PRCA Rules Governing the Care and Treatment of Livestock
at PRCA Sanctioned Rodeos
with
Comments from SHARK — Showing Animals Respect and Kindness
May 2005

Opening PRCA Text: The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) has been enforcing rules to protect the livestock participating in their sanctioned events since 1947. Through the years, the PRCA has created the most comprehensive set of animal welfare rules in the sport of rodeo, creating a model for other rodeo associations to follow.

SHARK Comment: Neither the violations, nor the names of violators of the PRCA's humane rules are made public. Likewise, disciplinary action (assuming there ever is any) imposed against violators is kept secret. Given the recurrence of the same behavior year after year by some PRCA stock contractors, there is no reason to believe that there are any sanctions whatsoever for violations of PRCA "humane rules."

It is also very important to note that there is no rule stipulating humane euthanasia for fatally injured animals. SHARK investigators have documented numerous instances of mortally injured animals being left to die slowly and without veterinary care even in the presence of supposed veterinarians.

Furthermore, in one of its most insidious public relations moves, the PRCA claims to have a "Humane Coordinator" on staff. As of 2005, two different individuals have held that position. Neither of them ensured, promoted, or was held accountable by the PRCA for humane issues. On the contrary, they were the propagandists who did everything possible to deny and/or defend animal abuse when SHARK investigators and other humane organizations documented it at PRCA rodeos.

1. Rule 9.0. General. These rules are intended to ensure the humane treatment of rodeo animals and shall be in effect for all PRCA-sanctioned events. No animal shall be treated inhumanely by any Member.

SHARK Comment: Redundant. Rules 1, 37, 38 & 40 all cover the same basic issue. One well-worded rule could have sufficed. Beyond that, the PRCA's claim that, "No animal shall be treated inhumanely by any Member" is totally debunked by two of the PRCA's own events – steer roping and calf roping. Both events are inherently cruel and life-threatening. In fact, the PRCA recently renamed calf roping "tie down roping" in an Orwellian attempt to deflect criticism from the fact that a three to four month old animal is targeted in an event that is indefensible. In the face of valid criticism, the PRCA changed only the name, nothing more.

2. Rule 9.1. Sore, lame, sick or injured animal. Animals for all events will be inspected before the draw, and no sore, lame, sick or injured animal or animal with impaired eyesight shall be permitted in the draw at any time. Should an animal become sick or incapacitated between the time it is drawn and the time it is scheduled to be used in competition, that animal shall not be used in competition and another animals should be drawn for the contestant.

SHARK Comment: More redundancy. Over a half dozen of these strikingly similar rules cover the treatment of sore, lame, sick or injured animals. One or two well-worded rules could easily have sufficed. Furthermore, this rule fails to specify who is to inspect the animals and make the calls. If the rule is suggesting self-regulation, which seems to be the case, it’s meaningless. It is very telling that the veterinarian who is supposed to be on hand at all events is given no authority whatsoever in these "humane rules."

3. Rule 9.1.1. Veterinarian. A rodeo committee shall ensure that a veterinarian is present for every performance and section of slack.

SHARK Comment: If the rodeo does not hire a vet, they can be fined. That is, if anyone reports it. But here’s where it gets interesting: The cost of the fine is $200, while the cost of hiring a vet would be in the area of $500 to $1000 for a single performance. Violation of this rule is considerably cheaper than adherence. The PRCA provides incentive rather than deterrence for violating its own rule.

Additionally, the rule gives the vet no say over the use of an animal. That authority has been given to the rodeo judge in rule #42, which states:

"If an animal that is drawn in a riding event becomes sick or crippled before it is competed on, a judge must pass on the animal’s inability to be used before it can be shipped or replaced in the draw."

If the PRCA were serious about humane treatment and requiring veterinarians at its rodeos, the rodeo would only be held if a large animal veterinarian were present. Violations would be punishable by permanent ejection from the PRCA of the stock contractors and complicit judges. Rodeo vets should be publicly announced, and should be available to answer inquiries regarding the condition of all injured animals.

The vet should have absolute say over the use of an animal and the treatment of an injured animal. Authority accorded to the vet at a PRCA rodeo is conspicuously absent throughout the PRCA's much-touted 60 humane rules.

4. Rule 9.2. Rowels. No locked rowels, or rowels that will be locked on spurs may be used on bareback or saddle bronc horses. Spurs must be dulled.

SHARK Comment: Repetition. Rules 4, 47, 48, 49, 51, and 52 are all very similar. One well-worded rule would suffice, but one rule instead becomes six for public relations purposes.

