Clarkson Rodeo Days, Inc.
PO Box 610
Clarkson, NY 14430

Animals In Rodeo

Animals In Rodeo

International Professional Rodeo Association, P.O. Box 83377, Oklahoma City OK 73148

Animal Handling Guidelines

IPRA is proud of its long-standing commitment to high standards of animal use, care and protection in rodeo. Rodeos sanctioned by IPRA are governed by rules that dictate how each contest will be conducted and animals will be handled.

Animals are inspected before competition to determine fitness for competition. Rules governing the contests and the proper use of equipment are enforced with penalties, fines, and/or expulsion imposed for violations.

Animal Equipment

Like equipment used on other animals, rodeo equipment is used to cue and control.

An important tool in a livestock operation is a prod to move animals. Since large, untrained animals do not reliably respond to voice or hand signals, an effective device is needed for the safety of both people and animals. A veterinarian developed the electric prod powered by size “C” flashlight batteries as a safe alternative to instruments which can poke and bruise. The prod gives a minor surprise shock without any ill after affects.

Even though equipment providing a seat or handhold for the rider is worn for only a few seconds in competition, the underskirting of bronc saddles are fleece lined and padded, and bareback riggings are placed on leather covered hair pads. Horse flank straps have a protective lining on the portion that covers the belly and flanks while bull flanks are made of a soft ply cotton rope or include a protective lining.

Spurs used by bareback and saddle bronc riders are dull and blunt with free-rolling rowels so that the cowboy’s showy style of leg movement is not harmful to the horse. The rowel, which is the star-shaped wheel on a spur, is loosely locked in bull riding to allow the cowboy a better hold on the loose-hided animals.

Animals Suited to the Action

Injury to animals is infrequent with rates documented at a small part of 1%. The use of horses and bulls in rodeo is so undemanding that they stay healthy and perform well for many years.

Minimum and maximum weight ranges determine the length of time calves and steers are used in rodeo events. Physical characteristics of the animals lend themselves to the activity of the contests. The muscular structure of a calf and its hairy, thick hide allow prudent roping without harm. A wrestling steer has considerable flexibility in its neck, allowing it to turn its head to its back to brush away a fly on its face with its tail.

When nature doesn’t provide built-in safeguards, protection devices are used such as horn and head wraps that prevent a steer’s head from being irritated when it is roped around the horns.

Limited use, good nutrition, and health maintenance practices such as de-worming and disease prevention allow animals to thrive in a rodeo environment.