Rodeo concerns - a reply

Authors: Wallace NM, McKnight LJ
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 35, Issue 11, pp 196, Nov 1987
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Horse, Livestock
Subject Terms: Animal welfare
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: We are moved to reply to the letter from the Convenor of the Animal Welfare Sub-Committee NZVA seeking comment from veterinarians who have had personal experience of rodeo as it is run in this country. Like most sports, the participants appear to enjoy the various events, and although calf roping may appear to be a bit tough on the few calves which are successfully roped and tied, neither of us, one from the South, the other from the North and latterly the East Coast, has seen a calf injured in this event. The number of rodeos we have attended is, in sum around 35. The number of horses destroyed as a result of fractures is five. This is less than the number of horses destroyed as a result of accidents at race meetings we have attended, although admittedly more horses enjoy racing than rodeo. We have both observed that, although the cowboys appear generally to be skilful, it is invariably the horses which come out best in the injury count; usually by about three or four to nil. i.e. three or four men carried off with broken bones to the infrequent horse put down…

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