Rodeos are a significant part of American culture, with a long, rich history. They include multiple events, such as barrel racing, team roping, team penning, bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding, bulldogging, calf roping, and more. However, animal welfare has become an increased concern at rodeos, particularly in events such as bronc riding, bull riding, and breakaway roping, where injuries to the animals partaking in these events are known to occur.
Los Angeles seeks to ban these controversial rodeo events in a draft ordinance going through the Los Angeles City Council. According to the draft, it would be unlawful to “organize or engage in any of the following activities for live public amusement or entertainment: bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping, or any other activity that involves physically wrestling an animal to the ground, roping an animal, or attempting to ride and remain mounted on a bucking animal.”
Currently, the proposed law states that “certain animal exhibition activities, including those commonly performed at rodeos, involve the aggressive riding, roping, and/or wrestling of steers, calves, bulls, horses and other animals for live public entertainment and often cause harm and injuries to the animals involved, including sprains and broken limbs.”
LA’s attempt to ban rodeos has come with mixed feedback. The ban was set to pass by the LA council in December 2023. Still, Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez successfully argued for an amendment calling on the City Attorney to include specific protections for cultural and traditional equestrian events. This includes American Indian, Native American, Indigenous Rodeo, Mexican Charreria, and Escaramuza events that do not include prohibited activities.
The most recent passage released from the proposed law states that “This section shall not be construed to prohibit an equestrian, cultural, or other event, including an event described as a rodeo, that does not include any of the activities prohibited under Subdivision (b) and that is in compliance with all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations.”
However, Rodriguez is still unhappy with the current draft, saying, “Yesterday, the City Attorney’s Office released the proposed Rodeo Ban Ordinance. The City Council made a commitment to provide the equestrian community a seat at the table when drafting this ordinance that disproportionately affects BIPOC communities. Once again, the community was excluded and this was done in the dark, without the engagement of the Mexican Charro community, Native American and Black Cowboy communities that this threatens to criminalize.”
The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo was recently held in the City of Industry, California, just outside of LA. The rodeo, which celebrates and honors Black cowboys’ contributions to the American West, sold out on both days.
The Neighborhoods and Community Enrichment Committee will be the next to review the revised ordinance before it moves to the full council for final approval. The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for August 7, though it is still being determined if the proposed ban will be a part of the agenda.
“It is imperative that the city of Angels makes it clear that animal cruelty is wrong and take steps to ensure that events that have a proven track record of harming animals are no longer allowed,” says Councilman Bob Blumenfield.
