.

PJfanwillneverleave1

.

tempo_n_groove

Not like it's Cock fighting or a Matador is involved. The calf walks away...

Smellyman

I went to a Rodeo as a young lad. I was disgusted and had to leave.

rgambs

It's not something I want to watch, but I think injury to the calf is relatively uncommon so I don't have a big issue with it. I do feel bad for the celves, but they seem to pop up just fine.
It's nothing compared to the horrors of industrial livestock husbandry!

mickeyrat

aren't rodeos a test of skills commonly found in ranching and the like? Or at least thats how it began? That it has been monetized is one thing , dismissiiing it out of hand is another.

Shawshank

Believe it or not, it is still a skill that is used in ranching. This isn't dog fighting or some other bullshit "sport" and nothing happens to the calf. Same thing with other events, bronco busting, etc. It's done all the time on ranches and is in no way cruel or detrimental to the animal.

Smellyman

My first comment was prior to reading article. I have read it now so let's see if I got this

Whipping the horse bad....chasing down a calf, lasso around the neck for a hard stop, violently flipping it on it's back, tying it's feet together is ok?

got it.

Thirty Bills Unpaid

Guys... you're talking about 'Tuf'. So back off, eh.

Couple horses died at the same rodeo.

While I do have opinions on rodeos that aren't necessarily flattering for enthusiasts, I tend to accept them. The animals have a chance- look at bull riding: I've seen many angry bulls beat the tar out of the agitant that began on their back.

rgambs

Smellyman said:

My first comment was prior to reading article. I have read it now so let's see if I got this

Whipping the horse bad....chasing down a calf, lasso around the neck for a hard stop, violently flipping it on it's back, tying it's feet together is ok?

got it.

It's not kind or compassionate, and it's not something I would enjoy watching... That being said, it's not so painful or traumatic that I would call it cruelty. There is serious abuse that gets missed when people focus on things like this instead.

PJ_Soul

I went to the rodeo at the Calgary Stampede and was so upset by what I saw that I had to excuse myself and have a little cry in the washroom. Then i left altogether and waited for my friend outside. Yes, it's animal abuse. A lot of other things were too. I also saw some horses being abused, and some bulls too. One of the horses did not get up - they had to cart it off.

brianlux

Any time humans use animals for their "sports" and games I'm disgusted. It's a part of that (at worst) arrogant or (at best) ill-informed thinking on the part of some humans that we are somehow better than or more important that other animals.

I just finished reading Susan Zakin's marvelous big fat Coyotes and Town Dogs; Earth First! and the Environmental Movement and I'm more than ever committed to standing up for the birds, the coyotes, boulders, tall trees, bugs, even those stinking, shit smeared, bawling cows.

JimmyV

Not something I would ever support or enjoy, but if the animals are truly not harmed then to each their own. But if the animals are being mistreated in the name of "sport"...then shame.

Edit: I didn't read the article because this stuff tends to haunt me after, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

Last-12-Exit

PJ_Soul said:

I went to the rodeo at the Calgary Stampede and was so upset by what I saw that I had to excuse myself and have a little cry in the washroom. Then i left altogether and waited for my friend outside. Yes, it's animal abuse. A lot of other things were too. I also saw some horses being abused, and some bulls too. One of the horses did not get up - they had to cart it off.

You went to the bathroom and cried? Seems like an excessive reaction. I wasn't there and didn't see what you saw, so I'm not judging.

Thirty Bills Unpaid

rgambs said:

Smellyman said:

My first comment was prior to reading article. I have read it now so let's see if I got this

Whipping the horse bad....chasing down a calf, lasso around the neck for a hard stop, violently flipping it on it's back, tying it's feet together is ok?

got it.

It's not kind or compassionate, and it's not something I would enjoy watching... That being said, it's not so painful or traumatic that I would call it cruelty. There is serious abuse that gets missed when people focus on things like this instead.

Correct.

Comparitivel speaking, the dog meat festival or the dolphin slaughter or shark harvesting for fin soup make rodeos akin to Disneyland for our animal brethren.

I'm not saying I support rodeos- I don't, but I'm not going to light my hair on fire over them until bigger issues have been dealt with.

brianlux

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

rgambs said:

Smellyman said:

My first comment was prior to reading article. I have read it now so let's see if I got this

Whipping the horse bad....chasing down a calf, lasso around the neck for a hard stop, violently flipping it on it's back, tying it's feet together is ok?

got it.

It's not kind or compassionate, and it's not something I would enjoy watching... That being said, it's not so painful or traumatic that I would call it cruelty. There is serious abuse that gets missed when people focus on things like this instead.

Correct.

Comparitivel speaking, the dog meat festival or the dolphin slaughter or shark harvesting for fin soup make rodeos akin to Disneyland for our animal brethren.

I'm not saying I support rodeos- I don't, but I'm not going to light my hair on fire over them until bigger issues have been dealt with.

If you ever do light your hair on fire, Thirty, please post a photo. I want to see that!

I agree that the more serious issues need to be dealt with first but I also believe it's a good idea to expose all forms of animal cruelty/abused because they are all part of the same mind-set: the idea that animals are our toys or that we are somehow better than other animals. All animals would fare better if we adopted an ecocentric view point rather than the current dominant anthropecentric viewpoint.

Thirty Bills Unpaid

brianlux said:

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

rgambs said:

Smellyman said:

My first comment was prior to reading article. I have read it now so let's see if I got this

Whipping the horse bad....chasing down a calf, lasso around the neck for a hard stop, violently flipping it on it's back, tying it's feet together is ok?

got it.

