The Truth About Rodeo
The majority of Canadians are opposed to the use of animals in rodeo events.
Scroll to learn more about the animal welfare issues and sign the pledge to not attend rodeo events at Canada’s largest rodeo, the Calgary Stampede.
The Truth About Rodeo
The majority of Canadians are opposed to the use of animals in rodeo events.
Scroll to learn more about the animal welfare issues and sign the pledge to not attend rodeo events at Canada’s largest rodeo, the Calgary Stampede.
Rodeo Realities
Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur \ We Animals Media
Click the arrows below for details on each rodeo reality.
Injuries may not be identified immediately after the event, as inflammation and muscle damage can take up to 48 hours after the injury to present.
The true death toll is realistically much higher, given the number of animals practiced on and injured behind the scenes, as well as those who don’t make the cut to be used in rodeo events. In 2012, a Stampede veterinarian told media that some horses who don’t make the cut for the Stampede are sent to the Fort McLeod slaughterhouse, where they are killed for meat.
For example, Canada’s “National Farm Animal Care Council’s practices for the handling of cattle on farms” require that quiet handling techniques must be used and that abusive handling is unacceptable.
Animals used in rodeo events have evolved as prey animals, and roping, wrestling and bucking events take advantage of their “fight, flight or freeze” response. Signs of stress commonly seen in animals used in rodeos include: widening of the eyes to expose more of the white of the eye; urination and defecation; excessive drooling; and extended tongues. Watch the video below to learn more.
Cattle
Cattle are intelligent, sensitive and social animals. They seek companionship with others, enjoy play and form strong bonds. As a prey species, cattle are highly sensitive to touch, sound and social isolation from their herd. They are inherently cautious of new environments and smells, as well as loud noises and sudden movements.
_ the calf
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- Calves are playful, curious and closely bonded to their mothers.
- By three to five weeks old, they can recognize their mother’s voice and prefer approaching their mother’s call over the calls of other cows.
- Calves used in calf-roping events are about 3 months old—the developmental equivalent of a 3.5-year-old human toddler.
- Research on stress hormones and behavioural evidence shows that calves experience acute stress when chased, roped, lifted and thrown to the ground.
_ the steer
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- Steers are young, neutered male cattle who are naturally docile animals.
- Steers are used in steer wrestling events, during which their ‘flight’ fear response is evoked while they are being chased, jumped on and wrestled to the ground.
_ the bull
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- While rodeo organizers tend to characterize bulls as mean and aggressive as part of their marketing around bull riding events, this mischaracterizes the behaviour of bulls during bull riding events.
- The discomfort and stress the animals are subjected to during bull riding events triggers their natural fear response of bucking, similar to how they would react defensively to an attack from a predator.
- In the bull riding event, part of the rider’s score is also awarded based on the bull’s “performance”, creating incentive for dramatic bucking behaviour.
Horses
Horses are highly social animals who form unique, complex relationships with herd members. They are also quick learners and are sensitive to human behaviour and handling.
_ the horse
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- As prey animals, horses have a strong “fight, flight or freeze” reaction. Their primary fear response is to flee, but they may also defensively buck, strike or bite if they cannot escape.
- Horses used in bucking events are often purpose-bred to be more reactive to negative stimuli, such as the use of spurs and flank strap, and to buck in response. Similar to bull riding, part of the rider’s score is based on the horse’s “performance”, with more points awarded for explosive bucking behaviour.
- Horses used in chuckwagon races are thoroughbred horses bred for speed, rather than skeletal strength, which puts them at increased risk of leg injuries and euthanasia.
The Calgary Stampede uses a number of practices and tools that cause stress, discomfort, and risk of injury to animals.
Bucking Events
- Flank strap/rope: The purpose of a flank strap/rope is to cause discomfort and stress that incites the bull or horse to buck. It triggers the animal’s fear response of bucking, similar to how they would react defensively to an attack from a predator. Just prior to the animal being released from the chute, the flank strap/rope is tightened around their sensitive hindquarters.
