Rodeo in Quebec: Do we have the right to risk the death of animals for fun?

RODEO IN QUEBEC: DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO RISK THE LIVES OF ANIMALS FOR FUN?

Photo taken at the “Festival Western de Saint-Tite” in 2017, during a “steer wrestling” – Quebec Animal Law

Last Saturday, May 18, 2024, a young bull died at the “Festival Western de Saint-Tite” in Mauricie during a steer wrestling event. Behind this news story, we find a very disturbing hidden side of our province: in Quebec, in 2024, we can still use animals as toys for fun legally, even make them risk their lives.

Why rodeo in Quebec?

The rodeo is a public spectacle meant to celebrate the work of “cowboys” on ranches, whose activities often involve forcing horses or cows/bulls to bend to their will. Rodeos involve different events based on these activities: the riding of a horse who rears or struggles, the riding of a bull, the capturing of calves with a lasso, and many others.

In Quebec, rodeos originated in what is now known as the “Festival Western de Saint-Tite”, held annually in the Mauricie region. The event was originally launched in 1967 by a leather company that wanted to sell “western boots”. Far from any “tradition”, we’re talking about a show built from scratch rather recently for marketing reasons.

Photo taken at the “Western Festival of Saint-Tite” in 2017, during a “calf roping” event – Droit Animalier Québec

Although some activities at the Saint-Tite festival do not use animals – such as country music shows – a large part of the shows still use horses, bulls, steers (young castrated bulls), and calves to entertain the crowds, all under the sponsorship of major companies like Coca-Cola, Ford, or Coors.

These events are far from risk-free and without consequences for the animals. In recent years, Quebec law professor Alain Roy and his team have investigated and documented rodeo practices at festivals, as well as the injuries and psychological distress animals experience during these “shows”. In a huge report submitted in 2018 to the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ), we see photos of terrorized animals; twisted necks, falling horses and a concussion. Yesterday, death struck one of these poor animals who never asked to be put on show.

“Steer wrestling”, one of the dangerous events of the rodeo

In rodeo jargon, we find the “steer wrestling” event to which the animal was fatally subjected last Saturday. The idea is simple: a terrified young bull is released into the arena. A “cowboy” chases after him on horseback, throws himself on him from the top of his horse, and twists his neck in one direction, then even harder in the opposite direction to force the animal to fall on his side. As quoted by Jean-Jacques Kona-Boun, a veterinarian working on the rodeo file with DAQ, “steer wrestling is dangerous and possibly fatal because it consists of a rapid and brutal 180 degree twist of the neck.”

Composition of several photos taken at the “Western Festival of Saint-Tite” in 2017, during “steer wrestling” events – Droit Animalier Québec. We can see the strong twisting of the animals’ necks, almost completely turned over.

It is very difficult to measure precisely the risks endured by the animals used in this event. Like all industries that use animals, the secrets are well-guarded, and far from the public eye. It’s only through people like Alain Roy and his team that we can have documented conditions for some of the animals who suffer the acts of the rodeo industry; but also the work of associations like DAQ, who have brought the ethical issues associated with rodeo to justice in recent years.

But even without quantifying the risks forced on these animals, we can ask ourselves the question: why is it allowed to make animals suffer unnecessary risks in our province for our amusement? What gives us this right? And why does it apply to horses and bulls, when we would be horrified to see it applied to cats and dogs?

TO AVOID THIS: LET'S CHANGE THE LAW!

Despite numerous demonstrations and objections from Quebec citizens to the rodeo, the government remains completely silent on the issue of animal welfare in our entertainment industries.

In Quebec, the Animal Welfare and Safety Act (BESA, after which our organization is named) recognizes that animals are sentient beings and must be protected from all forms of mistreatment. And yet, the government allows them to be abused, terrified, injured and killed in “shows” so that the rodeo industry can continue to exist. A great example of cognitive dissonance ! And this dissonance doesn’t stop at rodeos: as our investigation have shown, a very large number of farm animals in Quebec are also subjected to terrible practices that run totally counter to our values and to their sensibility.

But in the face of these dissonances that are costing the lives of our province’s animals, we can take action and put pressure on the government!

At BESA, we believe that country music, Western culture, and the strength and talent of cowboys can be expressed without having to force animals to participate or be mishandled for show. Our goal is not to make the Saint-Tite Western Festival disappear, but to ensure that it can continue to exist in a form that does not cause risks and distress to animals. Why should it be up to animals to risk their lives to satisfy our desire for a “Western” ambience?

Respect for animals and their well-being are not simple words that can be brushed aside when convenient, but precious values for Quebecers that require integrity, consistency, and perseverance so that they are honoured in our province. Today, faced with the tragic death of this poor anonymous animal, the question remains before us: will we do what is necessary to truly respect animals in Quebec?