Activists lock down Chuckwagon track

[redforever]

Originally Posted by GGG

I knew they didnt cynch the balls but I had thought the flank strap was designed to cause pain to iniiate the bucking. If not that is just my own ignorance.

I dont think the saving horses from the slaughter house applies as I have thought that bucking stock are bred for it and the top animals are worth a lot as breeders. Again if this is not true let me know.

Oh, they definitely breed and trade for that special bucking horse. Wayne Vold from the High River area has been in this business for 4 decades or so. This is a business like anything else.

Putting a solid pen of buckin' horses together is like trying to build a successful hockey team.

Just ask stock contractor Wayne Vold, who has been in the business for four decades.

"I'm buying and trading horses all the time to try to keep my momentum going," Vold said. "It's a never-ending hunt for good ones.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2013/10/2...ul-hockey-team

Speaking with Wayne about his horses gave me glimpse of the care and respect he has for these animals. Where I could easily see a horse that I just have to brush and touch – because that’s what horses are for – the wizened stock contractor sees them for who they are. Athletes. “I like a horse that stays hooked … one that keeps bucking. We have horses that have been bucking for 20 years… those are the ones a stock contractor likes to have I think the buck is in their disposition, I don’t know if anyone really knows why a horse bucks… but it most definitely has a lot to do with their heart.”

http://www.northernhorse.com/news/Ar...5WayneVold.htm

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Do bucking horses pretty much buck all the time? You know, like when they are out there in the stable or or in the pasture or whatever? Do they jump around just for the hell of it, and because they like it so much? Or do they just tend to buck when someone ties the tickle strap around them, and then a person sits on their back?

The main reason for the strap is to get the horse to buck in a specific way (the 'rodeo way' for lack of a better term). They try to keep it on as little time as possible so a horse doesn't get used to it so it's tightened as the gate opens.

[vegasbound]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

If they love to buck so much, why is this "tickling" apparatus necessary?

Do bucking horses pretty much buck all the time? You know, like when they are out there in the stable or or in the pasture or whatever? Do they jump around just for the hell of it, and because they like it so much? Or do they just tend to buck when someone ties the tickle strap around them, and then a person sits on their back?

I saw one yesterday on the TV, a grey horse, and he didn't seem all that interested in bucking at all and stayed right there in the stall, and one of the cowboys gave him a slap in the face and there was some shouting and whatnot, and then he got to doing what he loves best.

To let them know it's time to buck? Also to get a little higher kick out of the horse, and not to 'flat'. Flat is hard to spur to. If you notice, a lot of these horses stop bucking once the 8 seconds horn go. The pickup men take off the flank strap right away. Believe me, they don't have to buck at all. If you put a flank strap on my horse, he'd probably look at you like you were insane but not do a single thing about it. Those horses buck because they are bred to.

Animals have their off day, just like humans. As for 'stalling' out at the chute, each horse has their own 'style.' Each cowboy can read up on the horse or bull or ask other people and find out what the animal does. Some are holy hell in the chute, some just stand there. And that grey horse (I did watch that), may have never bucked in front of a crowd that big and might have scared him a little. I know it sounds funny, but those animals sure do know when the crowd is bigger.

[18flames]

Being a bareback bronc rider for the past few years has taught me a few things, some horses are dicks and will buck even without the flank strap, some horses are calm and will not even shiver when you sit on their backs, and some horses just don't want to buck even with the flank strap. You can't make a horse buck if it doesn't want to, and the flank strap literally does nothing for some horses.

[wretched34]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

If they love to buck so much, why is this "tickling" apparatus necessary?

Do bucking horses pretty much buck all the time? You know, like when they are out there in the stable or or in the pasture or whatever? Do they jump around just for the hell of it, and because they like it so much? Or do they just tend to buck when someone ties the tickle strap around them, and then a person sits on their back?

I saw one yesterday on the TV, a grey horse, and he didn't seem all that interested in bucking at all and stayed right there in the stall, and one of the cowboys gave him a slap in the face and there was some shouting and whatnot, and then he got to doing what he loves best.

As vegasbound mentiond in his response, and also, as mentioned in my initial post, the Flank strap is a trigger, and like vegasbound said as well, it helps get them to buck in a specific manner, which is ideal for judging a ride. The flank strap causes no harm, the horse just isn't used to the feeling, so kicks to get it off, think of putting boots on a dog, they walk differently because it feels different.
In response to your other question, yes, horses buck outside of the arena, and for many different reasons. I've never been around a herd of Broncos, but I would assume they likely buck more than the majority of horses while running free, which is why they end up being bucking stock. All horses buck though, if you ever spend time around a herd, you'll notice they buck a lot when they are being playful, they also do it to stretch, and defend themselves from predators.
I like to think of Broncos as the ADHD horses, they just have so much energy, they are always trying to get it out, and bucking is the best way to do it.

[GGG]

Was listening to the chuck broadcast on the radio in my car and they were talking about the protesters. They were arguing that Vancouver should look after their two legged animals first which is okay homeless smack. But then they dropped the bomb and said If Kelly Sutherland looses on Sunday he isnt going to start a riot in Grand Prarie.

As always even in Chuckwagons Vancouver is no good.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by wretched34

...think of putting boots on a dog, they walk differently because it feels different.

Perfectly apt description of the flank strap.
These broncs become old pros too... As soon as the rider is off or the horn goes, they often quit bucking.
They know the drill and like nothing more than to dump these guys to the ground, one way or another.
They are magnificent, intelligent beings.

[#-3]

We've lost all of the contributors to this thread who were embarrassed to be calgarians, ever since the people who understand the sport started explaining exactly what the circumstances are for these animals.

Interesting.

