I've lived in St. Albert most of my life, and I'm so proud to live and work in this amazing community. However, once a year, in May, my heart and pride sink as we collectively celebrate our dirty little tradition; the St. Albert rodeo.
In 1934, British Member of Parliament Lieut.-Col. Moore was discussing a recent American rodeo. He stated: “Members witnessed that exhibition and saw those broken legs, broken backs, broken necks, bleeding nostrils and bleeding ears and the frightened eyes looking out through the blood. That is not the sort of sport for the British people.” Since that date, over 80 years ago, rodeos have been banned in Britain! In 2010, more than 50 members of Parliament signed a motion condemning the rodeo and calling on the Canadian government to take steps to stop this immense cruelty. Indeed compared to Britain, we are living in the dark ages.
Dr. Cordell Leif explained that “bucking horses often develop back problems from repeated poundings they take from cowboys” and that “there's also a real leg injury where a tendon breaks down. Horses don't normally jump up and down.” Dr. C.G. Haber, saw many rodeo animals sold at slaughterhouses with six to eight broken ribs from the spine, punctured lungs, and blood pooling form calf roping (which also often snaps the calf’s neck).
I remember as a young child in the stands under the May sun, wondering why the animals were so agitated? I was disgusted to learn that these animals are provoked to display aggressive behaviour, only to make cowboys and cowgirls look brave. This is done with electric prods, spurs, and bucking straps to irritate and enrage them. Many times the flank is so tightly cinched around the abdomen, they buck to simply escape the sheer pain, resulting in open wounds and burns and internal bleeding.
Cowboys and cowgirls have choices, these animals do not. I don't understand the joy that could possibly come from taking your children to watch animals being harmed for entertainment. I cannot understand why as a community, we promote and encourage this in the name of tradition.
As the rodeo rolls into town, I say why not keep the parade, midway, and music but ditch the practices that harm animals. Isn't the sign of a civilized society one that evolves? If not, why not exclude women from the next vote? I'm sure that too was once a tradition.
For those who are ready with pen to anxiously respond to this letter, to preserve the “tradition,”, to put these ideas where they belong – buried deep, deep down past our intellectual reason and compassion, I say this: save your words. They would only be written to help you sleep at night. As for me, I plan to be nowhere near the rodeo, perhaps on a flight to Britain, until St. Albert drags itself back from the past, and washes its hands and conscience clean until next year's journey back in time.
Candice Goonewardena, St. Albert
