In Repose Blog

Voodoo Child, a Big PETA Disappointment

Anyone who knows me at all knows that animals are a great part of my life. I love and respect them, sometimes more than most people think is reasonable.

I could not be a part of a sport, or any activity  that harms animals.

I was not surprised but merely disappointed and dismayed to find out that PETA made an appearance at the gates of the rodeo this year. I wondered how much they really knew about the reality of the sport.

I first started taking photographs of rodeos in 2003 after getting my boots dirty with local amateur events a bit further north where I recorded events as a photographer but I also participated as well. I was on a co-ed team for an entire season of monthly ranch rodeo events. Team X. We came in second at Tamehawk Arena in 2003.

People sometimes think that rodeo animals are abused and tortured. I beg to differ with that blanket assessment. A steer on a cattle ranch destined to your grocery store as a Tbone steak or Mickey D's as your drive through burger has a far greater chance of being misused and abused and being hurt, injured or even killed before becoming your dinner. 10 to 15 percent of ranch animals get seriously hurt or injured, gravely sick or die before they are slaughtered for consumption..

I don't eat mammals, but I don't begrudge you if you do. But please, don't judge rodeo as cruel while you chomp on your roast beef sandwich. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates 1.7103 million cattle and 2.3656 million calves died prior to slaughter in 2002, for a total of just under 4.1 million deaths.

In Rodeo, for the same time period, the PRCA. took this survey: Out of 17,743 animals, (This survey includes the bucking bulls, broncs, roping calves, steers, and all animals used in the events) only 38 showed injuries ( which is .00052 percent).             

Although often looked upon as a 'rough' sport, you can see that it is actually very well regulated. (Especially compare these figures to horse racing, often looked upon as more refined, where an estimated 1/3 of horses are injured.)

Here is a photo of th bucking bull called Voodoo Child a Bulter and Son's bull who has not been ridden in more than 70 attempts. Back in the chutes he leans against the panels and looks into the eyes of the cowboys asking for scratches, pats, rubs and attention. The cowboys are happy to oblige.

Photograph Copyright Candace Craw-Goldman and courtesy of the
Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo
Austin, Texas 2008

Voodoo is not unhappy. He is not abused, nor sad, nor mistreated. His every need is taken care of, he gets the very best transportation, nutrition, housing and medical care. He is worth a lot of money to the Butler's. He knows what his job is and he performs his required task of (less than) 8 seconds of bucking per night to a cheering crowd and spends the rest of his existence happier by far, most likely, than the steer that provided the meat for your taco at lunch or the fajita you order at the Mexican cantina on your way home.

So for those of you worried about the welfare of the rough stock at rodeo events, I'll repeat one of the best lines I have heard recently regarding the subject of animal abuse:

"The best way to help animals is to not eat them."

Rodeo? Not so much...

Still Working the Rodeo

Minor amounts of bloodshed so far.

Photograph Copyright Candace Craw-Goldman and courtesy of the
Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo
Austin, Texas 2008.

Photograph Copyright Candace Craw-Goldman and courtesy of the
Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo
Austin, Texas 2008.

I found myself the one applying pressure to this barrel horse's leg for a minute or two, till the vet could get there. 

He's going to be just fine. (Silly horse tried to JUMP the first barrel, instead of run around it.)

Why is Bull Riding so Popular?

Sixteen-time world champion rodeo cowboy Jim Shoulders was once asked this question by a reporter.  The Oklahoman answered in his dry, wry way:

"It's the same reason people glance off the road to get a better look at a car wreck. It's why the Romans went to the Colosseum to see the lions eat the Christians. People don't want to see somebody die, but they darn sure want to be there when he does."

Photograph Copyright Candace Craw-Goldman and courtesy of the
Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo
Austin, Texas 2008.

 

The Most Dangerous 8 Seconds...

...in sports, no doubt about it. Its bull riding, and not just bull riding but XTREME bull riding at the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo and I get to photograph the experience up close and personal.

In the media reserved seats, section "N"? No, not me, (grin) I shoot for the rodeo itself so I get to be right there with the cowboys. I get to be close enough to hear them pray and swear, close enough to see the sweat bead up on their face. I get to eavesdrop on their gossip...and almost all of it seems to be details on this or that bull and what they know about him.

I get to go everywhere they can go except the toilet and the dressing room. The latter doesn't get much use, by the way, from my observations. Most of the bull riders gear up and change right next to the pens that hold the bulls behind the chutes in the arena.

I get to go up the ladder and stand right there on the narrow wooden platform behind the chutes while the cowboys tie on their ropes and wait their turn to climb on to their beasts. I can walk right up and touch a bull with my boots if I want.

Photograph Copyright Candace Craw-Goldman and courtesy of the
Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo
Austin, Texas 2008.

Yup, those are my boots.

I couldn't get any closer to this sport unless I strapped myself on to the bull and rode it myself.

Yes, I'm insured; my life, my health, even my camera and my equipment and last but not least, my rear-end with some really decent business liability insurance.

Photograph Copyright Candace Craw-Goldman and courtesy of the
Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo
Austin, Texas 2008

This bull's impatience to get the show started and his cowboy into the dirt had my heart rate up. Yes indeed. He tried to launch his 2200lb self over those rails more than one time. That close rail is only about 12 inches from my shins and I was more than ready to leap off the back end of the platform should he turn in my direction.

"Self-preservation" grinned one cowboy as I moved quickly backwards, "Its all about self-preservation."

To be continued...