Dear Editor,
I didn’t go to the rodeo this year. I won’t go again until the unnecessary cruelty to the horses and bulls stops.
I went to the Lethem rodeo last year, and my friends were parked where the bulls and horses are held (across the arena from the main bleachers). So I got to see what happened “backstage”. That day, the bulls were up first. The way it works, the animals are kept in a holding pen, then one is selected & lassoed, and made to go through a chute to the stall where the rider gets on, and the bull or horse is released for the bucking ride.
But none of the bulls wanted to go through the chute. It was narrow and must have looked scary. So the vaqueros would beat and beat them, and grab their tails and twist and break the bones (the tail is part of the animal’s spine, so this will cause chronic pain). One bull just gave up and fell down. We thought his back was broken, but eventually when another bull was being beaten and fell on him, he did get up.
Then they brought in the horses. A herd of about 30, including young foals.
They beat all of the horses to rile them up (including with 2x4s), but only five were actually ridden. Same problem: they did not want to go through the chute. One horse was lassoed around the neck, and choked for about five minutes before she finally went through the chute. Tell me, will a horse who couldn’t breathe for five minutes be able to give a good bucking ride?
I will be honest: I don’t like rodeos because I think humans are plenty smart enough to entertain ourselves without cruelty to animals. Human performers decide if they want to perform, while animals can’t choose.
However, the rodeo is an important event in the Rupununi, and will continue to be. So why not make it more humane? Foreign tourists might become more interested, too. There are famous rodeos that also take animal welfare very seriously, like the Calgary Stampede (in Canada). The chute was an issue, so it could be rebuilt so bulls and horses will want to go through. Instead of beating and terrifying a whole herd just to ride a few, why not use a bucking strap (also called flank strap) only on bulls and horses about to be ridden? The strap doesn’t hurt, but is irritating and makes them buck more.
I will miss the forro, friends, and fun this year. I hope the Lethem Rodeo will adapt to the times and get rid of the unnecessary cruelty. We can celebrate tradition, have a great time, and still be kind.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address supplied)
