July 5, 2013,

RGJ.com. David Jacobs

The Reno Rodeo said Wednesday night that its investigation of alleged horse abuse found that “actions depicted” in photos “do not meet our high standards for livestock handling” and the livestock handling company won’t be invited back.

“We are pleased to report that the horse in the photos was not injured and went on to be successfully loaded in the bucking chute and competed normally,” the rodeo said in a statement. “We do not believe the accounts reported are accurate; however, the photo does not seem to depict the higher level of handling we expect at our event.”

 

Reno Rodeo officials had launched an investigation Monday into a video and photos of a horse allegedly shocked at the 2013 Reno Rodeo on June 28.

Ellie Lopez-Bowlan of Reno said she that she and her husband saw a man try to put a “large wire hanger copper collar” into the horse’s anus. She attempted to take a photo with her phone and accidentally captured a one-second video that shows rodeo personnel using a device to move the horse, which violently bucks its back legs in a loading chute. The rodeo received the photos late Sunday night.