5. Rule 9.2.1 Removal of an injured animal. A conveyance must be available, supplied by the stock contractor, and shall be used, where practicable, to remove animals from the arena in case of injury. The conveyance must be large enough to remove a horse or bull. Injured calves shall be removed from the arena in a pickup truck, calf stretcher or by conveyance. Animals removed from the arena pursuant to this section shall be placed in a situation as isolated and comfortable as possible to reduce stress.

SHARK Comment: "A conveyance" leaves far too much latitude as to exactly how the injured animal is removed. SHARK investigators have documented a piece of fencing being used to remove an injured animal – hardly an appropriate conveyance for an animal so severely crippled it can’t exit the arena under its own power. Also, the term "where practicable" again puts the form and use of "the conveyance" at the discretion of just about anyone. What is "practicable" and what isn’t is left entirely to the discretion of someone not specified. This is far too vague to qualify as a rule.

6. Rule 9.2.1 Must be humane. Any injured livestock shall be humanely removed from the arena before continuing the rodeo contest or performance.

SHARK Comment: This rule has nothing to do with animal welfare. No contestant wants to risk possible injury or to deal with the last contestant's injured victim left on the arena floor when he is trying to make money.

7. Rule 9.3. No Sharp Objects in Cinch, Saddle, Girth or Flank Straps. No sharp or cutting object in cinch, saddle girth, or flank straps shall be permitted. Flank straps used for horses must either be sheepskin-lined or neoprene-lined flank straps and shall be of the quick release type. Sheepskin-lined or neoprene-lined flank straps shall be placed on the animals so the lined portion is over both flanks of the animals. In the bull riding, a soft cotton rope at least 5/8" in diameter is acceptable as a flank strap and does not require the sheepskin or neoprene lining.

SHARK Comment: This rule outlaws sharp objects in cinch, saddle, and flank straps, but makes no mention of the sharp objects animals with which animals are poked and jabbed prior to their release from the chute. We have footage of cowboys sticking animals in the ribs with wires and sharpened steel rods while they are trapped in the holding chutes and unable to escape the torment.

8. Rule 9.4. Prods and Other Artificial Stimuli. Standard electric prods shall be used only as specified in the Official Rodeo Rules and in the Bylaws. If a prod is used, the animal shall only be touched on the hip or shoulder area. No other artificial stimuli shall be used (with the exception of rodeo equipment and gear commonly used and accepted in connection with the respective events at PRCA-sanctioned rodeos.)

SHARK Comment: We have documented numerous instances of cowboys shocking animals on other areas of their bodies, including their faces and their very sensitive necks while PRCA judges watch. There is no indication that the prod prohibition is ever enforced.

9. Rule 10.1.5 Prods. In the riding events, use of prods and similar devices is prohibited. The only exception is a known chute-stalling animal, only with the contestants and contractors approval, and shall be administered only by a qualified member.

SHARK Comment: Redundant. This rule is very similar to Rule 8 and identical to rule 43 (10.1.5 in the PRCA rulebook). The chute-staller exception is nothing more than an all purpose loophole. Also, what about these “known chute-stallers”? The PRCA’s mantra is that these animals were born to buck. So why don’t these chute-stallers want to buck? More importantly, why are they brought to rodeos in the first place if they are "known chute-stallers?" Finally, as commented on with regard to the previous rule, there is no indication that the prod prohibition is ever enforced.

10. Rule 3.2.2 No Animal May be in the Draw Twice on the Same Day. In all riding events, stock can not be placed in the draw twice in the same day, with the exception of rerides, unless approved by the event representative and the Director of Rodeo Administration.

SHARK Comment: This rule disallows the multiple use of riding stock – unless of course it is decided that the animal(s) will be used again, meaning it isn't a rule at all. Even more disturbing is the complete absence of a prohibition on the reuse of calves and steers, even though they are the animals who are most brutally treated and most often injured and killed. It is no coincidence that they are also the cheapest animals to replace.

14. Rule 8.5 Running of Timed Event Stock. All timed event stock shall be run through event chutes and through the arena prior to the start of contest where conditions permit.

SHARK Comment: This rule has nothing to do with animal welfare. As with the previous rule, it has more to do with giving a contestant an animal that behaves in a predictably.

15. Rule 8.8. Unsatisfactory Animals. An Event Representative may declare particular animal unsatisfactory. Upon notification, either written or verbal, the stock contractor or Rodeo Committee shall eliminate such animal(s) from competition draw.

SHARK Comment: This rule has nothing to do with animal welfare. An animal might be declared unsatisfactory because its horns have not been trimmed as much as called for in the rules, or because a bull or horse has demonstrated a talent for injuring contestants. While rodeos claim their animals are mean and dangerous, animals that actually fit that description are quickly culled from the lineup.

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