SHARK Comments on About Rodeo Continued

A person claiming to be Steve Hindi, president of SHARK (SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness) has decided to join us here on About Rodeo. I thought that I would take time to answer the statements made in the comment and clear up some misconceptions about rodeo.

SH: "The truth is that you are afraid of being exposed for what you are."

AR: Expose away... it is your 1st Amendment Right, and I will refute your argument with some facts. If I have a vet or cowboy who makes their living with animals on one side telling me something and some SHARK member on the other telling me something else, I'm going with the experts, not some narcissistic 'activist.'

For those of you who don't know, Mr. Hindi is a former hunter who one day saw the light and devoted his life to his cause, for which he has spent time in jail (activists claim he was a 'political prisoner') and ruined his family life (by his own admission). He is also listed as an advisory board member for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a highly questionable and militant group with a fleet of ships that are intent on stopping fishing and whaling in the oceans of the world.

The group operates under spotty legality at best and is supported by famous actors and those with deep pockets. The most telling aspect of this group is the line at the bottom of its own web page which reads and I quote:
"Sea Shepherd's advisors have no legal responsibility for the actions of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society."

In others words, we support you but we don't want to be held liable for any illegal activity. Scary isn't it?

More from The Rodeo Guide:
While SHARK claims to have several successes and vast amounts of footage, they often resort to publicity stunts like most anti-rodeo groups. They target corporations, law makers and performers which for me, seems to call into question all the minds they claim to be changing.

In my opinion, they rarely let people decide for themselves, instead choosing to legislate or target their opponents with focused boycotts or letter writing.

As rodeo fans we cannot underestimate the power that video, when manipulated, edited and taken out of context can have on individuals and corporations unfamiliar with rodeo. They use provocative still shots and short clips to tug at heartstrings and turn viewers against rodeo.

I have watched most of the clips on the site and while some can seem disturbing, I urge caution and context. For example, a video of a horse taking a nasty spill, having difficulty getting up and then the video cuts off. What you don't potentially see is the horse finally standing, calmly heading back to the stripping chute and then to the holding pen where it munches on hay, unfazed and unhurt by the arena experience.

Most of the video deals with 'catching' people with a prod or other device (which is just ridiculous and a total misunderstanding of the use of the device), or capturing an animal injury.

No one has ever stated that animals don't get injured in rodeo. They do. Just like they get injured in the wild, on farms, and anywhere they get physical, which is pretty much anywhere (Did anyone watch Barbaro in the Preakness?). But an animal getting injured does not equal cruelty. A lack of treatment or neglect would be cruelty and no stock contractor in his right mind would mistreat his livelihood.

The age of reality television should teach us to be skeptical of manipulated and edited video.

I really to wish we could set down and have a steak (by the way, how's that vegan diet going?) and hash out our differences but I'm afraid that for a lot of activists it seems as if the cause takes over and it becomes more about the cause than facts or reality.

The reality is that the animal rights movement has been good to rodeo. Rodeo has tightened down its policies and can lead the way for common sense, realistic, and humane animal welfare rather than this crazy equal rights for animals, turn all the animals loose and limit humanity stuff.

SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness... To bad that respect doesn't translate to your own species... humanity.

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