Rodeos...

[Slabobbin]

Great fun or animal cruelity? Or something in between?

[Loveone]

I think something in between. I think if it's cruelity to the animals it's also cruel(sp?) to the riders and such.

[Slabobbin]

However the riders CHOOSE to do it, I think they get what they deserve. The animals have no such choice. There is a world of difference between the two IMO.

[Madelyn2]

DH and I don't like watching them. We live in Texas, so we have been to plenty. We were at a corporate party where they had a rodeo last summer. They roped some baby calves (is that the word for baby cows or cattle? I am so ignorant). They got the loop around the neck and then the animals head jerked back and it fell to the ground. I imagine it hurt. They tried to do it to one animal and the poor thing ran around frantically after hiding in the stall or shoot, refusing to come out, (stall shoot, whatever they call it.) Frankly, it was hard to watch. It upset us. Sarah kept asking why they did that, was the animal okay? We are really trying to teach her to be gentle with animals. Watching a rodeo was exactly a good way to teach her that.

But we are in the minority here. Most people think they are great fun.

[Loveone]

However the riders CHOOSE to do it, I think they get what they deserve. The animals have no such choice. There is a world of difference between the two IMO.
I agree it is their choice as the animals don't have a choice. I don't watch them either because I think they are cruel to watch.

[kingclick]

Great fun or animal cruelity? Or something in between?
Not a big fan of Rodeos. Just seems to be cruel to the animals for cruels sake.

[OnederWoman]

Kind of undecided. I grew up in a rodeoing family. My brother was a rodeo champion before I was born, and I have lots and lots of cousins who do rodeo. I love participating in the things like barrell racing and pole bending, and I like watching the bull riding and bronc busting. I can totally see how people think it's cruel, but I grew up watching it, and seeing how the animals are taken care of and stuff. Like I said, I'm hugely wishy-washy on this issue, so I won't debate it, because I don't have firm convictions on either side, but I thought I'd weigh in with my "opinion".

[Opus]

IMO discussion of supposed Rodeo Cruelty is the same discussion of Supposed cruelty in Circuses, accusing age-old customs and entertainment activities of cruelty JUST to try to end the activities without any proof of cruelty at all, other than the rare staged films supposedly showing a little bit of activity that might or might not be considered cruelty

IMO, These groups that put on these activities have the most reason for making sure the animals are safe and happy, simple, they wont perform or LOOK good while performing if people are cruel to them

so i believe these people take special care of the animals to make sure they are content and happy and looking good to keep their livelihood alive

and most of these animals would be killed or not exist in the first place if there were no rodeos, circuses or even Zoos for them to be involved with

again, this is only my opiinion

I lived in Fort Wrth Texas, the rodeo capitol of the world for 5 years and never saw anyone treat an animal badly during these events even if during the events it didnt look comfortable for the individual animals, afterwards none of the animals were ever scarred or injured, at least in the time I spent there