Megan's Story-Rodeo

Megan Peterson

Rodeo: A great American sport. Thousands of Americans participate in this sport each year and spend countless hours caring for and grooming their animals. The animals involved in this sport are their prized possessions, their livelihood, and their way of life.

Although many enjoy and participate in rodeo, even more seem to believe that it is a cruel and inhumane sport that needs to be ended.

SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness, an extreme animal rights activist group, better known as SHARK, is doing much to spread the word of animal cruelty through rodeo. Their website says, "A real sport is one in which all participants are willing, and that surely is not the case with the rodeo. Rodeo associations claim very few animals are injured and killed in rodeos. That is a lie."

Brandon Hatch, an Agricultural Education major and member of the Utah State Rodeo team disagrees with that statement and says, "they (animal rights activists) think it's hard on the animals, but if they would just open their eyes and see how the majority of us treat our animals, they would be surprised."

Clay Davis, a rancher and rodeo stock producer from Bear River City, Utah, said that their livestock are treated better than most other animals anywhere.

"Some of our buckin' bulls probably get more attention than the kids do!"

"When we take our bucking horses to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, my brother and I take turns sleeping next to the horses and tending to their every need. I rarely, if ever, see any animal cruelty taking place inside or outside of the arena."

Many animal rights activists see rodeo events such as calf roping and bronc riding as malicious and unethical, however, those who participate and watch the sport of rodeo understand that it isn't just something someone came up with.

Russ Reeder, a long time rodeo fan and participant explained, "Rodeo events are simply taking what we do on the farm and ranch and making it something we can all have fun doing."

Hatch believes that he learned many things while growing up by participating in rodeo.
"Rodeo is a good family thing. Kids learn from a young age how to properly treat animals and learn good work ethic."

"Our rodeo livestock mean more to us than a lot of things. We treat them like we would treat a member of our own family. We give them proper care, nutrition, and attention. Groups like SHARK and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) only look at the bad things that very rarely happen, and they refuse to look at those of us who do treat our animals and all animals with nothing but respect."

Matchbox Twenty, an internationally known band who has sold over 44 million records, recently canceled their scheduled show at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo due to concern for the animals.

"We ask that (fans) please understand that it would be impossible for us to put ourselves in the position of making money from what we believe to be the mistreatment of animals," according to a statement from Rob Thomas, the bands lead singer, posted on the band's Web site.

Responsible for sending emails and a video clip with alleged animal abuse was SHARK, who recorded the clip at Cheyenne Frontier Days last year.

"Personally, I wouldn't want a band like that at a rodeo anyway," Hatch said. "I don't really know why they would even get a rock band to come to a rodeo as big as Frontier Days when most of us going to rodeos would prefer a country singer."

When asked about the show cancellation, Amber Rindlisbacher, a former Utah High School Rodeo Association member said, "It seems like not only are they against the sport, but against a certain culture, and in this case it happens to be cowboys and rodeo people."

Ruth Corn, an economics and education major at Utah State said, "It goes to show how agriculturally illiterate so many people in this country are. Many refuse to see that rodeo livestock are indeed treated with nothing but the best management available.”

McKenzie Cattani, a Utah State student, was attending one of the rounds of the 2006 National Finals Rodeo and said she recalled when a horse reared up and came down on the gates with one of its legs, resulting in an irreparable break.

“The owner knelt by the horse and cried. He cared so much for his horse, and he knew its career was over. He wasn’t crying over the loss of money, he was crying over the loss of a friend.”

Cattani is a firm believer in animal welfare, and is also a lover of rodeo.

“You can support both. You don’t have to choose between rodeo and animal rights.”

Michelle Ryalch, a Utah State student and member of PETA said, “I grew up going to rodeos. I’ve seen a bit of abuse, and it can cause stress on the animals. Some people have even become desensitized and ignore when bad things do happen, but I don’t think rodeo should be outlawed by any means. Most people treat their animals very well. I’m a member of PETA because I believe that animals should be treated well, and I don’t see much mistreatment of animals in the rodeo business.”