RSPCA WA is urging those planning on attending this month's Coolgardie Outback Festival to think about what the experience is like for animals used in rodeo calf roping and bucking events.
The animal welfare organisation says research shows the calves and horses involved can experience fear and distress and are at risk of being injured.
RSPCA WA's Animal Welfare Policy Research Officer, Debbie King, said the welfare concerns were grounded in a growing body of scientific evidence.
"Some people may see roping and bucking events as just another part of the festival's entertainment, but the science is clear that some rodeo events expose animals to significant fear, distress, and injury risk," Ms King said.
"These animals, sometimes very young, are placed in situations they cannot understand or escape, thereby seriously compromising their welfare."
RSPCA WA's concerns about these rodeo events are reflected in broader community sentiment, with independent polling finding 61 per cent of Australians are worried about the animal welfare impacts of calf roping, including 62 per cent of West Australians living outside Perth. More than three in five Australians support a ban on calf roping. *
The RSPCA is also concerned about horse bucking events. Preliminary findings from current Charles Sturt University research mirror the findings of calf roping studies, with bucking horses displaying behaviours consistent with fear and stress.
Some display extreme reactions after the flank strap is tightened and being spurred aggressively by the rider, including stumbling, falling heavily,
colliding with arena barriers, or striking the ground headfirst. These forceful and repeated impacts may place horses at risk of bone, ligament and muscle injury, in addition to significant psychological distress.
"The evidence increasingly points to these responses not being voluntary athletic displays, but behaviours associated with fear, stress and attempts to escape significant harm," Ms King said.
"When animals are deliberately placed in situations that provoke these responses for entertainment, that presents a serious welfare concern."
While RSPCA WA acknowledges regional events like the Coolgardie Outback Festival can play an important social and economic role in country communities, these specific rodeo events should not escape scrutiny. "Many people attending these events may be unaware of what the science tells us about what these animals experience," Ms King said.
"We are simply asking people to make informed choices about the events they support and ask relevant questions about what events are included on the program."
