Animal Rights Activists Perform At Rodeo
Tuesday May 22, 2007
Animal rights activists crashed the Cloverdale Rodeo on Sunday as reported in The Province. It seems that rather than protest out in front of the rodeo grounds they decided to disrupt the rodeo by entering the arena before the tie-down roping. While I'm sure it wasn't the group's intention, I'll bet that the rodeo fans were quite entertained watching the small group of protesters being thrown out.
Comments
The audience may have been entertained by the protesters, but the rodeo must have listened to the protesters because they’ve decided to risk their pro-rodeo status by dropping steer wrestling, calf-roping, team roping, and wild cow milking.
In response to the Cloverdale Rodeo Director’s changing the face of Rodeo as we know it…and as it has always been for over 60 years…
In light of the most recent events with regards to the aforementioned, as a member of the Cloverdale Rodeo I am shocked, stunned and still looking for answers as I’m sure many others not only members are as well. I think the biggest questions on everyone’s mind is why did the Director’s of the Cloverdale Rodeo assume they had power to make a decision to change a 61 year old tradition in the blink of an eye.
For the Directors to make and report that they would no longer follow the rules for a sanctioned rodeo but change the entire dynamic of a 61 year old tradition. I think it is safe to say that this was not mine as well as others understanding when these Directors were asking for us as members to re-elect them at the last several AGM’s.
Never did I read on the voting ballots that as a bonus of voting for us in or in most cases voting us back in…we give you the power as Director’s to arbitrarily change the face and history of rodeo that we have supported for the last 61 years, and will change the Cloverdale Rodeo forum as you Directors’ see fit. I must’ve missed the small print!
Seriously, the people involved in the decision to cancel all the timed events in the Cloverdale Rodeo and to leave this annual tradition for the last 61 years an unsanctioned rodeo are voted in by the members. I can promise you that they will definitely not be re-elected as soon as humanly possible by the members who really appreciate and respect rodeo as well as the livestock owners who help make the Cloverdale Rodeo such a success each year!
I am curious though, was the Director’s decision discussed with the PRCA prior to their media announcement? Did they (the Director’s) discuss this with any of the stock contractors that have come out for this rodeo year after year as well…I’m betting that NO, they did not! If I am wrong on this I would like to hear the comments or reactions of both parties once they were made aware of the “new and improved” rodeo for next year. The reactions I have been getting from others seriously involved in Rodeo across North American are stunned at the lack of backbone this committee has,
(apparently because of “protesters”) and are wondering what gives them the right to change the face of rodeo as it has been known to be for over 61 years. Was there a monetary agreement involved? I wonder the same questions.
I do know some of the Cloverdale Rodeo Directors and am finding it very difficult to believe that this was a unanimous decision according to the Province. I am shocked and ashamed that they would think this is a wise and acceptable decision. The degree of involvement this committee has with other rodeos throughout the year to my understanding is minimal at best, except for the rodeos they attend as committee guests such as the CFR (Canadian Finals Rodeo) and Calgary Stampede. I will assume that the Cloverdale Rodeo Director’s attendance will no longer be required or even wanted as it would be hypocritical of them to attend and accept the hospitality and perks of other rodeo committees that support any involvement in timed events. But why only timed events, it seems that all events involving cattle have been banned by the committee.
Why not bull riding too? Do bulls not fall under the bovine category as well? Are they not as valuable as the other cattle?? Bulls are at the same risk as any other animal rough stock or otherwise involved in a rodeo performance and can potentially be more dangerous to the people who handle them…ask Rocky Rockwell as to how dangerous they can actually be. So I will assume that if getting rid of all the “timed events” involving cattle, don’t be prejudice, you better get rid of the bull riding too, just to be consistent with your unanimous decision so wisely thought out by the Directors. We won’t want to look foolish now would we??? But what if at next year’s new and improved rodeo a bronc is injured (God forbid) to the point that the only humane thing to do is to euthanize it? Will the Directors ban all events involving horses too? Well I guess we always have mutton busting for the kids! Careful we don’t want to be accused of child abuse too!
Having animal rights activists and SPCA supporters protest at rodeos is a usual occurrence which they have every right to do, however, how many race horses are put down each year here in BC alone due to injury and accidents, are they to cancel horse racing as well? I would like to know the percentage of livestock fatalities at the Cloverdale Rodeo over the last 61 years put up against the other top 4 rodeos in Canada over the same timeframe as well as what percentage of animals have to be put down at all SPCA locations in BC. I believe that we would be sitting at less than 1%!
Do the people associated with the SPCA and the protesting activists really understand how well rodeo stock and other livestock is taken care of? These animals are the bread and butter of stock contractors, ranchers and farmers and I can personally tell you they are treated better than any animal rights activists can possibly imagine. I think it would be most beneficial for some of these do-gooders to spend a little time with some of these hard working individuals that raise and take care of these animals to see exactly what is involved. I would encourage the Cloverdale Rodeo Directors to do the same as some (and by no means all) of them have no clue exactly what is involved in the care, up keep and dedication that is devoted to these animals.
They are so many more things to say, but I think you get the general idea that I personally feel that this decision was very wrong and not at all well thought out. Perhaps the Directors indeed have other contributing factors to which the public is unaware of or maybe they just think that they are above answering to the members like me who voted them in. As Director’s of the Cloverdale Rodeo they do no speak for me as member!
If you can’t support real rodeo than don’t, but don’t think that you have the right to change things because of a title that has been appointed to you!
I challenge the Cloverdale Rodeo Directors to call a meeting of their members that voted them in and explain their reasoning and drastic decision. I know as a paying member I would really appreciate the opportunity to address the Directors face to face.
Barb Simard
Member-Cloverdale Rodeo & Exhibition
i think it is a stupid idea that anybody in the world against bullriding thinks that they can walk in and make a decision to ban it. its rediculous and if somebody thinks its cruel or inhumane then sit at home. nobody said you had to go be part of it. i ride bulls myself and i am back behind the chutes a lot more than the animal rights activists and in my eyes the animals are fine and sometimes you can tell in some animals that they actually like to be out there in the arena. and there are some that dont like it but its not like they get hurt by people, if animal activists want something to bitch about tell them to go after bull fighting and leave the rodeos the hell alone and get a life and get laid!