Bull/Bronco riding

[hrh_disney_queen]

I'm sitting here in my DSs room listening to Animal Planet, which seems to be running a marathon on injuries sustained from animals. The concentration right now is bull riding or bronco riding. Every story, something goes wrong, the rider is almost killed, but of course, lives (or even walks away) in the end.

I am realizing here that I am not having much sympathy for the guys who do this. I am not a cold person, but I really don't feel bad for them. In fact, if I was watching, I would probably be rooting for the critter-not to hurt the guy, but to get him off his back. Why do these guys do this? And it's cruel to the animal, too, isn't it?

I don't get it.

 

[Magic Mom]

I don't know if its any more cruel than horse racing. I imagine those animals lead pretty good lives and only work a few seconds at a a time. Its in the best interest of the breeders, owner, and rodeo officials to take care of the animals they depend on.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

As a horse racing fan, rodeo riding is considerably more brutal to the animal. I sometimes like to watch bull riding (not broncos, that stuff seriously disturbs me) because the bull always wins eventually, and often gets to gore the human. The broncos, saddle and bareback, get their neck and shoulders raked by sharp spurs. The bulls have leather straps fastened about their private areas so that they are kept in near constant pain while bucking.

Why do guys do this? Why do they do anything with a risk to it? To impress girls. Why run with the bulls in Pamplona? Same thing.

 

[nskjerven]

Mt neice's husband rides bulls. He does it for the money and the rush. Seems like a strange sport to me

 

[AKLBeauty]

I sometimes like to watch bull riding because the bull always wins eventually, and often gets to gore the human.

Nice, you like to see humans get gored. Nice.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Some people watch NASCAR for the crashes. Now that's a bit weird. At least the cowboys rarely die.

 

[AKLBeauty]

I just can't find enjoyment in another human being being maimed, hurt, gored or otherwise. That is someone's son, brother, husband, father, etc.

 

[Magic Mom]

As a horse racing fan, rodeo riding is considerably more brutal to the animal.

The bulls have leather straps fastened about their private areas so that they are kept in near constant pain while bucking.

That's not true. This is from the PBR website.

Q: What makes a bull buck?

A: The success of bucking bull breeding programs around the world has proven that genetics is the most prevalent factor in determining a bull’s desire and ability to buck. One of the most common misconceptions about bull riding is that the flank strap is tied to the animal’s testicles; this is far from the truth. This is a soft rope that is loosely tied around the bull’s midsection in the flank area and slipped onto the bull when it enters the alley to the chute. The slack is taken out of it before the ride, but not tied too tight, and the strap is removed immediately after the ride. (Todd Dewey, Las Vegas Review Journal).
It has nothing to do with the genitals, as some uneducated detractors would attest. In fact, care is taken to ensure that the genitals are not involved, as that would adversely affect the performance of the bulls. The flank rope is more of an annoyance than anything else, and the bulls will kick their hind legs out at the height of their bucking action in an effort to dislodge it, resulting in a more uniform and less erratic performance.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

True. But they chose to be there. They knew the risks. Hey, I did some stupid stuff as a teen. Mainly skiing. There were times I thought, "Oh heck, this was dumb. I better not do this again. It's not worth the rush."

However, never once did I do anything rash and dangerous while simultaneously abusing animals. It's not that I want those people to be injured, but I am a full believer in animals getting their own. I've had some anti-social animals in my care at times. I knew not to push them too far. If I did, I would expect to get pummeled. That someone pushes an already stressed animal too far and gets punished...well...sorry, no sympathy.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

That's not true. This is from the PBR website.

Well, I have nothing to counteract that. You make an excellent argument. I will say I have no proof that this is what's done. Certainly at sponsored events I'd expect things to be run better (and more safely) than at the local shows I've been around.

Still, I will say, bucking is not normally a sign of happiness in animals, bovine or equine.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

True. But they chose to be there. They knew the risks. Hey, I did some stupid stuff as a teen. Mainly skiing. There were times I thought, "Oh heck, this was dumb. I better not do this again. It's not worth the rush."

