Rodeo protest held in Gosford

The Animal Justice Party led a peaceful protest against the rodeo held in Gosford on Saturday, June 8, branding the event as “nothing more than ritualised cruelty”.

Event organisers say the best-kept secret of the rodeo industry is hidden behind closed doors – or, more accurately, the closed gates of the holding chute.

“What is not usually noticed is the flank strap that encircles the animals’ hindquarters, just above the pelvis, which is pulled tight by one of the attendants standing over the rear of the chute just prior to the opening of the gate,” they said.

“This causes animals to buck, which the Animal Justice Party says is a sign of terror, indicating an animal is in extreme distress.

“Bucking is a fight-flight response embedded into their primal brains against the threat of predators causing imminent death.

“When a flank strap is tightened, animals buck instinctively, driven by terror, believing they are going to die.

“When the rider is thrown or dismounts, the flank strap is loosened by attendants, and one can note the animals beginning to calm down, allowing their safe approach and removal from the arena.

“The level of distress is so extreme that animals have fractured major long bones of their legs, hopelessly continuing to buck with a flailing limb, and rammed headlong into walls, incidents which have been captured on video.

“Rather than taking this as a sign to stop using flank straps, industry organisations have responded by banning video recording during rodeos.”

The protesters say that rodeos are not supported by the animal welfare peak body, RSPCA, nor the peak advocacy body, Animals Australia.

They reject claims that rodeos are traditional entertainment for country people and city people should “butt out”.

“The rodeo is not of Australian origin – it is an imported story from the US – and does not reflect the mythology around Australian stockmen,” the protesters said.

“Traditional Australian gatherings where riding and mustering skills are displayed are called campdrafts and don’t lead to animal injuries or deaths.

“Campdrafts purportedly celebrate the relationship that many in the farming community say exists between them and their horses; in contrast, rodeos are depicted as an adversarial competition of will and physical power against horse or bull and their rider.”

Spectators lined-up across the road as patrons waited in a slow-moving queue to gain admission to the Gosford rodeo.

With graphic signs of animals being strangled and abused at rodeos and welfare messages being spoken through a megaphone, all attendees received the message from protesters.

“Many people from the crowd were not welcoming of the protesters, while dozens of others were interested in hearing what they had to say and appeared shocked and upset to learn about the welfare of these animals,” protest organisers said.

Animal Justice Party Central Coast Leader Sarah Ryan said it was “outrageous” that innocent animals were forced into harm’s way, risking injury and death for the sake of entertainment.

“They’re being pushed to their limits, with catastrophic consequences,” she said.

“This cruelty must end now.

“The Animal Justice Party’s policies advocate for the elimination of all forms of indentured animal participation in human entertainment.

“Rodeos are no exception.

“We are calling on Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty to ban this barbaric sport now.”