[GP_Matt]

Originally Posted by GGG

Was listening to the chuck broadcast on the radio in my car and they were talking about the protesters. They were arguing that Vancouver should look after their two legged animals first which is okay homeless smack. But then they dropped the bomb and said If Kelly Sutherland looses on Sunday he isnt going to start a riot in Grand Prarie.

As always even in Chuckwagons Vancouver is no good.

You don't know that we won't. We really like the Sutherlands up here.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by #-3

Interesting.

Not really. I mean, it's a thread about rodeo. They probably just got bored of it.

[RougeUnderoos]

So I'm watching this calf-roping on the TV and they don't actually show the rope go around the calf's neck, or the consequent "stopping" that goes on.

You see the cowboy and the horse and all the rope swinging and riding fast and whatnot, but the cow itself is always out of the frame until the guy is tying it up.

One guy did get penalized for jerking the cow off its feet, so that rough part of it is apparently out of it now.

Anyone know why this is? Why do they leave the "calf roping" out of the calf roping coverage?

[Azure]

More exciting to watch the horse I'd imagine.

If done right, the calf shouldn't be jerked around at all outside of being flipped when the cowboy ropes it.

Tough to always do right though.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

So I'm watching this calf-roping on the TV and they don't actually show the rope go around the calf's neck, or the consequent "stopping" that goes on.

You see the cowboy and the horse and all the rope swinging and riding fast and whatnot, but the cow itself is always out of the frame until the guy is tying it up.

One guy did get penalized for jerking the cow off its feet, so that rough part of it is apparently out of it now.

Anyone know why this is? Why do they leave the "calf roping" out of the calf roping coverage?

For obvious reasons. They want to minimize the exposure of what is actually happening to the calf. Tie down roping is the current lightning rod for animal cruelty activists. Why do you think they changed the name from Calf Roping?

Another event called steer roping, which I have never seen at a canadian rodeo, used to be filmed in a similar way. Now, they won't even show it on TV at all that I'm aware of. In fact some rodeos like the Cheyene Frontier Days have the Steer roping at another location away from the main arena. Similar situation with steer roping at the National Finals Rodeo. It hasn't been a part of that for decades. The finals for steer roping are held somewhere else. Used to be the Lazy E Arena in Oklahoma.

Please don't confuse steer roping with team roping. They are two completely separate events.

[corporatejay]

This thread has been simply awesome. I always thought the flank strap was a ballsack squeezer.

I've learned a tonne already, thanks to all who are contributing.

[Azure]

The problem is that nobody is accurately reporting how everything works at a rodeo, which is why a lot of people are confused by how things work.

Seems simple to those of us that grew up on a ranch, but the Stampede is a huge event, with huge public exposure.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

For obvious reasons. They want to minimize the exposure of what is actually happening to the calf. Tie down roping is the current lightning rod for animal cruelty activists. Why do you think they changed the name from Calf Roping?

Well you learn something new every day. I didn't know they changed the name from Calf Roping to Tie Down Roping so I don't have an answer to your question. Seems kind of odd to remove the cow from coverage of the event and even the name of the event.

These animals apparently couldn't be treated better though, so why minimize what is actually happening?

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Azure

The problem is that nobody is accurately reporting how everything works at a rodeo, which is why a lot of people are confused by how things work.

Seems simple to those of us that grew up on a ranch, but the Stampede is a huge event, with huge public exposure.

Things change over time. I can foresee a day when calf roping is banished as a side show event like steer roping. The first nail in the coffin was the name change. I don't think you will ever see it become illegal though (at least I hope not). Too slippery a slope on dictating how animals raised strictly for food are treated in relation to roping calves on ranches to be doctored.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Well you learn something new every day. I didn't know they changed the name from Calf Roping to Tie Down Roping so I don't have an answer to your question. Seems kind of odd to remove the cow from coverage of the event and even the name of the event.

These animals apparently couldn't be treated better though, so why minimize what is actually happening?

Some people don't like to see cute little calves getting roped and hog tied.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Well you learn something new every day. I didn't know they changed the name from Calf Roping to Tie Down Roping so I don't have an answer to your question. Seems kind of odd to remove the cow from coverage of the event and even the name of the event.

These animals apparently couldn't be treated better though, so why minimize what is actually happening?

Well... while I definitely defend the rough stock events, I have nothing to say in defense of the calf roping event at rodeos - and I can easily see why it is the lightning rod for activists.
I personally find it unnecessary.

[vegasbound]

The day the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, sanctioning association of every big rodeo in the US/Canada) takes tie down roping out will be a cold day in hell, JMO. Can I see the Calgary Stampede doing it? Unfortunately, yes. They did it at Cloverdale. Now, Cloverdale puts up a large chunk of added money for top competitors but it doesn't count towards the standings, but the competitors gets less and less every year. (I believe they put p $25k per event). Even in rodeo, Vancouver/Cloverdale is no good.

The Calgary Stampede is NOT PRCA sanctioned, meaning it can do what they want. IE- they wave the mark out rule in bareback/saddle bronc, in tie down the calf can't be jerked off its feet, nor does it have to stay tied for six seconds. They can also take tie down out if they wanted. I doubt they would...for now. They also don't have team roping, for whatever reason. Tried finding out, nobody actually gave me a clear answers.

These calves that are getting roped are corriente crosses so they are a little bit more "hardier". They usually get roped once or twice at a rodeo and then turned out because they get too big. And they're fine after. We rope calves at brandings every year. If someone can figure out how to doctor a calf who is in a section or two of land without roping it, please let me know. Please.

All of it has to do with public perception. 90% of city people don't know/or care the 'actual truth' about rodeo (that we really aren't mean to our animals and treat every animal with the utmost respect). That and media who BS and spin the truth. The fact of the matter is- Rodeo is not as cruel as many think.