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

continued from previous page

19. Rule 8.9.3. Steer Roping Cattle. Plaster and rebar must be placed around the horns of steer roping cattle prior to contesting, and all such steers should have horn wraps that extend 4 inches down the jaw from the base of the horns. The horns on steer wrestling cattle must be blunted to the size of a quarter.

SHARK Comment: Steer roping is the most abusive and dangerous event in PRCA rodeos. The "protection" given these animals exists for public relations purposes only. One look at SHARK's extensive video documentation of steer roping clearly demonstrates the undeniable brutality of this event. It is as inherently cruel and dangerous as it is indefensible.

20. Rule 8.8.4. Team Roping Cattle. All team roping cattle shall be protected by horn wraps. The horns on all team roping cattle must be blunted to the size of a dime.

SHARK Comment: Horn wraps are wholly inadequate for the protection of animals being roped by a two-person team that first ropes, and then pulls their victim's front and hindquarters in opposite directions. Furthermore, blunting the horns of these animals has nothing to do with their humane treatment.

33. Rule 9.6. Neckrope Must be Used in Tie-Down Roping. In tie-down roping, a neckrope must be used. Calves may not be intentionally flipped backward. Contestant must adjust rope and reins in such a manner that will prevent horse from dragging calf. Rope to be removed from calf’s body as soon possible after “tie” is approved. Roping calves shall be strong and healthy.

SHARK Comment: Calves are flipped backward and dragged all of the time. We’ve got plenty of video documentation to prove it. Unfortunately, the PRCA will not meet with us to jointly review the footage.

34. Rule 9.7. No Stimulants or Hypnotics. No stimulants or hypnotics may be given to any animal.

SHARK Comment: This rule has nothing to do with animal welfare. This is basic common sense having more to do with safety to the contestants.

35. Rule 9.8. Animals Excessively Excited in Chute. Any animal that becomes excessively excited and lays down in the chute repeatedly, or tries repeatedly to jump out of the chute, or in any way appears to be in danger or injuring himself, may be released immediately.

SHARK Comment: SHARK investigators regularly videotape animals that behave as described in this rule. It is very rare that they are released, and then only after excessive cruelty has been inflicted, including but not limited to beating, the use of electric shock, thumbs in the eyes and ears, ear twisting and pulling, tail twisting, and raking tails back and forth over steel fences. As with all rodeo cruelty violations, the abuse occurs within the clear view of judges.

37. Rule 9.10. Abuse of Animal. If a member abuses an animal by any unnecessary non-competitive or competitive action, he may be disqualified for the remainder of the rodeo and fined $200 for the first offense, with that fine progressively doubling with each offense thereafter.

SHARK Comment: Repetitive. Rules 1, 37, 38 & 40 all cover the same basic issue. One well-worded rule could have sufficed. Beyond that, SHARK has ample video documentation of animals being beaten, slapped and punched in the face, hit with a beer bottle, repeatedly and deliberately slammed into the chute gates, and tails twisted, raked, and bent to breaking, among other abuses. PRCA judges are present and have no problem with it.

38. Rule 9.11. Mistreatment of Animal. Any member guilty of mistreatment of livestock anywhere on the rodeo grounds shall be fined $250 for the first offense, with that fine progressively doubling with any offense thereafter.

SHARK Comment: This is essentially a repeat of rules 1, 37, 38 & 40 all cover the same basic issue. One well-worded rule could have sufficed. Unfortunately, redundancy in no way insures enforcement, as we detail in our response to rule #37.

RIDING EVENT RULES

40. Rule 9.13. Apparent injury during competition. Should a riding event animal show evidence of injury inflicted by a contestant during competition, that contestant will be fined $250 for the first offense and $500 for the second offense. For the third and subsequently reported offense, contestant will be declared ineligible to compete for 30 days following the infraction.

