Rev. William Melton
Jan 12, 20231 min
Bull Riding has returned to Madison Square Garden after a COVID hiatus.
New York native Daylon Swearingen breaking bull riding mold (nypost.com)
The rodeo industry claims that rodeo animals are the “best cared for and loved” animals in the world, and that they are “animal athletes” who love the competition.
I am skeptical. I believe it is more likely that they did not volunteer for this and are terrified and abused.
See following article.
What are the animal welfare issues associated with bull riding? – RSPCA Knowledgebase
I think the same applies to other classic rodeo events: saddle bronc, bareback riding, steer wrestling, tie down roping, team roping, barrel racing, break away roping, and of course, the hilarious “greased pig” contest.
In 2017, NYC banned the display of “wild or exotic” animals for public entertainment or amusement. This, together with similar legislation in other cities and states, led the major circuses to reinvent themselves without these animals. Of course, rodeos could not exist without using animals, and the rodeo seems to be part of our beloved "old west" heritage.
This was good legislation. Unfortunately, as is usually the case with animal welfare legislation, so-called “farmed animals” were not included within this ban. I guess they do not count.