Why do people think that cowboys?

Question

Beat horses and are mean to steers in rodeo's and other stuff?

Don't it make you mad.

But why do they think that what do they not know that we know?

Answer 1

Partly because of negative publicity from animal rights groups.  A friend of mine was working cows in his arena which happened to be along a busier road, and a reporter stopped by with cameras, etc. asking for an interview.  He agreed to do it, and it started out with lots of questions about abusing the cattle and rough treatment of the horses, and so on.  He invited the reporter to come back and spend a day with him and do a real story.  After she spent the day seeing the wonderful way he treated his horses and cattle, she ended up writing a story about the misiformation out there about cowboys....it was a big story in the newspaper with pictures and I think it made an impact on anyone who read it.  More cowboys need to tell their stories in order to outweigh the negative press they've gotten.

Answer 2

actually the saying "git er done"is a redneck phrase not a cowboy/cowgirl phrase.you can just chalk it up to an old saying"ignorance is bliss" i cant remember how many animal rights people that protest at the rodeos i have invited onto a bronk or bull or to stand inside my barrel when we turn out a fighting bull so they could prove me wrong that they trully dont like people,, but they never take me up on the offer,go figgure.

edit:carleigh r.i will let you stand in my barrel in the middle of an arena and i will turn out a corriente fighting bull with no rider or back cinch so you can find out just how "nice"they are. ps hey Kevin.

edit 2:Crazy 4.i ride western and my horses love me,i would like to see you ride your horse using only 5 strands of horse hair tying your reins to your bit and working all day without them breaking.

Answer 3

well i ride english hunt seat and i personally dont think that cowobys are mean to horses they seem that they love them but hey I'm sure some cowboys are mean to their horses ust like some english riders are.

i hate to say it but i think that most cowboys/girls have better connections to there horse.

when i picture a western rider i don't see the horses getting overworked for no reason like some english riders who jump 3 feet, race to the death, and do overall pointless things.

but i don't think alol english riders are snobs, but i definitly see where you're coming from

EDIT: i agree with the kevin ride n slide, bullriding is the only thing i think is wrong.i also agree that barrel racing is a little mean (sorry to offend anyone) but it is definitly not terrible. and for sure not as bad as some english thing

I almsot forgot i ride english 7 days a week 6 hours a day there hehe

Answer 4

I ride western too! I tried english but western seems more natural to me anyway. I am not pro rodeo nor against it so please do not take my answer the wrong way because it isn't all cowboys but some rodeos will shock the horse before it goes out to make it wild which I think it is cruel...also I do not like roping because I feel bad for the cows! I love barrel racing I think it is amazing what some people and their horses can do!

EDIT: I would like to add this to the people that said western can't hold a candle to english.....PLEASE u got to be kidding me!

WESTERN- http://www.equiworld.net/uk/sports/weste...

ENGLISH- http://www.percheronhorse.org/congress/e...

Answer 5

Because not everyone that calls themselves a cowboy is one.

Wyoming gal here... and trust me, that above statement is the absolute truth.

Answer 6

it seems to me that you have something against english riders, just like some people have against cowboys! and if you dont want english riders answering, i shouldnt be right now... but i am. i ride english but i also do just about everything else. i hate the stereotype that all english riders are snobs; i do english, and i have the reputation of having exemplary shortmanship. i have grown up where i worked for everything i have, and i appreciate every little thing. i have trained both of my english horses start to finish myself, and i love and respect them like no other; they are my best friends. i dont take offense to the name-calling, because opinions are like belly buttons; everyone has one! (thats what my Ag teacher always used to say) but anyway, sorry about the speil! =]

i think that people regard cowboys this way is because they are ignorant and only see what they see in movies. they think that all cowboys are abusive and harsh, when in reality the people most in-touch with their horses are often cowboys.

and btw, running barrels and poles require just as much training as dressage does. sure, it may not be as difficult or exclusive, but when trained correctly, contesters are often some of the best horses out there.

Answer 7

well, wen ppl imagin or see a cowboy the see a man with spurs, chaps, boots and a hat thats ssupposed to be a mans man that can take on anything but many ppl dont see them at there home life with kids and a wife, and the only thing i find mean in a rodeo is the bll riding, but ill tell ya what it is one heck of a rush being up on and animal like that tryin to hang on

and i also have a thing agenst english riders cause i hat it on a trail and some s****. rich kid or man thats all dressed up, wen in western i can do alot of the stuff they do better, and i also think theve forgotten all about riding, wen they see it, its a 6 thousand dollar horse there daddy buys them thats trained for anything and everything but they dont see the hours ppl like me put into that horse to make it they way it is also the pain, they see it in a ring trying to get best in show or watever there trying to win and wearing dress pantts, shinny poots and a little helmet

all i wear is dirty jeans dirty boots and have the time a dirty shirt and a saddle that my grandpa left me thats probly 25 yrs old thats better than the stuff the have now

