First --- We need an emoticon for raising your hand, so - I raise my hand - I use a "shocker" every single year. The ranch has 7 of them. Every ranch has them. I guess its ok to taser folks who weigh 160 pounds, but not to wake up an animal that weighs 900 pounds - or more.
Though, I will agree that - there are bad apples - but, there are bad apples in every single industry. They should be dealt with on an individual basis.
I gotta tell you - I'm never impressed with a so-called "video" where someone explains to me THEIR version of what is going on and why, but, I also can tell you that, the few (and I do mean few) injured animals are in a "loafing" pen. 5 will get you 10 that they have already been looked at by a vet, and I can pretty much guarantee that they are not going to be used. (that's why they are not in the bull pen-they are not headed to the chutes).
I feel sorry for someone who lets other people do their thinking for them.
I invite you, hammered - to any rodeo out here - PBR, ranch, or otherwise - I will pay. In fact - I invite you to a "trail ride" - which means moving cows and bulls 10-20 miles from place to place, and then, to the appropriate corrals, and then to get them into a place where you can give them all their required shots - I do it every year. I will pay for all these entrances (and I sure could use the help trailing cows), and I will introduce you to some of the most famous bull and bucking horse riders in the world. We have several who live right in the area I live in. And, I will introduce you to a dozen ranchers, and you can help trail etc., all those folks animals. Then, I will take you 150 miles up the road here, to a bucking horse and a bucking bull auction and ranch. Hey, you can even "save" one - just make sure you got an extra $150,000 or more in your pocket. Come look at all these facilities. Oh, and about 25 miles up the road, there is a bucking horse ranch - see just how poorly they are treated. See it for yourself - then, tell me that Peta isn't yanking your chain - and a lot of other peoples chains.
In case you don't know - I'll give you a REAL awakening. More than half of all PETA affiliated rescue centers are in it for PROFIT - they get non-profit status, but, they get humane societies and other folks to "take" animals, then they bring them to their approved shelters, spent a few hundred bucks on them - and sell them for thousands of dollars. And, yes, I can prove it. Andy rescuer that doesn't want to pay PETA loses their certification - good deal and a good deal more. Plus, a big percentage of other REAL abuse, happens in these facilities.
There is an animal abuse registry where you can get some really good info. Here is an excerpt.
Animal abusers are frequently linked to other crimes – drugs, domestic violence, B&E, trespass, animal cruelty. And oftentimes the crimes span multiple counties, states, or even countries.
➡In February 2011 a young woman in Chesapeake VA was accused of beheading a pig. A day later she was arrested for breaking into a church.
➡In March 2011 the owner of a horse rescue in Mercer County KY was charged with 30 counts of animal abuse. He had previously been investigated in another KY county on similar charges.
➡In April of 2010 a UK native was deported for having sex with dogs belonging to a Washington State resident. That resident was currently on probation for a drug-trafficking conviction. ➡In April 2009 the Executive Committee of the AQHA issued a fine of $10,000 and revoked membership of a well-known trainer for beating horses. Trainers at this level frequently work with horses from all over the country.
Wanna guess how many rodeos are on the list
?? Uh, right now - none.
Now, there are some individuals - I will give you that. But, most cowboys and bull and horse owners would be the first to punch out the first person who abused their horse or bull.
Here are a few rodeo facts - rowls on spurs are not sharp - they must be rounded. The idea is NOT to spur, but to have enough control to keep your seat, and roll the spurs across the animal. You hand may never touch the animal. Cowboys wear boots 2 sizes too big for them. The reason is two-fold. One, so their feet will slip out of their boots, in case of a wreck. The second reason is so that you cannot get leverage on your spurs, that it is totally a control of your feet issue. Cowboys must "mark" their horse when it leaves the chute. That means that they HAVE to have both front feet that are in boots two sizes too big, resting on the animals shoulders. Too much spurring subtracts points from the rider. No leg control subtracts points from the rider. And that bucking strap BS is BS. Saddles - most all saddles, have back cinches. We don't tighten those back cinches. Because, if they TOUCH the horse (and I mean your old saddle horse), you, too, can have a rodeo - and, I hang my head, knowing darn well that the first few horses I rode when I was a kid, and got bucked off of, was because I didn't know that. (oh, and once when my dad thought it would be funny-it wasn't).
But, we regularly cut of the tails and ears of dogs - pull the hair out by the roots of manes and tails of show horses, and we just think they just are SO gorgeous, and folks love their Boxers, and GSHP (mine is not docked at all), and Rotts, and oh, yea - one of my favorites - Tennessee Walkers, who get to screw up their legbones for 5 years while they carry around 40 pounds on the bottom of each foot (in case you ever wondered why they step so high) - Dobermans, just for a start - and rodeos, who don't do one single thing that isn't done every single day on the ranch, - that's abuse? Oh, and some horses also get their tails broken at birth (can you say Arabians), so that they have an extra high tail carry.
For anyone who cares at this point of my rant, Percherons are born with hardly any tails. Oh - I could tell you hundreds of things that are done every single day that is considered ok. But, places like PETA and SHARK - they focus on horses a lot of the time - because they make money at it.
Go "adopt a horse" - see how "cheap" they are.
Beth
This has no basis in fact, it is a nightmare dreamed up by some Peta maniac, of which they all may qualify. An opinion that assumes human experience and feelings in a bear. Come on dude,, you are more logical than that!
