Another clash in the culture wars: L.A. may buck rodeos

Bull riding and rodeos have long been considered part of California's rural Western culture, but some rodeos and rodeo practices like “wild cow milking” and mutton busting” are under review by the legislature, reports Susanne Rust of the Los Angeles Times: "There is a growing movement to ban — or seriously curtail — these kinds of performances. And lawmakers are stepping into the fray, exposing one more hot-button issue that is seemingly emblematic of the nation’s growing cultural discord."

The Los Angeles City Council "is poised to vote on legislation that would curtail, if not eliminate, rodeo events within the city," writes Rust. "Instead of banning particular events, the legislation seeks to ban certain devices used on rodeo animals — spurs, flank straps and electric prods — that can cause pain or injury."

"Mutton busting" in Maryland (Photo by Dylan Slagle, Carroll County Times)

Rodeo supporters see rodeos as an embodiment of Western living. "A good rodeo performance highlights the skill, bravery and strength of a talented cowboy or cowgirl — a rider deft with a lasso, in control of wild, bucking animals, and laser-focused on a chaotic, seemingly uncontrollable task at hand," Rust writes. And they see the proposed ordinance as "just one more example of California’s radical progressivism — a state so out of touch with mainstream America that it’s turning its back on a tradition as hallowed as apple pie."

Other Californians feel rodeos are inhumane. "They see it as a horror show in which terrified animals are chased around an arena, kicked by strangers, tossed onto the ground with potentially bone-crushing impact — all while loud music is blared and dozens, if not hundreds, of people yell, scream and clap from the nearby stands," Rust writes. Animal-welfare activists want to set legal foundations that limit harm or injury to rodeo animals. Matt Rossell, campaigns manager for the Animal Legal Defense Fund, told Rust, “Rodeos are nothing other than legalized animal cruelty.” 

Sean Gleason, chief executive and commissioner of Professional Bull Riders, told Rust, "If animal-rights activists were successful in shutting down bull riding — through this argument that there’s some kind of torture that doesn’t exist — I assure you these animals have zero purpose and they’d be turned into hamburger within a week. Because nobody is going to keep them around to stand around on the farm and live a natural life."