SHARK Comment: More repetition. Rules 1, 37, 38 & 40 all cover the same basic issue. One well-worded rule could have sufficed. Furthermore, SHARK investigators have investigated rodeos since 1993. At no time have we ever heard of a contestant being called for violating this rule. This is not because there has never been a violation, but simply because there is no enforcement.

41. Rule 9.13.1. Delay Further Use of Animal Injured. Should a riding event animal be apparently injured by a contestant during competition, thus resulting in the contestant being reported for such a violation, that animal cannot be used until such time the injury has completely healed.

SHARK Comment: Extreme redundancy. Over a half dozen of these rules have to do with the treatment of sore, lame, sick or injured animals.

43. Rule 10.1.5 Use of Prods Prohibited, Except for Chute Stalling. In the riding events, use of prods or similar devices is prohibited. The only exception shall be in the saddle bronc riding and the bareback riding, and in the case of a known chute stalling animal, and only if agreed upon by the contestant, the stock contractor and the judge before the contestant’s competition begins. In this instance, the prod may not exceed 12 inches in length.

SHARK Comment: Another repeat. Rule 8 is similar, and rule 9 is the same (10.1.5 in the PRCA rulebook).

47. Disqualification. A rider shall be disqualified if riding with rowels too sharp or locked.

SHARK Comment: This is an echo of rules 4, 47, 48, 49, 51, and 52. One well-worded rule would suffice, but one rule instead becomes six for public relations purposes.

48. Rule 10.4.6.1. Spur rowels. Spur rowels must have five or more points.

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

49. Rule 10.5.5. Saddle bronc Rider Disqualification. A saddle bronc rider shall be disqualified for riding with locked rowels, or rowels that will lock on spurs, and/or rowels not dulled.

SHARK Comment: Extreme redundancy. Rules 4, 47, 48, 49, 51, and 52 are similar. One well-worded rule would suffice, but one rule instead becomes six for public relations purposes and to bring the PRCA closer to the sixty rules it needed to manufacture.

51. Rule 10.6.4. No Sharp Spurs. Rider shall not use sharp spurs.

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

52. Disqualification of a Bull Rider. A bull rider shall be disqualified for using sharp spurs.

SHARK Comment: Even more redundancy. Rules 4, 47, 48, 49, 51, and 52 are similar. One well-worded rule would suffice, but one rule instead becomes six for public relations purposes and to bring them closer to the magic number: 60.

TIMED EVENT RULES

54. Rule 11.3.8. Drawn Animal Becomes Sick or Crippled. If an animal that is drawn in a pen in a timed 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.

SHARK Comment: Even more redundancy still. Over a half dozen of these rules have to do with the treatment of sore, lame, sick or injured animals. Beyond that, it is outrageous that a rodeo judge (the same judges who stand by as infractions are regularly committed) has the authority to pull an animal from competition. That should be the job of the rodeo vet. Unfortunately, the PRCA's "humane rules" give no authority to the rodeo vet, assuming that one is even present.

57. Rule 11.6.4 No Dragging of Calf. A neck rope must be used on the horse, and contestant must prevent horse from dragging calf.

SHARK Comment: Both redundant and ineffective. See rule #33. .

58. Rule 11.6.5. No Jerk Down. Rodeo Committees have the option to request a special ground rule for “no jerk down” in the tie down roping.

SHARK Comment: This is not a rule, it's an option. First, if the PRCA were really concerned about humanity, there would be no calf roping at all. Beyond that, to make the prohibition of a life-threatening jerk down a mere option completely nullifies any claim of concern for the safety of animals.

Please consider donating to SHARK (PO Box 28, Geneva, IL 60134) today and help us in our efforts to end rodeos, hunting, bullfighting and other forms of violence against our animal friends!

For more information on this issue, visit ORGANIZATIONS,
IMAGE GALLERY, FACT SHEETS, ETC., and BOOKS.

All are projects of The Animals Voice

Top of Page | Close Window