Editing Bronc riding (section)

==Animal welfare issues==
{{Further|Animal treatment in rodeo}}

The event has provoked concerns among some [[animal welfare]] advocates that practices used in the event may constitute [[cruelty to animals|animal cruelty]].

Modern rodeos in the United States are closely regulated and have responded to accusations of [[animal cruelty]] by instituting a number of rules to guide how rodeo livestock are to be managed.<ref name="PRCA Welfare"/> The PRCA has rules that specifically regulate the proper care and treatment of rodeo animals; these guidelines must be followed by all rodeo participants in sanctioned rodeos.<ref name=PRCApdf />  In 1994, a survey of 28 sanctioned rodeos was conducted by on-site independent veterinarians.  Reviewing 33,991 animal runs, the injury rate was documented at 16 animals or 0.047 percent, less than five hundredths of one percent or one in 2000 animals.<ref name=Sellnow>{{cite web |title=Rodeo Horses |url=http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=3233 |website=the Horse.com |publisher=www.thehorse.com |access-date=17 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112221258/http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=3233 |archive-date=November 12, 2009}}</ref> A study of rodeo animals in Australia found a similar injury rate.  Basic injuries occurred at a rate of 0.072 percent, or one in 1,405, with injuries requiring veterinary attention at 0.036 percent, or one injury in every 2810 times the animal was used, and transport, yarding and competition were all included in the study.<ref>{{cite web |title=Animal Welfare: Animals in Rodeo |url=http://www.prorodeo.asn.au/animals.htm |website=Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320084011/http://www.prorodeo.asn.au/animals.htm |archive-date=March 20, 2012}}</ref> A later PRCA survey of 60,971 animal performances at 198 rodeo performances and 73 sections of "slack" indicated 27 animals were injured, again approximately five-hundredths of 1 percent – 0.0004.<ref name=PRCApdf>{{cite web |title=Animal Welfare: The care and treatment of professional rodeo livestock |url=http://www.prorodeo.com/pdfs/AnimalWelfare.pdf |website=Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association |publisher=www.prorodeo.com |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411122325/http://www.prorodeo.com/pdfs/AnimalWelfare.pdf |archive-date=April 11, 2008}}</ref>
However, accusations of cruelty in the USA persist.   The PRCA acknowledges that they only sanction about 30 percent of all rodeos, while another 50 percent are sanctioned by other organizations and 20 percent are completely unsanctioned.<ref name=PRCApdf/> Several [[animal rights]] organizations keep records of accidents and incidents of possible animal abuse.<ref>{{cite web |title=Animal Abuse Inherent in Rodeo |url=http://www.sharkonline.org/abuseinherent.mv |website=SHARK |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110002548/http://www.sharkonline.org/abuseinherent.mv |archive-date=November 10, 2011}}</ref>  They cite various specific incidents of injury to support their statements,<ref>Renate Robey, "Horse Euthanized After Show Accident," Denver Post 16 January 1999.</ref> and also point to examples of long-term breakdown,<ref>Steve Lipsher, "Veterinarian Calls Rodeos Brutal to Stock," Denver Post 20 January 1991.</ref> as well as reporting on injuries and deaths suffered by animals in non-rodeo events staged on the periphery of professional rodeo such as [[Chuckwagon racing|chuckwagon races]] and "suicide runs". While in terms of actual statistics on animal injury rate, there appear to be no more recent independent studies on animal injury in rodeo than the 1994 study, groups such as PETA gather anecdotal reports such as one from a 2010 rodeo in Colorado alleging eleven animal injuries, of which two were fatal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rodeo: Cruelty for a Buck|date=16 December 2003 |url=http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/rodeo-cruelty-for-a-buck.aspx|publisher=Peta.org}}</ref>

There are economic incentives to keep animals healthy enough for continuing rodeo participation.  Bucking horses and bulls are costly to replace: a proven bucking horse can be sold for $8000 to $10,000, making "rough stock" an investment worth caring for and keeping in good health for many years.<ref name="Diamond"/> Health regulations also mandate vaccinations and blood testing of horses crossing state lines.  An injured animal will not buck well and hence a cowboy cannot obtain a high score for his ride, so sick or injured animals are not run through the chutes, but instead are given appropriate veterinary care so they can be returned to their usual level of strength and power. PRCA regulations require veterinarians to be available at all rodeos to treat both bucking stock and other animals as needed.<ref name="Rules"/> The PRCA requires a veterinarian be at all sanctioned rodeos.<ref name="Curnutt 2001">{{cite book|last=Curnutt|first=Jordan|title=Animals and the Law: A Sourcebook|year=2001|publisher=ABC-CLIO|location=Santa Barbara}}</ref>

