Condemn the Rodeo

Editor,

Sorry to see the article in the 5/04 CV FORUM on the return of the Rowell Ranch Rodeo. Rodeo has had its brutal day and now– like those Confederate statues– belongs in the Dustbin of History. EVERY animal welfare organization in North America condemns rodeo for its inherent cruelty. For the majority of these exploited and abused creatures, the rodeo arena is merely a detour en route to the slaughterhouse.

Most of rodeo is bogus from the git-go. REAL working cowboys/girls never routinely rode bulls, or wrestled steers, or rode bareback, or barrel raced, or practiced calf roping (terrified BABIES!) as a timed event. It’s all macho hype, an exercise in DOMINATION. And it needs to end.

The United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales) outlawed rodeos back in 1934, followed by Germany and the Netherlands. Can the U.S. be far behind?

As County Supervisor Nate Miley wrote in his 2019 Spring Newsletter, “Any form of violence is repugnant.” Indeed.

– Eric Mills, Oakland