Monday, July 9, 2012

Stepping up

I'm tired of this... the animal rights whackadoodles interfering with rodeo.
(don't get me wrong, 
I'm all for animals being taken care of properly and not abused 
but PETA, HSUS et al can go jump off a bridge for all I care)
Truth is most of them don't have a clue what's really going on or how the animals are cared for.  They just see an instant and cast judgement without really knowing what's happening.

This post has been rolling around in my head the last couple days.  It's summer, rodeo season, and there's a surge in the "rodeo is evil" protests.  A fellow blogger & Facebook friend just had an 'interesting' experience at a weekend rodeo and then there's all the buzz about the Calgary Stampede's 100th anniversary.

This year it seems the 'big target' is calf roping... or tie down roping as it's now called *eyeroll* and of course, as usual, the chuckwagons.

Yes I agree, the chucks can be dangerous.  And I have no doubt that not all the horses are cared for properly.  BUT in what equestrian sport are they ALL taken care of properly?!  Pleasure horses denied food & water with their heads tied, soring in TWH shows, rolkur, etc.  You can't name one, every discipline has someone that is less than kind. (doesn't make it right!)

What I wonder is how many people realize that those horses are doing what they love?  Running and competing.  And WELL after traditional TB "retirement age".
It would be nice if all ottbs could be 'retired' to a new life as a hunter, jumper, dressage horse, barrel racer, trail horse or pasture ornament.  But lets face it, that's not the case.  A LOT of them end up headed for a dinner plate.  Meanwhile those lucky enough to head to a chuckwagon driver are being taken care of as a competition horse, getting to run into their late teens (or longer)

Like I said, I know not all the drivers are perfectly ethical, but most of them are.  This is their livelihood after all, it's in their best interest to take care of those horses.  So maybe, just maybe, cut them some slack.
I'll step off my soapbox now.

4 comments:

  1. we can't pick and choose when we want to get up in arms about ethics can we? Most rodeo stock performance horses, etc are well cares for , but as we all know there are A$$h*les in every industry. I too and tired of the "OMG THE POOR HORSE IS FORCED TO BUCK WITH THE CINCH" how many of thoses horses are bred to be dediated buckers with or without a flank strap??? how about ALLL OF THEM. Sigh as are the bull. Someone once did the math on rough stock, and based on so many rides at 8 seconds per year, and the horse works something like 10 minutes a year!!!! tough life , I want to be a bronc one day

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  2. I didn't get into the "tie down " roping , as I didn't want to boil over altogether here on your blog LOL

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  3. Well, it's no surprise that I agree with you!! ;-)

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  4. Add me in to the "I agree with you" column!! I could go on forever on this subject but won't. I also will not mention the things I've seen and heard in the Arab industry. Believe me I have seen a lot of NOT humane stuff (the farm I work for does NOT harm or abuse their horses but many farms do). It is disgusting. Like you said, it happens in every breed and discipline and apparently people have nothing better to do then complain about the rodeo industry (or any for that matter). Nothing will ever change with the jackasses that do the abusing,money talks ya know!
    okay, I am done now too! I could go on all night!

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