Wednesday Write In: Animals want men off backs

Animals want men off backs

Last week you published a letter from Lynn Charlton of Auckland who condemned rodeo as a cruel sport, an opinion I share.

In Saturday's paper you published a defence of the sport from a rodeo enthusiast Simon Tahau.

Mr Tahau states that bulls buck because they want to buck.

This is absolutely untrue and your dramatic photograph in Monday's issue of an unfortunate rodeo horse taking a very heavy fall at the Wairoa A & P Show shows the real reasons why horses and bulls buck.

In the photo you can clearly see the special extra "bucking strap" which is pulled tightly around the horse's or bull's stifle - an area at the top of the hind legs which is very sensitive and ticklish and a fact Mr Tahau failed to mention.

The horses used in rodeos are untrained and unbroken.

Horses are prey animals and while they would clearly be terrified that a predator such as a man is on their back they are also driven mad by the intrusive bucking strap.

It is the same scenario for bulls.

As for the calf roping events I have seen that the pursued calves are firstly terrified and then physically hurt when downed at high speed.

Some people are prepared to defend the indefensible but if the public is made aware of the facts and the horrible experience the animals go through in the name of "sport" it may dissuade them from supporting such entertainment.

I hope that the SPCA is successful in banning rodeos sooner rather than later.

Jessica Maxwell, Havelock North