The Rodeo: Amusement or Abuse?

I admit that I wrangled with the notion of writing an article relating to the rodeo. After all, this sporting event is a time-honored Santa Barbara tradition. Still, there has always been something that bothered me about cowboys and cowgirls chasing livestock around a dusty arena as throngs of onlookers cheer. I’m pretty sure that if I were in the crowd, I’d be rooting for the one with the hooves.

I can’t say that I’ve ever attended a rodeo; I’ve never been to the circus for that matter. To me, it has always felt, well, wrong to glean pleasure from using animals for our entertainment. Even as a kid, I can remember hiding during a friend’s birthday party when it came time to smack the piñata with a baseball bat. Call me crazy, but I don’t see the point of encouraging children to hit an animal – albeit one made of paper mache – until it splits open and sugary treats spill out.

I know what you’re thinking:  someone has hit Karen on the head one too many times if she’s worried about the morality of a children’s party game. But, there are plenty of people who pontificate about the negative impact that violent video games and TV shows have on our kids. Wouldn’t you agree that roping a calf and throwing it to the ground does the same thing?

Some folks like Simon Oswitch, president of Santa Barbara-based Animal Emancipation, think so.

“Can you imagine the outcry if, say, a dog was used in calf-roping?,” he implores. “It would never happen, but the fact is that calves suffer intensely. We no longer permit dog fighting and bear baiting in the United States , although these sports were popular for decades.”

Others, like the supporters of the Santa Barbara Old Spanish Days Stock Horse Show & Rodeo, deem tie-down roping, steer stopping, mutton bustin’, barrel racing, and bull riding as good, clean fun.

I’ll let you decide what you and your family are going to do to celebrate Fiesta this year. But, if it’s all the same to you, I’m going to spend my Fiesta fun where it was meant to be spent: at the food booths in De La Guerra Plaza

Karen will be pounding the pavement in search of the perfect churro and henna tattoo during this year’s Fiesta celebration. What is your favorite Fiesta activity? Send them to Karen at karenleestevens@cox.net.

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