St. Paul Rodeo cancels wild horse race after last year's tragedy
ST. PAUL, Ore. - Last year, two horses collided head-on at the St. Paul Rodeo in an accident that shocked spectators. Now organizers say they will not run the same event this year.
The collision happened during the wild horse race, one of the rodeo's signature events. Two horses were speeding around in circles in opposite directions and hit head-on at full gallop.
The riders were not injured but the horses were. One was so badly hurt that it had to be put down the next morning. The other horse, which ended up crippled, was later put down as well.
A spectator caught the collision on video and posted it on YouTube.
(WARNING: While the video is not graphic, it may be disturbing for some viewers. The collision happens about one minute into the clip).
We talked to the St. Paul Rodeo's Livestock Director, Steve Coleman, to find out more about the decision.
Coleman said while the accident was something you never want to see, he wanted to hold the Wild Horse Race this year. He was out-voted by the board.
"It's the way you used to break horses in the old days," he said. "Nowadays, they do it kind of different."
Coleman said while he, personally, would like to hold the event again, it's doubtful there will ever be another wild race horse race at the St. Paul Rodeo after what happened.
"We most likely won't do it again," he said.
The rodeo made the decision earlier this year. When they told their fans about it on their Facebook page, there were mixed comments. Here are a few:
"I am glad to hear this. While the wild horse race is the most exciting event when it goes well, it's also scary and tragic when it goes badly. I will miss the race but not the danger to the riders and animals. I was at Pendleton in 2011 when riders were also seriously injured during the races." - Elke Bernal Bruton
"People and animals get hurt in rodeo. If you can't deal with the reality of it, maybe you should go to the zoo instead." - John DeMeritt
"I support your decision. Still a little too fresh. Give it some time!" - Shan Ryan
"So bummed! I so wanted to take the grandkids this year to see the Wild Horse Race of St. Paul Rodeo. It's so exciting - I've never seen anything like it." - Sarah Saucedo
"I agree with the board because although it is fun watching cowboys ride around on untamed horses, those horses are probably scared outta their minds. One of the horses I ride is such a sweetheart and completely tame, but just being brought to a show really scares her. Horses truly have feelings and we should respect that." - Hopeful Engberg
"These wild horses get treated better being in the rodeo than they do out in the wild. They have water and food readily available and work for a few minutes a year. Really is too bad to hear." - Jeff Annen
The Oregon Humane Society was a vocal opponent to the wild horse race following what happened and we talked to them as well to get their reaction.
"We're very pleased to see this action," said OHS spokesman David Lytle. "They (rodeos) are not subject to legal regulation - they're exempt - so it's up to the court of public opinion and I think the public outcry was so huge it just forced action."
Lytle said the Humane Society has long taken issue with rodeo practices.
"It's an extremely high-risk activity and we don't think animals should be used for entertainment when their lives are at risk," he said.
This is the 78th year of the St. Paul Rodeo. It runs July 2-6.
Tortured? These animals are taken care of and treated better than most people. Enjoy listening to so called "experts" view on rodeos. Just shows they know nothing about the sport.
They should BAN all rodeos anyway! I'm sure these animals would rather be in a pasture somewhere than tortured for the profit of some human!
These two horses went down and a couple weeks later the McRib is back.....coincidence?
Yes by all means..... save these poor animals from these idiots. Hopefully the suicide race in Omak Washington has also been shut down at the Omak stampede..... terrible abuse and drownings of these helpless beasts....... ran down a steep imbankment into a deep wide river with drunk riders not giving them enough reign to swim... I saw it 30 years ago and I am still tramuatized by the visions in my minds eye............
It's American tradition. Â So accidents happen. Â Do we ban all cars because there is a wreck? Â No. Â Why target our heritage? Â Must we all become tapas eating, gelato licking, cuppachino slurping yuppies who's afraid to look at a wild animal or shoot a gun?
now there will be more horses to truck to Canada to the slaughter house. just saying.
Right decision !!!!
Let wild horses be wild and free
I love rodeo, however, I don't like wild horse races or wild horse roping. I have seen horses maimed, killed, legs broken, and quite frankly i don't care what happens to the rider. They are supposed to be the ones with the brains, if they get hurt, maimed or killed it is their own fault. Also, the race at Oakanogan(sp) should be banned. And no, I am not a tree hugging, PETA loving earth muffin. Just a farmer that doesn't like to see animals abused for entertainment.
It's animal abuse. Period. Go research and see just how long you are able to watch the videos of what really takes place at these types of events.Â
Good decision!
Just because of some people ackward feelings , we have lost the most beautifull horse race, in our country, that have ever existed. The steeplechase. Horses are not cows, they love to race, they love to race so much than even food, care , green pastures etc are a secondary issue for them. I have horses and I love them, can't even described how much. I know how eager and happy they are once they find out they are going to race. But, the horse races were replaaed with Nascar, extremely boring left turn, left turn , noice and air pollution. And the same crowd calling a faul on horses is watching the left turn, left turn forever and waiting for crashes. Crashes and crashes only.It is fine with me though, let the other non Nascar people and horses to enjoy themself as well
The right decision. Glad they canceled it.
