California Rodeo Animals Face Violent And Deadly Casualties: Broken Backs, Legs And Skulls

Tab Hildreth rode in the Bronze Saddlery Event at the Poway Rodeo in September 2015 (Charlie Newman/San Diego Union-Tribune)

As the Los Angeles City Council prepares to consider action to effectively ban rodeos, a 21-year review of rodeo injury reports reveals the hidden, brutal and deadly side of the sport hailed as an iconic American tradition.

A review of the Times report shows that there have been more than 125 animal injuries since 2001, when the state passed legislation requiring a veterinarian to be present or on duty at all rodeos. When a veterinarian is visited or called, a report is made and submitted to the California Veterinary Medical Board. The reports were obtained at the request of the public archive.

No reports were produced in 2001, 2002, 2006, 2009 or 2020, and only twenty reports were produced before 2010.

The report documented injuries ranging from minor ailments such as superficial abrasions when a terrified animal jumped from its parachute, to shattered skulls, broken legs, broken arms and a fractured spine.

In 35 injury reports reviewed by the Times, the animal died immediately or within minutes of the accident, or had to be euthanized -- or in one case killed -- within the hour or next day. In 14 cases, the fate of seriously injured animals remained unclear. In these cases, the veterinarian was denied access to the animal or the report contained no information about the animal's fate.

For example, Wayne Meirhoff, a Red Bluff veterinarian, reported in 2016 that a calf broke its leg while lifting a calf. The calf's owner refused to let Merkhuf care for the animal and left its fate unknown.

"Private property rights are hampering my efforts to care for these animals," Meyerhoff wrote in his report, noting that some animals were injured in captivity but their owners refused to see them.

Merhoff could not be reached for comment.

Zach Brown tries to protect Little Devil during a nude contest at the 2018 Springville Sierra Rodeo in Springville, Calif. (Chieko Hara/Porterville Recorder)

In another instance, during a Broncos invasion, a horse fell at the 2018 Folsom Rodeo and lost the ability to move its hind legs. Vet Lisa Jamsheger was trying to get medicine for her horse when a group of cowboys walked in and tied her horse's legs. When Gamseger comes back with the medicine, they have already stowed the marching horse in the back of the trailer.

"I can't judge the rear because it is pushed into the corner of the trailer," Gamsjäger wrote that day. He pointed out that the mare's legs were still tied. The owner insisted on taking the horse to Marysville, an hour away.

Gamsjäger could not be reached for comment.

Douglas Curry, chair of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association's Livestock Welfare Committee, said he could not comment on the reports or figures cited by the Times. But he says rodeos are extremely safe for the animals and that less than 0.05% of animals used in rodeos are injured.

He was unable to provide The Times with the data, reports, or figures used to compile those figures; However, he said his organization keeps records and has a veterinarian at every event.

"I don't know of a single death that I can tell you about that actually happened in the ring," he said. "I know I may have heard that Death could be an old horse that could suffer from an aneurysm. It could be a young horse that didn't compete in the event that could have a heart attack... But that doesn't mean the animal dies in the actual event in the arena."

A senior horse is a horse that is ridden or paraded at the start of a rodeo, when the national anthem is usually sung and the flag raised. Retrievers are usually ridden around the ring to help rodeo contestants back away from an offending animal.

The biggest threat to backyard animals is poor exercise — not necessarily a device Los Angeles wanted to ban within city limits, says Temple Grandin, author and professor of veterinary science at Colorado State University.

The rules are designed to ban items that can cause bodily harm, such as E.g. power poles, tape, cable ties, lasso, spikes and sharp or repaired extensions.

"A good cattle owner has properly trained animals," Grandin said in an interview, so injuries are minor. He said fatal accidents occurred when animals weren't trained or used in arenas and crowds. This is partly why he disliked sleeping calves or milking wild cows as they hunted restless wildlife.

He said, "Something went wrong."

But Crystal Heath, a Bay Area veterinarian and former Grand National Rodeo Queen competitor, says even trained animals are at risk.

"I think we need to ask ourselves if harassing, provoking and hurting animals - just for the sake of entertainment - is what we support as a society. I don't think that's what the public wants," he said.

In 28 of the 35 deaths reviewed by the Times, the animal died during the performance. 12 horses were killed while riding mustangs, a rodeo display in which thigh straps were tied around the horse's waist to keep it moving. The rider tries to stay on the horse for a few seconds. One of these horses ran headfirst into a post and died instantly; Another ran into a metal gate and broke his neck. The others broke their legs under her and fought back.

Trever Mark Knighton competes in a bullfight at the annual Poway Rodeo in September 2015 (Charlie Neuman/San Diego Union-Tribune).

Other animals such as bulls, oxen, cows and calves die in activities such as bull riding, cow fights, wild cow milking, equestrian competitions, bullfights, stampedes, wild horse racing and calf roping.

In one particularly horrific event at the 2013 Salinas Rodeo in California, a bull fell in front of a rival horse, causing both of them to trip. Then the horse stepped on the bull's neck and hit it. Steer was dead when he was removed from the ring.

In many cases, fear and panic are at the root of trauma.

Erin Contino, on-duty vet at Oakdale Rodeo, wrote that a horse competing in the 2011 Bronco "banged his head on a fence post and fell." The group collapsed, became unresponsive and died a few minutes later.

In another case, a cow at Royal Rodeo Ranch in Alameda County tried to run out of the ring, jumped a fence, landed on its snout and had to be euthanized with a broken neck and swollen eyes.

It is unclear whether the state-compiled reports reflect the true number of minor injuries over the past two decades or an underestimate.

According to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Assn. , hosts about 40 events throughout the state each year. This figure does not include Professional Bull Riders events or the many informal community rodeos and charreria that take place most days during the summer months.

Reports are only released for 29 Cowboys games, most of which do not file annual reports.

For example, the rodeos Fortuna, Glenville, Stanislaus, and Springville published only one report in 21 years, the data for which belonged to the state. Clovis Rodeo vets have completed 32 reports since 2010.

"The fact that there have been no reported injuries in so many years is statistically impossible," said Eric Mills, an Oakland animal rights activist.

Los Angeles City Councilman Bob Blumenfeld agrees.

The reports, he says, "are only the ones that are broadcast. "I have to believe it's a very small number, and even if it weren't, I don't think it's a very good statistic."

Referring to Corey's numbers, he said, "They counted all the sheep, dogs, and cats — animals that weren't engaged in more dangerous activities and weren't encouraged by these torture devices."

Three members of the city council's Human Resources, Audits and Animal Welfare Committees will vote on the rodeo on Wednesday. If approved, the decision will be sent to the full council in January.

Blumenfeld, who co-sponsored the bill and represents the San Fernando Valley, said the rules would not affect non-rodeo equine events, which typically do not require an element of the law to be resolved.

"It all depends on the inhumane equipment used in rodeo and whether we should continue this practice in 2022 and beyond," he said.

This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.