PRCA Response to Chriss Swaney Rodeo Article

Our Chriss Swaney wrote about the risks rodeo participants face on the job. Here is the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association's response.

Chriss,

Your May 4 article about rodeo injuries contained several points that were false or misleading.

The statement that an average of one to two rodeo contestants die from their injuries each year is just plain wrong. Since 2016, there have only been four deaths in the arena among the men and women who compete in professional rodeo. That’s why Dylan’s death was so shocking. 

Regarding the NIH survey, we are not aware of any PRCA sanctioned rodeo with anything close to the injury rate mentioned in the article, and it would be hard to sustain any event if the injury rate was as high as you reported. Which rodeo was surveyed? Were the injuries bumps and bruises or something more serious? How many NFL players get injured on any given Sunday?  

Regarding animal injuries, we don’t know where you got the numbers about Calgary but at the very least, the statement lacks context. A major rodeo like Calgary hosts 1,100 animals in the arena each year. That’s 41,000 since 1986. Assuming your statement of 100 fatal injuries in the past 40 years is correct, which our records do not confirm, the injury rate would be about two-tenths of one percent.

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association has more than 60 rules governing animal care at rodeos. Contestants who violate those rules can be fined or penalized. We banned the use of hotshots years ago. Flank straps are designed to protect animals from injuries, not to cause them. The idea that anyone associated with professional rodeo would intentionally harm an animal that they birthed, raised, nursed when it was sick and invested significant sums of money in keeping it safe and healthy is frankly insulting.

PRCA has enormous respect for the men and women who compete in professional rodeo. We take extensive precautions in and out of the rodeo arena to keep our contestants safe and healthy. Every rodeo arena has veterinarians on site to prevent or treat injuries. We are proud of the steps we consistently take to make animal care and welfare a priority.

It is disappointing that your article conveyed a one-sided, misinformed view of professional rodeo. We hope next time you will give us the opportunity to offer your readers some perspective.

Respectfully,

Paul Woody, PhD

Chief Marketing Officer

Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association

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