Activists also express concern that many rodeo horses end their lives as [[horsemeat]].  While it is accurate that some rough stock animals are [[horse slaughter|slaughtered]] for [[horsemeat]] at the end of their useful careers, other bucking horses are retired at the end of their rodeo usefulness and allowed to live into old age.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rodeo History |url=http://www.longcompany.com/history.htm |website=Long Rodeo Company |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210065352/http://www.longcompany.com/ |archive-date=December 10, 2007 |date=December 10, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ty Murray Gives Retired Bucking Horses A Place To Rest. |url=http://www.myequinenetwork.com/NewsArticles/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/763/Default.aspx |website=My Equine Network |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028163451/http://www.myequinenetwork.com/NewsArticles/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/763/Default.aspx |archive-date=October 28, 2008 |date=December 28, 2008}}</ref> The issue of [[horse slaughter]] crosses all equestrian disciplines and is not confined solely to the rodeo industry. Any unwanted horse can meet this fate, including [[race horse]]s, show horses, or even backyard pasture pets.

Over the years, some states imposed regulation upon certain techniques and tools used in rodeos.<ref name="Curnutt 2001"/> In 2000, California became the first state to prohibit the use of [[cattle prod]]s on animals in the [[Squeeze chute|chute]].<ref name="Curnutt 2001"/> The city of [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]] prohibited the use of flank straps as well as prods or shocking devices, wire [[Martingale (tack)|tie-down]]s, and sharpened or fixed [[spur]]s or rowels at rodeos or rodeo-related events. Some other cities and states have passed similar prohibitions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Existing State Ordinances and State Laws |url=http://www.bucktherodeo.com/ords.html |website=Buck the Rodeo |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402070728/http://www.bucktherodeo.com/ords.html |archive-date=April 2, 2009}}</ref> Under PRCA guidelines, electric prods may not deliver a shock stronger than can be produced from two D batteries.<ref name="awbook">{{cite web |title=ProRodeo Livestock |url=http://prorodeo.com/community/pdfs/2010awbookletfinal_animal%20bookletsmallfile.pdf |website=Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association |publisher=PRCA |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518193914/http://prorodeo.com/community/pdfs/2010awbookletfinal_animal%20bookletsmallfile.pdf |archive-date=May 18, 2013}}</ref> Prods are allowed as long as the situation requires them to protect the people or the animals.<ref name="Curnutt 2001"/>

===Flank strap controversy===
A "flank strap" (or, "bucking strap") is used to encourage the horse to kick out straighter and higher when it bucks. The flank strap is about 4 inches wide, covered in [[sheep]]skin or [[neoprene]] and fastens behind the widest part of the [[abdomen]]. Flank straps that hurt the horse are not allowed by rodeo rules in the United States.<ref name="Rules">{{cite web |title=PRCA Animal Welfare rules and discussion |url=http://www.prorodeo.com/animal_welfare.aspx?xu=3 |website=Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608030150/http://www.prorodeo.com/animal_welfare.aspx?xu=3 |archive-date=June 8, 2008 |date=June 8, 2008}}</ref><!--this cite covers first three sentences up to this point--><ref name="awbook" />

A horse in pain will become sullen and not buck very well,<ref name="PRCA Welfare">{{cite web |title=PRCA Animal Welfare Booklet |website=Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association |access-date=June 17, 2019 |url=http://www.prorodeo.com/pdfs/AnimalWelfare.pdf |pages=6}}</ref><ref name="Bronc Riding">{{cite web |title=Is Rodeo Bronc Riding Cruel? |url=http://www.cowboyway.com/BroncRiding.htm |access-date=June 17, 2019}}</ref> and harm to the genitalia is [[Horse anatomy|anatomically]] impossible because the [[stifle joint]] of the hind leg limits how far back a flank strap can be attached.<ref name="Sellnow"/><ref name="Rules"/>

[[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals]] (PETA) has stated that burrs and other irritants are at times placed under the flank strap and that improperly used flank straps can cause open wounds and burns if the hair is rubbed off and the skin is chafed raw.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rodeo: Cruelty for a Buck |url=http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=69 |website=People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061201031127/http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=69 |archive-date=December 1, 2006}}</ref>  However, while the implied argument behind this claim is that pain is what makes the horse buck, in actual practice, irritants or pain generally interfere with a horse's ability to buck in an energetic and athletic fashion.<ref>{{cite web |title=The facts about flank straps |url=http://www.rodeotasmania.com/facts.php |website=Rodeo Tasmania |access-date=June 17, 2019}}</ref>