- Spurs: Spurs are worn on the heel of a rider’s boots and used to grip onto the animal and maintain control, while also causing discomfort that leads to bucking. In bucking events, points are awarded to the rider based on their performance and spurring action. In bareback riding, spurs are swept along the horse’s neck. In saddle bronc riding, the spurs are placed high on the horse’s neck and dragged toward the back of the saddle. In bull riding, higher scores are awarded for kicking the bull with spurs.
- Electric prods: While the Calgary Stampede does not permit the use of electric prods to goad animals in the chute or arena, prods are allowed when loading a bull and in the lead up alleys to the chutes. Shocks may provoke animals into a fear state.
Roping & Wrestling Events
- Chasing & roping: In calf roping and steer wrestling events, animals are goaded in a chute so they burst out at a high speed as the gate opens, while being chased by a rider on horseback. In calf roping, the rider ropes and brings the calf to an abrupt stop. Research shows that calves exhibit visible signs of anxiety, fear and stress during this chase phase.
- Rough handling & restraint: Rough handling and restraint are inherent in both calf roping and steer wrestling events. In calf roping, once the calf has been roped, the rider then lifts the calf, throwing the animal to the ground and tying up three of the legs. In steer wrestling, the rider jumps down from their horse and onto the fleeing steer. The rider grabs the steer’s horns and twists the neck until the steer falls to the ground.
Chuckwagon Event
- Deadliest event at the Calgary Stampede: Almost every year, horses die in the Calgary Stampede’s Rangeland Derby chuckwagon races, known as the “half-mile of hell”. To date, more than 70 horses have died in the races, including 6 horses in 2019, the last time the races were held. The deaths are mostly a result of injuries, crashes and heart attacks.
- Inherently dangerous structure of event: There is a significant risk of injury and death for horses due to the high speed of the race and close proximity of the horses and the wagons. Previous crashes illustrate this, as it’s common that when one horse is injured or falls, that the entire team of horses are impacted.
Anonymous
The rides, food, and music!
Anonymous
Keep it all except the Rodeo & Chuckwagon Races!
Years ago, we lived in Calgary for a few years and always attended the Stampede and unfortunately, attended the rodeo & CW races only once, but had no idea what was really happening to these animals.
Since then, I have learned what has been going on and this type of so called entertainment needs to disappear and the Stampede can still live on with all its other entertainment
Utkarsh
All the fun minus anything to do with animal cruelty
Helen
I enjoy the parade and opening ceremony, First Nations dancing, music and other contributions. The calgary stampede is notorious for abuse of animal rights and I as well as many others wont be spending money to support any of the rodeo events.
Tara
The vendors in the bmo building. The rides and the food.
Anonymous
The rides. The beer gardens. The live music. The games. The theme of the cowboy and cowgirls without the use of animals for entertainment. Not necessary; just not.
Victoria
I love to see healthy happy well treated horses, mules, donkeys and cows. I like to see the old machinery of the west on display such as wagons. We can have fun without exploiting or hurting animals.
Anonymous
Exhibits of crafts, baking, gardening.
Deb
The rides, the food and the games!
Martha
I only attend the Calgary Stampede to see the artist gallery and quilts/craft exhibits. Why watch humans brutalizing animals when you can view the beauty of human creativity in the arts. So much more enriching.
Anonymous
Festivities, people, food, artistic performances.
Elizabeth
If they got rid of all the events involving animals, I would go. I think being outside with other locals and visitors for games and competitions, rides and country dancing and baking competitions is great fun but until the Calgary Stampede stops using animals for "sport" and food I will not attend.
Colleen
The rides, food vendors, music entertainment. I hate any event that exploits animals and that treats them roughly, cruelty, or that can lead to their injury or death.
Anonymous
Any games, rides, food, entertainment that does not involve the use and exploitation of nonhuman persons. There are so many fun and exciting things to do - we don’t have to oppress others to do them.
#SayNoToRodeo Pledge
61% of Canadians are opposed to the use of animals in rodeo. Take the #SayNoToRodeo pledge to reflect your opposition to the inhumane treatment of animals in rodeo events.
