Rodeo Animal Abuse

The modern day rodeo society is seen as cruelty and abuse from the outside world. The image of a lasso being thrown around a young cow’s horns or a man riding a bucking bull is seen as abuse, which could easily be seen that way to an uneducated person, but if one looks at the anatomy of the animals to the organizations and precautions taken the animals are very well protected. The truth is that these rodeo animals receive better treatment and medical care than the rodeo contestants themselves. The side of rodeo that the outside world only sees is the accidents were unfortunately either the animal or contestant is injured. The sport of rodeo in the U.S.A. is not a form of cruelty or abuse yet a sport with a risk just like any other.

The welfare of livestock in the rodeos have been a topic of discussion for the public, and the law for over a century. Society claims that the sport is not regulated and savage; however the American Humane Association (A.H.A.) first began stepping into the rodeo world in the mid twentieth century …show more content…
Many believe that the rope thrown around a steer would hurt the animal which is false due to multiple reasons. The first is that cattle have a skull that is between five and eight millimeters thick. An additional method of protection that has been added is cattle are required to wear steer wraps, this is a leather wrap that covers their horns and front of their skulls. Horse tack has also improved much from the cowboy days. The tack that is now used has been researched and tested to find the materials and design in order to protect the horse and bring them comfort such as horse boots; splint wraps, saddle pads with gel placings, and magnetic therapy wraps and blankets. This is just another way that the sport has taken measures to protect the health of the