25Jun-Photo Release – My granddaughter Emmy has her first summer job, working on a ranch. Yup, my grandbaby-girl is a ranch hand. I’ve mentioned that Livermore is a Cowboy Town. We have a Rodeo – “The fastest Rodeo in the West” in fact. I had the great good fortune to be invited down to the center ring/fence-side to make images a few years back. I’ll make that shoot a featured release soon, though I’ve released that one already and recently.
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I love capturing animals when they are well cared for and happy campers. Every one of the animals on this ranch is so loved by the youngsters who care for them and the families who sponsor them, all I saw were smiles, kids and animal smiles. I love this stuff. I believe we can do nothing but good by introducing our young to the creatures who are dependent on us at a young age. Perhaps programs like these will stem the tide of animal cruelty once and for all.
Before you go off on me about ranchers, and rodeos, and cruelty; I strongly urge you to research the subject. Ask an AI to research and report on it for you. Don’t slant the question. Ask straight-up for truthful evidence of animal cruelty at a rodeo. Please don’t blindly judge. The folks who own the animals that perform in rodeos and riding shows have their lives invested in these animal athletes. They are among the most well cared for critters on earth. That’s a fact. You don’t have to take my word for it but I’ve included some linked sites that might help clear the air at the end of the gallery.
25Jun-Photo Release
from the webpage:
“A lot of these at-risk youth really enjoy the horses and just getting out of the classroom. They have to use both their hands, so they can’t use their phones. For one hour, they just don’t have anxiety, and sometimes that’s what they need to take a test.” An equine-therapy horseback riding instructor and former teacher emphasized the impact on students. “It’s wonderful to see the ones who wouldn’t touch a horse at first, now gain confidence. They walk away with an experience they’ll always remember.”
Gallery
25Jun-Photo Release
Ranchers and stock contractors…
… view livestock and rodeo animals as elite athletes, making their health, safety, and physical conditioning a top priority. Both the broader livestock industry and professional rodeo organizations enforce strict guidelines to ensure high standards of care.
The primary governing body for professional rodeo care standards is the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), which implements and enforces over 60 specific animal welfare rules.
The links below provide detailed information on the specific regulations, safety data, and daily care practices for rodeo animals and general livestock:
- PRCA Official Animal Welfare: You can read the specific rules regarding equipment regulations, weight limits, and handling on the PRCA Livestock Welfare Rules page.
- Rodeo Safety Metrics and Enforcement: For a breakdown of on-site veterinary data, injury rates (which track at less than 0.1%), and local implementations of these standards, look through the California Rodeo Salinas Livestock Information and the Cheyenne Frontier Days Animal Care Guidelines.
- General Ranching and Livestock Standards: Beyond the rodeo arena, everyday cattle and livestock care is guided by national certification programs. You can explore these industry-wide welfare initiatives via the Animal Agriculture Alliance Welfare Programs.
Key Safeguards in Professional Rodeo
The regulations established by these organizations cover everything from daily nutrition to arena equipment:
- Veterinary Oversight: A licensed veterinarian must be on-site for all sanctioned performances to inspect animals before and after competition. Any animal showing signs of illness or injury is immediately pulled.
- Equipment Modifications: Flank straps used for bucking horses must be completely lined with fleece or neoprene, and bull ropes must be soft cotton. Sharp spurs are strictly banned; all contestants must use dulled, rotating rowels that do not cut the animal’s hide.
- Protective Gear: Steers used in roping events are required to wear protective horn wraps to prevent friction injuries.
- Strict Penalties: Rules like the “no-jerk-down” regulation issue automatic fines and disqualifications to any contestant who pulls a calf backward or handles stock with unnecessary roughness.
Livermore Rodeo
Safety Standards at the Livermore Rodeo, celebrated as the “World’s Fastest Rodeo” is a cornerstone of the Tri-Valley’s cultural heritage. Founded in 1918 to raise funds for the Red Cross during World War I, this historic event celebrated its 108th annual run at Robertson Park. Recently inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, the event operates under strict modern mandates to guarantee that animal athletes receive premier care.
Because the Livermore Rodeo is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), the event must comply with all national animal welfare regulations. Additionally, California’s state laws provide some of the most rigorous localized oversight for livestock safety in the country.
Strict Veterinary Oversight and Reporting
At Robertson Park, animal care begins long before the gates open and continues well after the final performance:
- Mandatory On-Site Veterinarians: In accordance with PRCA rules, licensed large-animal veterinarians must be on-site from the start to the finish of every single performance and slack tracking session. Every animal is evaluated for health, weight, eyesight, and physical fitness prior to entering the arena. Lame, sore, sick, or injured stock are strictly barred from participating.
- California State Compliance: Under California Business and Professions Code (Section 4830.8), attending rodeo veterinarians are legally mandated to report any animal injury requiring treatment to the California Veterinary Medical Board within 48 hours of the rodeo’s conclusion. This ensures complete transparency and regulatory accountability for livestock safety.
Specialized Protective Equipment
To protect the stock during high-velocity events, the Livermore Rodeo utilizes specific, non-harmful gear engineered for animal safety:
- Fleece-Lined Flank Straps: The flank straps used to encourage bucking in stock are lined with thick, soft fleece or neoprene. They are designed to act as a cue rather than cause pain, and they never wound or cut the animal’s hide.
- Mandatory Horn Wraps: In the timed roping events, all steers are fitted with heavy-duty protective canvas or nylon horn wraps. These wraps cushion and protect the steer’s head and ears from friction or bruising when the rope is cast.
- Dull Spur Regulations: Contestants are subject to immediate disqualification if their equipment does not meet safety standards. Spur rowels must be completely dull and unlocked so they roll smoothly across the animal’s hide without breaking the skin.
Arena Safety and Logistics
The Livermore Stockmen’s Rodeo Association prioritizes the arena environment to minimize the risk of slips, strains, or impacts:
- Ground Maintenance: The arena dirt at Robertson Park is continuously plowed, leveled, and moisture-controlled between events. Proper ground conditioning provides optimal traction and impact absorption for both horses and bulls, protecting their joints and hooves.
- No Electric Prods: The use of standard electric prods or buzzers is strictly prohibited while animals are in the bucking chutes, ensuring the stock remains calm and focused before release.
- Safe Chute Construction: Arena pens and chutes are designed with smooth, rounded corners and escape routes to prevent animals from getting pinned or injured prior to entering the arena.
Through this combination of PRCA rules, state-enforced veterinary check-ins, and rigorous local management, the livestock at Robertson Park are handled with the highest level of professional care.
25Jun-Photo Release
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