program. Calf-roping Calf-roping, also known as tie-down roping (rodeo promoters changed the name to make it more palatable to the public), is probably the least popular rodeo event, even among avid rodeo fans. There is often a gasp from the crowds when the calf, just three to four months old, is brought to a sudden, jerking halt at the end of the rope. The event starts with the calf contained in a steel-barred “chute” at the side of the arena. The calf is goaded, prodded and often has its tail twisted to ensure it will burst out of the chute at full speed (up to 27 miles per hour). The terrified calf is then chased by a mounted rider who must lasso the calf, jump of his horse, pick up the calf, slam it to the ground and tie three of its feet together. The event is timed and the rider who does it fastest wins. Calves are sometimes injured or killed because of the sudden physical impact of the roping. The time pressure of the event and the prize money at stake can lead to poor roping, harsh handling and mistakes by riders - all of which put the calf at risk of injury. But it is not just the risk of injury that is the problem with calf-roping. It’s the fear. The chuckwagon race More than 60 horses have died at the Calgary Stampede chuckwagon race since 1986, many from collisions between wagons. We think the race is too dangerous and puts horses at undue risk of injury. We have urged the Stampede to suspend the race and set up a panel of independent equine experts, veterinarians and animal welfare experts to determine if the race can be made safer. They have refused to do so. Steer-wrestling Steer-wrestling involves a mounted rodeo competitor jumping onto a running steer and twisting its neck until the animal is literally bent to the ground. Steers died in this event at the Stampede in 2013 and 2014, their necks being broken. Steer-wrestling has nothing to do with real ranch work and was invented for rodeo in the 1930s. It is just a cruel circus event using livestock. Team-roping Two riders attempt to rope and immobilize a steer in the least amount of time. The lasso is thrown around the steer’s neck by one rider and the other ropes the hind legs. The steer is then pulled from each end and stretched to bring him to the ground. Sometimes the steer is stretched so violently that all four feet leave the ground and he is suspended in mid-air by the neck and rear legs. Bucking events The bull-riding, saddle bronc and bareback events all involve unwanted riders (wearing spurs) on the animals’ backs, competing to see if they can stay on for eight seconds. The animals have “flank straps” tightened around their hindquarters before they are released into the arena. The straps cause irritation and stress, making the animals buck wildly. They don’t behave this way outside the arena. The cruelty of fear All cattle are “prey” animals and research has shown they are particularly sensitive to fear. Dr. Temple Grandin, the distinguished animal behaviourist, has written that fear is “so bad” for animals it can be worse than pain. There can be little doubt that a three-month-old calf, goaded and chased into an arena with a shouting crowd is suffering even before the rope pulls him off his feet. How can tormenting an animal in this way be acceptable as entertainment? Treating a dog this way would result in cruelty charges. Sadly, farm animals in Canada have no such legal protection - apparently even when they are used for mere entertainment. The myth of rodeo’s old west heritage Rodeo promoters will say that calf-roping and other rodeo events are part of the culture of the old west. But when real cowboys roped calves on the range there was no pressure from a stopwatch or big prize money. It was done as gently as possible to ensure the animal was not injured. The myth of rodeo’s old west “heritage” has been used with other events. Real cowboys did not ride bulls (Why would they?) or wrestle steers (invented for rodeo in the 1930s) or have chuckwagon races (invented for rodeo in 1923). Rodeo has almost nothing to do with the culture of the old west. It is merely sensational entertainment - and it causes animals to suffer for the most trivial of purposes. What you can do to stop cruel rodeo events at the Calgary Stampede Contact the Stampede to tell them you want an end to calf-roping You can also urge CBC Sports to stop television coverage of the Stampede rodeo and chuckwagon races. When you see media coverage of the Calgary Stampede or other rodeos, send a letter to the editor, use online comment features, call feedback lines or call radio talk shows. Add your voice to the fight to end rodeo cruelty!
