August 7, 2013
Viewers Worldwide Express Anger, Disgust
A new YouTube video looks like it will go viral, with more than 2200 views in four days.
The disturbing video can be viewed here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlqH7uBJF68
The video was shot at a July 13, 2013 horse tripping event held at the Harney County Fairgrounds in Burns, Oregon. A team of documenters from SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) showed up, and was told that no video or cameras with detachable lenses would be allowed.
Undaunted, the SHARK team entered the event, and immediately discovered both detachable lenses and video cameras being used by people in the stands. When rodeo officials were advised of the supposedly banned devices, they chose to do nothing to rodeo supporters, while continuing to warn SHARK investigators against the same devices.
Having exposed rodeo lies regarding cameras, the SHARK team left the fairgrounds to set up two Hi-Pods next to the public road. The Hi-Pod allows investigators to raise their video cameras thirty feet into the air. In spite of rodeo people’s attempt to place horse trailers in the way to block their activities from the world, the cameras peered right over them, and documented the obvious abuse.
Horse experts across the country have condemned horse tripping. Here are just a few samples:
“Roping the front legs and causing the horse to fall is abusive. Compared to cattle, horses are more excitable and may be more likely to be injured.” - Dr. Temple Grandin
“Horses tripped are in danger of sustaining serious/life-ending injuries.” - Patrick Ohannessian. Executive Officer. PoloPony.com
“As an equine veterinarian and a lifelong horsewoman I must say that this practice is cruel and inhumane. There is certainly great risk to the horse to break a leg, shoulder, neck or all of the above and for absolutely no purpose.” - Dr. Lisa Jacobson, Big Sky Equine Veterinary Services
“Horse tripping is NEVER a humane procedure and should not be tolerated in any way by the horse industry. Tripping injures many horses, many times fatally.” - Hillary Clark, Program Director, Hooved Animal Humane Society
In spite of outcries from horse experts and horse lovers worldwide, horse abuse in Oregon continues, as does efforts by horse abusers to hide their cruelty.
“Rodeo supporters in Harney County had their chance to act with dignity, but chose not to,” states SHARK President Steve Hindi. “They played by the same rules as horse trippers in Jordan Valley, in Malheur County, OR last May - with one set of rules for people supporting cruelty, and different rules for people with compassion. We will nevertheless continue to expose this cruelty for as long as it takes to stop it.”
For more information on rodeo cruelty please visit:
Contact: Steve Hindi – 630 640 1889