Nothing short of animal abuse.
Good idea to not do it anymore.
Horseshit happens, get over it!!
The accident was most certainly not the horses' fault. The horses who ran into one another were terrified and overwhelmed by their human abusers. This is not the method most horsefolk used or currently utilize to habituate and train horses to be ridden. The organizers are to be commended for banning the abusive practice that victimizes horses for entertainment.
I gave up on rodeos way back when I was at the Pendleton roundup and two cowboys roped a steer from both ends, " heading and heeling' I think it is called. One cowboy went east and the other west and the back bone of the steer broke with a sound like a rifle shot. How much fun some folks have to have at the expense of animals.
Yep good decision
Yes they prob should, as most of the non horse folks really don't understand that like any sport, some horrible things do happen. But its the right thing to do, cancelling that event.
It was the right decision. That kind of race bordered on animal abuse.
TOTALLY!!!! I never liked that race every year horses die because of man. Its a good and right decision.
Put the shoe on the other foot and see how a person would feel and react!
Great decsion, there is no sport worth killing orinjuring animals so that they have to be put down. We have enough gore in life
Good Descision
Yes they did the right thing. How could terrorizing a wild animal even more than they are already tramatized be a good thing except to some sick individuals that want to be entertained.
Not a bad idea if you ask me, they did the right thing.
Rodeo's are archaic and outdated. The animals that are put down each year in the name of entertainment is ludicrois. They have to hurt the bulls 90% of the time by either tightening a belt around their stomachs which makes them "buck", and/or using a cattle prod in which they are just going completely on adreneline and have snapped their own legs they're so amped up. Look at the video's of bull riding or rodeo's in general and you'll see the animals frothing at the mouth as well from the electric prod causing their saliva to foam. This is nothing new. It just only get's attention when someone films it or something tragic happens. In this case, it was both.Â
@JoeBlow1001Â I agree and I think everyone should watch exactly what happens with bull riding, beyond sickening.Â
@JoeBlow1001 The amount of animals put down each year in the name of feeding the humans doesn't bother you at all though, correct? That must be something different. Correct?The butchery must be much more human like , because you/we do not see it. Correct?
to bad there isn't a way to help prevent such accidents, besides shutting it down
I'm not an animal rights nut, don't go to rodeos though I have a number of friends who compete with cutting horses. Â But two horses going full-speed at each other lack the sense to avoid crashing head-on? Â Not the smartest horses in the corral.Â
I agree, maybe they were the horses that rode in the short trailer. Personally, I'm not a fan of bull riding as it appears to be purely for sport (in my opinion), but as far as bucking broncos, calf-roping and barrell racing, those do exemplify true old-west style cowboy skills. I have enjoyed watching those at rodeos in the past few years.
of course they did the right thing!
Good they should cancel it!! That should have never happened in the first place
Cancel it!
I say cancel the whole thing!
The show must go on!
Right decision.
The last rodeo I went to at Salem Fairgrounds a horse had to be put down, solely due to the hazing in the arena by cowboys. Sorry, I will never go to another one and think certain events should stop.
I'm glad
Accidents like that happen ever so often an sad as it is, it shouldn't be cancelled.
And Elmers rejoiced
I am very glad to hear this event is no longer taking place.
I have spent my whole life around rodeos, and I have put down animals that have been injured not just in rodeo, but other events as well. Horses are athletes, it's true that a respected horse loves the sport, however a wild horse race is and always has been a game of intimidation and scare tactics. Putting 15 horses in a closed arena and sending people out to catch them is terrifying. Unlike other rodeo events, wild horse racing is not something a horse trains for, it is not a sport to display their beauty, intelligence or power, it is a game for the enjoyment of people. Imagine being thrown into a confined space, chased by yelling men and women, there is no escape, and there are hundreds of people screaming and cheering them on. Don't you think you would go out do to whatever you could to escape? Rodeos are about the love between a cowboy/cowgirl and their horse, it displays their intelligence, and grace. I have been an advocate for ending wild horse races and a well known rodeo like St. Paul will lead the way for other rodeo associations to re-think their practices. Thank you St. Paul for continuing to be a great organization and respecting the animal as well as the rider.
Good. Hopefully they come to the same conclusion about the entire "rodeo" and cancel it as well.
Bumper horses?
Since I worked for a farrier, trimming hooves, shaping shoes, etc, I guess I'm overly sensitive to what happens to a horse's lower leg. Consider that they're running on their middle finger. Most farriers hate barrel racing for what it does to those delicate bones.
I have been going to St Paul for 40 plus years. This happened right in front of me. I glad they have decided not to have the race again. The show was perfect and they didn't need it anyway.
BOOOOO!!!!!!