10/13/2013
Mexican family values include animal cruelty, as noted in a recent BBC report about horse tripping in the Hispanic version of rodeos. A Mexico-booster dad remarks, âYouâre not gonna hurt me by stopping me by doing charia; youâre gonna hurt thousands and thousands of kids that want to have an alternative sport and be proud of something.â
Rider Leonardo Lopez remarks in the video, âMost of us that come from Mexico, we donât leave Mexico there, we bring Mexico with us, itâs part of us when we ride horses here our mind goes back to our little towns in the old days, so Mexico is always with us.â
Say, if Mexico is so beloved by its people, why donât they live there, where business is booming and no annoying Americans are complaining about Mexicansâ cultural cruelty to animals?
Mexican horse-tripping is brutal:
Mexican horse-tripping can seriously harm animals:
Americans hear from diversity cheerleaders how wonderful it all is, with no mention of the overwhelming downside. In particular, the gratuitous barbarity toward animals around the world is actually rather shocking to citizensâ sensibility when toted up: for an array of examples, see my 2006 article Diversity Is Strength! Itâs Also⌠Cruelty To Animals.
Because of animal cruelty concerns, Nevadaâs Clark County voted in August to keep horse-tripping illegal:
Clark County commissioners say no to rodeo horse tripping, Las Vegas Review-Journal, August 6, 2013The Clark County law against the Mexican rodeo sport of âhorse ropingâ stands.
County commissioners on Tuesday scrapped a proposal that would have allowed roping events that include the lassoing of horses by their legs.
The commissionâs 6-1 vote followed an outpouring of testimony from people who work with horses or consider themselves animal rights advocates and came despite concerns voiced by the Mexican Federation of Charreria.
The decision means that the countyâs ordinance outlawing the practice will remain in place, even if an eventâs goal is to not trip them and instead use a catch-and-release method.
Horse tripping, or roping the legs, can bring the same penalties as other animal-related violations of county code. A violator could be found guilty of a misdemeanor and fined or imprisoned, or pay a civil penalty, with fines ranging from $100 for the first offense to $500 for a third offense.
Commissioner Tom Collins cast the lone dissenting vote. He stressed that horse tripping isnât part of charreada events, which reflect the cultural heritage of rodeos in Mexico and roping horses by their legs.
âI have attended some of the Mexican rodeos. They have very expensive horses,â he said, adding that the owners wouldnât want to hurt these horses.
The proposal would have mirrored a new state law that bans horse tripping, but allows local government entities to issue permits for events with horse roping.
Critics told commissioners that allowing charreada events would open the door for tripping, even if itâs unintentional.
While not supportive of the changing the countyâs ordinance, Commissioner Chris Guinchigliani had introduced the measure as a possible compromise in light of the new state law and an upcoming event.
The World Series of Charreria Las Vegas 2013 is scheduled for Sept. 25-29 at South Point. The series has nine events, three that would have featured horse roping that cannot happen now. Legally, the rodeo can go on with the six other events that donât involve horse roping.
Alejandro Galindo Jimenez, the Nevada president of the Mexican Federation of Charreria, stressed that its own rules keep animal safety and welfare at the forefront. The events have welfare committees and rules against horse tripping.
Itâs unclear what the countyâs move will do to the event, which was estimated to draw some 10,000 to 20,000 people. But Galindo Jimenez said it wonât be good.
âThat means Las Vegas suffers a huge blow,â he said.
Asked if a scaled-back event is possible, he said options need to be explored.
The organizationâs 3,500 members travel to Nye County to practice their events.
He said the misperception about the event was hurtful.
âThe only thing American about American rodeo is âAmericanâ in front of it because rodeo is Spanish for âroundup,ââ he said. â⌠One culture is able to rodeo but yet the other one canât.â
Opponents of the countyâs change said horses can still be tripped at the events, regardless of whether there is intent.
Gina Greisen, president of Nevada Voters for Animals, told commissioners, âWe say donât touch the ordinance. Donât allow the roping of the legs.â
Mark Keyser, a horse trainer in Las Vegas, encouraged commissioners not to allow horse roping.
âI see the psychological damage that is done to these animals,â he said.
After the meeting, he called the decision a âvictory for horses.â
He added: âAccidents happen, even when itâs not intentional.â