DEAR EDITOR:
”
Horse tripping,
”
a brutal standard event of Mexican-style rodeos called
”
charreadas,
”
was banned in California in 1994 after great public outcry.
DEAR EDITOR:
“Horse tripping,” a brutal standard event of Mexican-style rodeos called “charreadas,” was banned in California in 1994 after great public outcry. Yet, according to a recent story in the Los Angeles Times, the cruelty continues. Reportedly, four horses have been found abandoned in southern California river bottoms since April of last year, with injuries ranging from broken legs to open wounds and rope burns, probably the tip of the iceberg.
A suggested partial remedy: state law (Penal Code 596.7) requires either an on-site or an on-call veterinarian at all rodeos to care for injured animals. Inexcusably, the Mexican-style rodeos are not covered by current law, and the animals suffer accordingly. Hopefully, some conscientious state legislator, preferably Latino, will author a bill this year to require the same veterinary care at all charreadas.
Eric Mills, coordinator Action for Animals, Oakland
Submitted Monday, Jan. 5