However, never once did I do anything rash and dangerous while simultaneously abusing animals. It's not that I want those people to be injured, but I am a full believer in animals getting their own. I've had some anti-social animals in my care at times. I knew not to push them too far. If I did, I would expect to get pummeled. That someone pushes an already stressed animal too far and gets punished...well...sorry, no sympathy.

You are SO misinformed about bull riding.

The bull is about the least stressed animal in the whole rodeo, including the guy about to get on his back.

And at no time is the bull abused or in any kind of pain at any time.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Having known some people who did rodeo (at my high school it was a school sport) and known some folks who raised the bulls for these competitions, I'll say this: those animals are not harmed and they lead pretty cushy lives.

If you eat fast food or buy your meat at Wal-mart you are directly responsible for a LOT more animal cruelty than anyone in rodeo.

As for it being a dangerous sport. Yes, yes it is. It's about as dangerous as football.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Still, I will say, bucking is not normally a sign of happiness in animals, bovine or equine.

You say you are a horse racing enthusiast, yet you have never seen an excited colt or filly bucking as they approached the gate?

Every time I would let my mare out of her stall, she would race around the pasture, bucking in sheer happiness. Most of our horses would do this when let out in pasture.

I have seen our horses running, playing, and bucking while out together in pasture and they were extremely happy.

And one of my mares was extremely devious. We would be in a slow jog and she would wait till I was relaxed, dip her head and lift her rear. Then she would stop and look at me on the ground and I swear she was laughing at me. She would nuzzle me like sweetly, with that look of "who me?" And I can guarantee you this was one of the most spoiled mares on the planet. She loved to buck when she was excited or happy.

 

[Jennasis]

That's not true. This is from the PBR website.

The flank strap is positioned over the kidneys. It is quite uncomfortable. But no, it is not attached to the genitals.

Watchign a guy get gored by the angry bull who just tossed him make sme shake my head...at the cowboy. What did he THINK was going to happen? Like poking an angry bear and then getting indignant that he got mauled.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

The flank strap is positioned over the kidneys. It is quite uncomfortable. But no, it is not attached to the genitals.

Watchign a guy get gored by the angry bull who just tossed him make sme shake my head...at the cowboy. What did he THINK was going to happen? Like poking an angry bear and then getting indignant that he got mauled.

Bulls will lay down or not move if the flank strap is too tight or uncomfortable.

It is no more cruel than a martingale used to keep a horse from throwing his head.

The bull bucks because they are selectively bred to buck and just loves to buck. Often a bull will be released without the cowboy and without the flank strap and you will see him leaving the gate bucking with no incentive.

Most of the cowboys I know have the deepest respect for the bulls and have no illusions on what might happen to them.

The guys at our barn ride quite a bit and I can just say they do it because they are crazy.

 

[Jennasis]

Bulls will lay down or not move if the flank strap is too tight or uncomfortable.

It is no more cruel than a martingale used to keep a horse from throwing his head.

The bull bucks because they are selectively bred to buck and just loves to buck. Often a bull will be released without the cowboy and without the flank strap and you will see him leaving the gate bucking with no incentive.

The guys at our barn ride quite a bit and I can just say they do it because they are crazy.

If it makes you feel any better, NONE of my riding students ride in a martingale. (but you will not convince me that the flank strap is not uncomfortable).

I agree with you though...them guys is crazy.

 

[Buckalew11]

DH used to be a bullrider. I don't know why he did it except for the thrill of it all. He's a FF so he goes in burning buildings while everyone else runs out of them. Some people need more thrill in their lives...

 

[CowboyCO]

Rodeo stock are some of the best cared for livestock in the world. They receive premium feed, are exercised and get the best medical care. My roommate in college was a bullrider and you better believe those animals were taken care of. These aren't your run of the mill farm anaimals shoved in a chute. They are bred and trained for rodeo. Most of the skills in rodeo are skills that cowboys still use to this day - calf roping, bronc busting and steer roping. The steers have pads on their horns to protect them from rope burns and the OP was right that it's the cowboys that take the abuse, not the animals.