Animal rights activists have a crazy plan to save Australia’s biggest rodeo by banning bulls and horses – and you won’t believe what they want to replace them with
- Mt Isa Rodeo has gone into voluntary management
- The famous four-day event has been around for 65 years
Controversial animal rights group PETA has come up with a radical plan to save Australia’s biggest rodeo by banning bulls and broncos – and replacing them with people who ride hobby horses.
The Mount Isa Rodeo has attracted cowboys and cowgirls from all over the world, who for the past 65 years have traveled to the remote Queensland town to take part in a four-day event.
However, on Monday it was announced that the event was carried out on a voluntary basis.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wrote to rodeo chair Rowena McNally and SV Partners administrators this week to offer their radical way to keep the event alive.
βFor example, a mechanical bull championship could replace bull riding and hobby horses could be used in barrel riding,β the letter said.
‘Rather than traumatizing and paralyzing baby animals with calf tug-of-war, competitors could instead ride electric bicycles as they attempt to lasso cars driven by their opponents.’
PETA claims that rodeo bulls are abused by being given electric shocks before competing, and that calves suffer choking and spinal damage during roping events.
The group told rodeo organizers to “end this national shame once and for all.”
If PETA has its way, Mt Isa Rodeo attractions such as horseback riding in the saddle spring (pictured at this year’s event) will be a thing of the past
The animal rights group wants rodeo organizers to switch to using mechanical bulls β and even remote-controlled cars β instead of animals (photo, action from this year’s rodeo)
After being a major attraction for 65 years, the Mt Isa Rodeo was placed into voluntary administration this week, sending shockwaves through outback Australia
The Mt Isa rodeo attracts around 25,000 visitors to the outback Queensland town each year, generating $7.4 million for the local economy.
On Monday, event organizers made the shocking announcement that SV Partners directors Michael Brennan and David Stimpson were appointed as volunteer administrators.
Mr Brennan said it presented an opportunity to restructure the rodeo’s operations and financial arrangements.
He hoped this was not the end of the event, but rather a second chance to secure its future by restructuring and revitalizing this annual community festival.
βBoth the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo and the Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships are iconic and important events for communities across the North West,β he said.
βThe Rodeo attracts both local and international competitors, along with tourists, who bring significant economic benefits to the region each year.
PETA wants organizers to ditch the wild horses and switch to letting jackaroos and jillaroos ride hobby horses, like this participant in the UK Hobby Horse Championship
‘Mt Isa, known as ‘Australia’s Rodeo City’, is deeply rooted in the country’s cowboy heritage.
βWe are working to preserve the rodeo as it is an essential part of Australia’s rich outback history.β
The decision to go voluntary came after event organizers faced financial pressures, including lower-than-expected ticket sales for 2024.
Rodeo chairman Rowena McNally told the ABC last month that the event was tight and they were unsure if it would go ahead.
βWe managed to operate through Covid with a virtual rodeo, but since then our reserves have been depleted so we had to look at how we could reduce costs and build a surplus,β she said.
βWe have enough in the bank to pay the bills we have at the moment, but I can’t say that will be the case next week.
“We’re certainly looking closely at our finances and getting advice on what to do.”