An Entertainment Abuses Article from All-Creatures.org

Why Rodeos Are Still Popular When Marine Parks and the Circus Are Declining

From Jessica Scott-Reid, SentientMedia.org
August 2024

Some forms of animal entertainment are going out of style, but rodeos persist. Despite these improvements, rodeo events remain as popular as ever with fans. Both the Calgary Stampede and Cheyenne Frontier Days saw an increase in attendance this year. Even as marine parks and circuses close amid declining public interest, rodeos seem to remain untouchable. 

Today, rodeos big and small draw crowds across North America. Spectators looking to indulge in cowboy culture gather to watch man versus beast in a display of traditional ranching skills and techniques.

Whether it's a small town gathering, a massive event for millions or a traveling show not unlike the circus or professional wrestling, rodeos have evolved over time into a popular spectacle.
But the trend is not without controversy.

At the center of rodeos are of course the animals — horses, calves, steers, sheep, pigs and more — who are raced, chased, wrestled and roped. Some of these animals become injured. Some die. Yet the crowds keep coming.

What is it about rodeos that continue to attract a certain sector of people, despite (or because of) the common occurrence of what others deem animal cruelty? And why, when some forms of animal entertainment are falling out of cultural favor (like wild animal circus, whale and dolphin shows), do rodeos continue to be popular?

Experts tell us there is much psychology at play, along with cultural identity — and even a connection to diet.

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Please read the ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE, including:

• A brief history of rodeo
• Harm caused by rodeos
• Why do some people like rodeos?
• How rodeos remain popular
• A slow shift towards more animal welfare at rodeos

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Posted on All-Creatures.org: August 1, 2024
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