Yes they are cruel. Forget the myth of rodeos as all-American sport. Modern rodeos are cruel and deadly for animals. And it's the animals who pay the price, from being electrically prodded to make horses and bulls appear wild to the countless injuries animals suffer.
Everyone knows it's wrong to clothesline a baby animal, body slam it to the ground, tie its legs so it can’t move, and drag it by the neck. If this were done to a puppy or kitten, the offender would understandably be charged with a crime, and likely be jailed. In rodeos, however, it's called calf roping, and supporters claim it’s a sport. But the abuse of baby cows is just one of rodeo’s cruelties. I'm not sure why anyone sees this as entertainment.
I hope this helps in understanding some of the facts regarding cruelty to animals in rodeos.
I've only gone to one rodeo, in which there was a wild horse race, I am a huge horse lover and for some reason thought that these 'WILD' horses would be racing, duh right? They were actually unbroke horse that had never been handled by people, and the point was to be the first team to catch and saddle your horse. Before they even opened the chutes, one of the horses got scared and reared up and smashed into the chute trying to escape, it was terrified and hurt. They opened the chutes soon after and this horse was laying down, as the people came closer to him he freaked out in terror and ran for the gate and ended up getting his head caught in the gate. I personally found this very cruel, the poor animals were terrorized and freaked out. Not to mention the one horse was badly injured as a result and so were a few men after being trampled by these terrified horses. Just my personal experience, other than this event I had no problem with the rodeo.
Its funny how cruelty to cows is so important until suppertime. At least in a rodeo the cows can get even. They don't stand a chance at a slaughterhouse. At the rodeo, just about every critter goes home. At the slaughterhouse its humans 1.000, cows .0000
We'll some people think it is because nobody know if the animals think that they don't want to do it, although I don't think they are...the animals used in rodeos are just raised like that, so I personally don't see anything wrong but some people might it's really a matter of opinion I guess
