Is rodeo animal cruelty?

Few traditions spark as much debate as the rodeo. For some, it’s a celebration of American Western heritage and a showcase of skill, grit, and the deep connection between humans and livestock. For others, it raises concerns about the stress, physical wellbeing, and overall treatment of the animals participating.

Allied Scholars for Animal Protection (ASAP) is an on-campus organization that advocates for veganism, animal welfare, and the overall abolition of animal use. Animal welfare advocates denounce various practices in rodeos, such as the use of electric prods, which are meant to encourage cattle to move, flank straps that are tied around roughstock animals to cause them to buck, and metal spurs, which are used to provide signals and enhance communication between a horse and its owner. Clementine Bartos, the president of ASAP, says rodeo fits their definition of animal cruelty because it does not bring any benefit to the animal.

In goat tying events, goats are flipped and tied at the feet

“I have done some research on what happens in rodeos,” says Bartos, “One practice mentioned was [calf roping.] When they’re being jerked around, that’s going to cause tension.” She expressed concern for the possibility of calves participating in roping events and steer wrestling experiencing neck injuries. “If you think about it,” Bartos states, “if the same were done to a dog or cat, it would be illegal. So when it comes down to it, it’s speciesism, in a way. We are raised to believe that certain animals are companion animals and others are ours to use. Livestock animals are a marginalized group in our society, and oppressors have always tried to make some sort of justification for why it's okay to treat certain beings one way and protect others.”


Alyssa Clark, the student secretary for the SHSU Rodeo Team, offers a different perspective on the debate. “Rodeo is definitely not [animal cruelty,]” says Clark, “We love these horses and all of the stock that we get to compete on.” The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) has a livestock welfare committee that has established a variety of rules to ensure proper treatment. Animals are inspected before competing to make sure they are fit, well-fed, and healthy. Animals that are ill, lame, or injured are exempt from participation. Veterinarians are always on site to evaluate these animals and, as a precaution, in case an injury does occur. Various equipment standards are put in place to ensure the welfare of the animals, such as requiring spurs to be dull, making flank straps for bucking horses fleece or neoprene lined, and placing a protective covering around the horns of steers participating in roping events. “We take such good care of [our animals]. I feel like sometimes we take better care of them than some people do of their dogs! We always put their well-being and safety as number one.”

Rodeo animals are often compared to athletes, but Bartos says that claim is not justifiable “because [human] athletes knowingly put themselves into [athletic] situations and can set their own limits. Animals cannot consent to what's being done to them.” On the other hand, Clark claims that rodeo horses enjoy participating in rodeos. “You can tell that [rodeo] horses love to do their job,” she says. “They get so fired up to run and crave it all the time. They’re just as hungry [for success] as the rider is. But if they don’t like it, we give them a different purpose. That’s us putting them first. [And even when] rough stock horses [are in the chutes,] you can tell that they're getting ready and they're excited. They know what to do.” Horses owned by athletes and used in events such as roping, goat tying, and barrel racing are trained and practice heavily for rodeos, and therefore can be said to feel prepared when it is time to compete. In terms of bucking stock, it is often said that those animals are aware of their job, therefore explaining why roughstock animals often slow down after hearing the 8-second buzzer.

Flank straps are used to cause rough stock animals to buck

Concerns regarding flank straps have sparked discussion in the animal welfare community. Flank straps are tied around a horse or bull’s flank to indicate that it is time to buck. Many worry about the tightness and placement of flank straps and wonder if it is meant to distress the animal and force them to buck. However, flank straps are made of soft material and are tied loosely around the horse or bull’s abdomen to prevent restriction of movement or injury. While flank straps do not injure bucking stock, Bartos still denounces this practice, claiming that it does nothing to benefit the animal. Bartos added, that “riding a horse is going to cause a lot of tension on their back.” Rodeo supporters refute these concerns because roughstock animals have been bred for generations to buck. Nevertheless, animal welfare advocates criticize these practices and do not believe animals should be bred for human use. In the midst of these arguments, the question remains: if an animal cannot be forced to buck and will not do so if they don’t want to, is it considered consent?

Clark passionately stresses the intense love and deep bonds formed between horses and their owners, and denies any abuse of the livestock. “The rodeo community is such a big family. If you're not doing a good job taking care of your livestock, somebody's gonna call you out. Everybody holds each other accountable.” Still, animal welfare advocates such as Bartos are sickened by rodeo practices and worry for the safety of animals. According to Bartos, “Rodeo only exists to serve our desire for entertainment.” She notes that audiences come to rodeos for the purpose of seeing animals put in situations where they are roped, wrestled, and scared for their lives. Consequently, Bartos states that to fully benefit the animals involved and adapt to evolving ethical standards, rodeo should be abolished entirely.

Clark, however, doesn’t see that happening anytime soon, saying, “
We have very strong supporters of the rodeo community, and I don't ever see us having to evolve because of other people's opinions.” She elaborates by saying that rodeo athletes and livestock contractors take such good care of the horses and stock that there is nothing of substance that naysayers could criticize. The PRCA claims that less than 1% of animals participating in rodeos experience injuries. While statistics show that the animals experience little to no physical harm, they cannot account for psychological stress.

As both sides argue passionately for their vision of animal welfare, the question of rodeo’s ethics remains far from settled. The debate ultimately reflects how humans value and understand the animals in their care, and where society chooses to draw the line between sport, culture, and responsibility. In the end, the future of rodeo and whether it endures as tradition or evolves under scrutiny may rest in how each of us chooses to define compassion.