Mount Isa Rodeo

This years entertainers include:

• Jessica Mauboy — headlining

• The Angels

• The Screaming Jets

• O’SHEA

• Luke Geiger

• Furance and the Fundamentals

• Daryl Braithwaite — performing at the street festival

This years sponsors include:

• Mount Isa Mines

• Tourism and Events Queensland

• Outback Queensland

• Bell & Moir Toyota

• Paradise Outdoor Advertising

• Ariat

• XXXX

• Hit 102.5 Mount Isa

• Linmar Cranes & Haulage

• Mount Isa Coaches

• Mount Isa Airport

• ADG Coporation

• Pirtek

• Calibre Engineering

• ENZED

• REX

• Fast Scaff

• I.S.C Mount Isa

• AAA Vet Clinic

• Hastings Deering CAT

• Queensland Country Bank

• Mount Isa Mining Supplies

• Blackwoods

• Totally Workwear

• J&D Contracting

• Isa Skips

• Trekk Advisory

• Mader

• Aggreko

• Leichhardt Accomodation

• IQ Access

• Bunzl Safety & Lifting

• Mt Isa Physiotherapy

• Thiess

• Brown Brothers

• Straitline drill & blast

• Droughtmaster

• Steej Press

• Isa Hotel

• HVPower

• Topfire Constructions

• Leonie Winks Photography

• Andii Mihay Events

• QH20

• Stephen Mowbray Photography

During all rodeo events, animals are suffering both mentally and physically. Being prey animals, calves, steers, bulls, and horses feel safest when with their herd. For all rodeo events, the animals are separated, and feel like they are being chased or attacked by a “predator”. 

Visible signs of distress and fear include changes in their facial expressions, excessive drooling of saliva, an open mouth, and flared nostrils. Some bulls even charge at the riders or the staff inside the arena, highlighting their fear and distress.

Mental suffering

Isolating a herd or prey animal creates fear and can result in aggression. The broncos, bulls, steers, and calves are transported around Australia, meaning they are kept in an unnatural setting away from their herd. Before their event, they are forced into a chute, where they are isolated from the others. As the gate opens, they are released into the arena, where they are alone, surrounded by more people. As they buck, they look for an escape route, but are trapped. The stressful situation causes them to become more aggressive – just as they would if they were being attacked by a predator.

If you have ever attended a rodeo or bull riding event, you would know that there is nothing quiet or calm about a rodeo event. The crowds are enticed to scream and cheer, there is also constant loud music and bright lights.

Physical Abuse

The bulls are tormented to provoke them into being “aggressive”. Whilst in the chute, the bulls are shocked with electric prodders, jabbed with spurs, kicked and hit, have their tails twisted and pulled, and fingers shoved up their nose. The physical abuse causes the bulls to respond aggressively. In addition to this, they have a flank strap tied tightly around their sensitive belly (not genitals) and a rider on their back. As the gate opens, the bull “bucks” in an attempt to dislodge the rider and remove the uncomfortable flank strap. Once again, their reaction to being ridden and abused is the same as if they were being attacked by a predator. It is not uncommon to see bulls hurl themselves into solid objects in an attempt to rid the rider and escape the situation.

Transport and confinement

Animals involved in the rodeo are transported for long distances in trucks when moving from one event to another. Once they arrive at the destination, they are kept in small pens, unable to graze as they naturally would. The animals are often not given any shelter and are left to withstand the elements. 

Injuries and death

Although the industry claims life-threatening injuries as uncommon, any event that risks an animals life and subjects them to unnecessary stress has no place in society. It is important to note that there is no independent collation and review of injury records, making it impossible to know just how prevalent injuries are.

Calves commonly sustain injuries, such as damage to their windpipe and soft tissues, experience choking, bruising, and broken or fractured bones, backs, and necks [1]. It is also not uncommon for calves to be mis-roped, where the lasso goes around their face or their body, which can pull their body in awkward positions. Calves and steers have been known to run headfirst into the arena walls in an attempt to escape.

In addition to the stress, steers suffer from the extremely rough handling. Like the calves, steers also suffer from damage to their windpipe, bruising, injuries of the neck, muscle and tendons, and broken bones [5].

The vigorous bucking by bulls and broncos can cause muscle soreness or tears, abrasions, bruises, and broken bones, and injuries often result them being killed as these injuries render them useless for future events.