Revolting Rodeos

Presented as being part of American folklore -- and condemned by animal leagues everywhere, including in the U.S. -- rodeos consist of mounting supposedly wild, but in reality domesticated, horses and bulls which are forced to buck and kick by inflicting pain.

Also called bronco riding, bull riding, etc., rodeos, whether they use horses, bulls or calves, are nothing more than a continuation of cruelties inflicted on animals.

During a rodeo, horses or bulls mounted by riders are sent onto the track. Beforehand, they were trapped individually in pens where they were unable to move.

Men put on them a type of saddle with an additional girth or cord, to which, in the case of bulls, is sometimes added a bell. When animal and rider are ready to be sent out onto the track, the door is opened. To force the animal out, it is beaten, sometimes with an iron bar or pitchfork. As the animal goes through the gate, a man at the side uses all his strength to pull the girths around the horse's or bull's belly as tight as he possibly can.

The animal's bucks are the result of the pain caused by the girth which traps the animal's belly (and for male animals their genitals and sheath) not to mention kicking and spurring by the rider and even electric shocks. When the rider falls off, the animal continues bucking and kicking, only stopping once the strap is released (the sheepskin around this strap is only there to sometimes avoid or to hide open wounds on animals which are used and re-used causing their wounds to worsen each time.)

Another part of this violent spectacle sometimes consists of sending other animals, such as calves, out onto the track, catching them with a lasso and brutally throwing them to the ground despite their terror, sometimes after having dragged them on the ground or twisted their head or tail (the latter being particularly painful as the tail is an extension of the spinal column).

During rodeos, all the animals suffer internal injuries, some open wounds, and sometimes broken legs, ribs, etc.

These performances must not to be tolerated. Don't go to them.

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