A win for sheep who are used in rodeo entertainment! The Manitoba Stampede has cancelled its cruel mutton bustin’ event, following pressure from Animal Justice and other animal advocates.
In this archaic rodeo event, children, usually between four to seven years old, are placed on the back of sheep, who are restrained in a chute. After the chute is released, the sheep flees, trying desperately to rid the child from their back. Children try to hold on by grabbing the ears, tails and fleece of the animals who often will buck, shake or roll.
This event is not only abusive to the sheep, but also dangerous for the children, who are usually flung to the ground in a matter of seconds. Mutton bustin’ events send a dangerous message to young children about chasing and tackling terrified animals for fun, giving them access to what the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association calls “sanctioned animal abuse.”
Animal Justice has been sounding the alarm on mutton bustin’ – and similar events such as pig and calf scrambles—for years, arguing that they violate animal welfare laws. It’s illegal to cause distress and suffering to animals, and there are no legal exemptions for rodeo.
Once Animal Justice learned about the cruel event at the Manitoba Stampede in 2022, we rallied our supporters to speak up—and it worked! Since then, we’ve continued to take action targeting other rodeo events in Manitoba and beyond, by filing legal complaints with law enforcement, asking concerned Canadians to take action, and giving rodeo animals an important voice in the media.
While our lawyers celebrate this victory, we will continue to fight for the protection of animals used in rodeo, including by asking the Manitoba Stampede to end its other harmful rodeo events, including calf-roping chuckwagon races. As always, our lawyers will continue to push lawmakers across the country to ban abusive rodeo events altogether. Join our mission!