It's not kind or compassionate, and it's not something I would enjoy watching... That being said, it's not so painful or traumatic that I would call it cruelty. There is serious abuse that gets missed when people focus on things like this instead.

Correct.

Comparitivel speaking, the dog meat festival or the dolphin slaughter or shark harvesting for fin soup make rodeos akin to Disneyland for our animal brethren.

I'm not saying I support rodeos- I don't, but I'm not going to light my hair on fire over them until bigger issues have been dealt with.

If you ever do light your hair on fire, Thirty, please post a photo. I want to see that!

I agree that the more serious issues need to be dealt with first but I also believe it's a good idea to expose all forms of animal cruelty/abused because they are all part of the same mind-set: the idea that animals are our toys or that we are somehow better than other animals. All animals would fare better if we adopted an ecocentric view point rather than the current dominant anthropecentric viewpoint.

There's nothing wrong with generating awareness, Brian- you won't get an argument from me here. It's doubtful any change effort will be well received by the rodeo community.

Just as the Chinese might defend eating tiger penis to make them awesome... or gun advocates supporting gun ownership to make them feel safer... or (insert contentious issue here) rodeo enthusiasts will defend their preferred way of life regardless of what might be wrong with it.

People see what they want to see.

PJ_Soul

Last-12-Exit said:

PJ_Soul said:

I went to the rodeo at the Calgary Stampede and was so upset by what I saw that I had to excuse myself and have a little cry in the washroom. Then i left altogether and waited for my friend outside. Yes, it's animal abuse. A lot of other things were too. I also saw some horses being abused, and some bulls too. One of the horses did not get up - they had to cart it off.

You went to the bathroom and cried? Seems like an excessive reaction. I wasn't there and didn't see what you saw, so I'm not judging.

No, i don't think that shedding a few tears for animals that are being abused and hurt for the amusement of others is excessive at all, so I guess we'll have to disagree on that one.
I found the whole thing very upsetting, depressing, and sad, and am glad that I did. I wouldn't want to be hardened against such scenes, or indifferent towards it.

Last-12-Exit

PJ_Soul said:

Last-12-Exit said:

PJ_Soul said:

I went to the rodeo at the Calgary Stampede and was so upset by what I saw that I had to excuse myself and have a little cry in the washroom. Then i left altogether and waited for my friend outside. Yes, it's animal abuse. A lot of other things were too. I also saw some horses being abused, and some bulls too. One of the horses did not get up - they had to cart it off.

You went to the bathroom and cried? Seems like an excessive reaction. I wasn't there and didn't see what you saw, so I'm not judging.

No, i don't think that shedding a few tears for animals that are being abused and hurt for the amusement of others is excessive at all, so I guess we'll have to disagree on that one.
I found the whole thing very upsetting, depressing, and sad, and am glad that I did. I wouldn't want to be hardened against such scenes, or indifferent towards it.

I'm not disagreeing. Just asking. I've had my opportunities to go to a couple rodeos and declined because it's just not my cup of tea. So I have no clue what goes on in those things. How were the animals being abused?

whispering hands

As someone who did all these things for ten years on working ranches alm over the country. I can assure you, that while some 'Cowboys' are just general all found assholes even to the animals, the TRUE Cowboys have the utmost respect for the animals under their care. This is an age old sport, and his argument is just as old. These skills are used even still today on all operational ranches; hence the continuing popularity of rodeos. As for abuse, yes, it occurs, as it dies in virtually all animal sport. But to be honest, rodeo animal abuse is wayyyyyyy down on the list, after horse racing, and three day eventing.. And there are always going to be injuries, no matter the sport. ( just a unique note. Did you know they train those horses to buck?? The Bulls they just seed strap them. There's a flank strap just up under their penis sheaths.. That makes them
Buck.. But a horse can be taught to be still or lose his shit.. That was the best job ever!!)

callen

PJ_Soul said:

Last-12-Exit said:

PJ_Soul said:

I went to the rodeo at the Calgary Stampede and was so upset by what I saw that I had to excuse myself and have a little cry in the washroom. Then i left altogether and waited for my friend outside. Yes, it's animal abuse. A lot of other things were too. I also saw some horses being abused, and some bulls too. One of the horses did not get up - they had to cart it off.

You went to the bathroom and cried? Seems like an excessive reaction. I wasn't there and didn't see what you saw, so I'm not judging.

No, i don't think that shedding a few tears for animals that are being abused and hurt for the amusement of others is excessive at all, so I guess we'll have to disagree on that one.
I found the whole thing very upsetting, depressing, and sad, and am glad that I did. I wouldn't want to be hardened against such scenes, or indifferent towards it.

Yeah and same feelings I get when I see an abused dog.

I don't go to rodeos. No pleasure in watching man play with it's food.

brianlux

callen said:

PJ_Soul said:

Last-12-Exit said:

PJ_Soul said:

I went to the rodeo at the Calgary Stampede and was so upset by what I saw that I had to excuse myself and have a little cry in the washroom. Then i left altogether and waited for my friend outside. Yes, it's animal abuse. A lot of other things were too. I also saw some horses being abused, and some bulls too. One of the horses did not get up - they had to cart it off.

You went to the bathroom and cried? Seems like an excessive reaction. I wasn't there and didn't see what you saw, so I'm not judging.

No, i don't think that shedding a few tears for animals that are being abused and hurt for the amusement of others is excessive at all, so I guess we'll have to disagree on that one.
I found the whole thing very upsetting, depressing, and sad, and am glad that I did. I wouldn't want to be hardened against such scenes, or indifferent towards it.

Yeah and same feelings I get when I see an abused dog.

I don't go to rodeos. No pleasure in watching man play with it's food.

Dang! That about sums it up right there, Callen!