The "Bull" About Bull Riding

Bull riding is promoted as a rough and tough exercise of human skill and courage in conquering the fierce, untamed beasts of the Wild West. In reality, it is nothing more than manipulative displays of human domination over animals, thinly disguised as entertainment. In fact, many of the animals used in bull riding and - more broadly - in rodeos are not aggressive by nature; they are physically provoked into displaying "wild" behavior to make the cowboys look brave. Worse, while the cowboys willingly risk physical injury - the animals involved have no choice. It is not uncommon for animals to suffer broken limbs and necks, as well as paralysis, and all for the sake of human entertainment. Now, the Professional Bull Riders Association is bringing its brand of animal abuse as 'entertainment' to the Honda Center in Anaheim this weekend. Learn more about the harms of bull-riding and the immorality of using animals as entertainment. Guest: Freeman Wicklund, Director of Campaigns for Mercy For Animals and a humane education trainer for the Institute of Humane Education.