I was going to write this two weeks ago but then I got busy with other life things. Now halfway through the Calgary Stampede, I write it.
I can’t begin to tell you what a barbaric and horrible things the Rodeo and Chuckwagon races are for animals. You get told, “Cowboys treat the animals better than their families.” In that, they are no different than trophy hunters who race around touting that they are conservationists.
If a trophy hunter is a conservationist then they won’t mind if people conserve them and their families the way they conserve animals. Never ever have you helped anyone live by killing then and their family. Trophy hunters no more love those elephants and other animals than cowboys love the livestock.
The cowboys love the livestock for the following reasons at the Stampede. 1) It makes them feel like he-men and air-headed women swoon around them. 2) They get praise. 3) This is the big one, they get money. So abusing animals nets them all or some of the things they like. They are not athletes, what they do is not sporting because if it is a sport then both parties know it is. I am glad I am not one of their family members if what they do to these animals that they love more than their families.
Animals die and lots of them, for every animal that dies in the news a minimum of ten die that you don’t hear about. What makes me say this. I spent ten years working for the Stampede in the infield that is where all of these events take place. I saw animals die and I had to lie to people and say that animal would be fine. IF you have concern for these animals, any feelings for them as living sentient beings please do not go to rodeo events or chuckwagon races.
People will tell you very few bulls die, that is a lie and if they are not killed while being ridden. Then they die from all the plastic and garbage these so-called people who love them throw into their pens. They never mention the broncs they get broken legs and backs all the time. Calves, little babies. They are terrorized prior to the gates opening then, some big jerk on a horse chases them, tosses a noose around their neck and while they are choking they are picked up and thrown on the ground and their legs tied together. I bet you would love to have that done to you or how about your children. Those poor babies end up with broken necks, torn muscles, and broken legs. Is that a nice way to treat any living things never mind a baby.
Next, we have steer wrestling. That is where a huge guy jumps off his horse onto it’s back and twists it’s head till it is lying on the ground or he breaks the neck of the steer. That sounds like a lot of fun, doesn’t it? How would you like some big 250+lb guy jump on your back and twist your head around? People always like to say.” these animals are bred for this.” So does torture and abuse make it right? They are sentient beings, they have families, they feel love, pain, and happiness. As horrible humans, we steal all of that from them, we take their precious lives.
The one event where the animals are truly loved by their owners and are not ever intentionally harmed is a gymkhana event called Barrel Racing. A woman on horseback races in a figure-eight around three barrels. The barrels are not even real barrels anymore, they are made of plastic. I know this event well and used to do it in my younger days. I loved my horses so much and miss them every single day. I believe the Stampede never brought in Barrel Racing till the late 80s or even early 90s.
Chuckwagon races are part of this extensive display on cruelty. What people see are wagons racing around the track with teams of four former racehorses. The only horses used for this are former racehorses, horses that were put up for sale because they were lucky enough not to be crippled, die, or win their race then. Now they either get to die in a horrible twisted mess in front of thousands or later at 3:00A M. Three in the morning, that is when the wagon drivers are so drunk they can’t stand so they practice racing. I have seen as many as ten horses die in one practice alone. You don’t hear about that, the reason is the Stampede is a big part of this city and they pay to shut those things down.
There is so much that happens down there just to animals that I haven’t even alluded to. It is horrible and for anyone who loves animals the way I do, it tortured me to work in that area for that long and see it happen. I worked there because I loved the animals and hoped for a short time I could make them feel a little better. For the last few years of my working for the Stampede, I asked to be moved out of there because of the emotional toll it took on me.
I am not against the Stampede, just the rodeo, and the chuckwagon races. They can get back to good food, not all the garbage they dole out or bigger and better exhibits like when I was a kid. Things need to change and unless you are willing to do to humans what they do to animals, it is not to be done.
R L Ryder 