Answer 8

Can you people stop arguing for 5 seconds?! I am an English rider. Your a Western rider. I can tell you FOR SURE that english riders aren't "they are s****. and they forgot who brought horse riding to life". WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU? I am not s****., I'm just like you but I actually care that english and western is equal! I read some of your answers and I'm sick of it! NO ONE complains about how western riding is abusive, yet here you are sayings English is s****. and jerkish. Their equal, dumb@$$!!! Oh and guess what? ENGLISH CAME FIRST. Western was invented after the native americans, who found horses after they were introduced by Europeans, whose saddles developed to english hundreds of years before western was even thought of! How about you people who don't know what their talking about shut up and let the people with a touch of brains answer the question! As a matter of fact, you, who are disagreeing with me, can think of this: your actually being racist, of a sort. (Look in the question: "please I don't want english riders answering this") Why? So you can only hear your opinion? So it makes you feel even more right when on the contarary, you are actually very, very, wrong? And did you ever LOOK at horse sports?

Western:

Barrel racing - no problem

Roping - Gee, throwing a rope around a calf (equivalent of a baby in cow form) or steer, pulling to a halt, and choking the poor thing doesn't sound so bad does it?

Reining - no problem

Steer wrestling - must I say more, people?

Pole racing - no problem

Cutting - no problem

English

Dressage - no problem

Racing - controversial: in my opinion, fine, because of the controlled conditions and breeding. And true, horses have died racing, but horses have also died doing other sports, and we don't end them, do we?

Jumping - no problem (horses naturally jump, plus, have you ever seen a high-end jumping horse's expression? In case you haven't, it's joy, pure joy and love.)

Eventing - fine

Hmmm. So if you were going to be an @SSh*le and pick an inhumane style, I would pick Western. Of course, riding isn't abusive, no matter the style, and YOU (emphasizing this to asker) shouldn't assume completely untrue statements. I hope you learned your lesson after I gave you a verbal smack-down (lol). This is completely offensive, and as a matter of fact, if I can report / delete this, I will, Thank you.

Answer 9

1:english riders arent snobs thts like being ridingist(racist against english riders)

2:dont judge english riders if u dont want to be judged as a western rider.

3:im anything but a snob i grew up poor and appreciate every thing i have in the horse world

4:they think tht, not about cowboys but about rodeos.

5:rodeos are cruel, they are mean to the horses

6:you do know it hurts horses backs to buck like tht???

7:i have nothing against western, my mom used to ride it. i jst prefer english.

8:im going judge you and say tht u are cruel to horses untill you stop judging english riders.

9:i know what you mean by snobs, but thts not just english riders people in general are snobs.

10:the real snobs are the little girls/boys who get their own little pony when they're three and expect everyone else to take care of it!!And who dont even care about their pony at all!! and who dont apreciate anything they have!!

Answer 10

there is a lot of time put in barrel racing barrel racers but in hours each day practicing more then english riders AA to answers your question i have know clue rodeo life stock is some of the best taken care of in the world mexico rodeos are more harsh the amercian rodeos

Answer 11

Because many are not afraid of laying down some smack down on those who do beat their horses. Those 2nd gen hippies don't like that I am not afraid of telling it how it is. And personally if I see someone beating an animal, I don't call the humane society, I do whats necessary. And sometimes its showing that person what its like to be in the animals position(That's the PC way of saying kicking their a#$). But a lot of it comes from the fact that cowboys are not afraid of defending their honor, what is right or their word.  They say violence never solved anything, tell that to Sam Houston, Davey Crockett, George Washington. Tell that to a Marine.

Edit- And why would a cowboy want to be mean to the things that put food on the table. Its like a race car driver going out on the track with no weels. Its just stupid.

Edit-Carleigh R, you might wanna learn more about rodeo before you start saying the cowboys abuse the animals. There are only 2 events in rodeo that do not have a use on a ranch, and that is bull riding and barrel racing. Second if you think rodeo cowboys are stupid or ignorant, it might intrest you to know that many of the rodeo cowboys probably have better educations than you do form better schools. I have worked ranches along side men who went to Yale in phycology, they became cowboys because they loved it. I don't go around saying all English riders are snobs, because I have not been around enough of it to have an opinion. So before you say rodeo is cuel, put down your PETA propaganda and learn something new.

Oh I'm on a rant to night folks, sorry.

Edit- John I have taken my turn in the barrel once, and you know what. I realy didn't have anything fear.

Except for my life. Ha. You bullfighters are freaking Nut!!!!!!

And the only cuelty in bull riding is to the rider, not the bull. My brother has bucking bulls and I have a 1/2 intrest in 3 of them.

Answer 12

I don't think so.

I see cowboys are honorary people.  

Answer 13

I am a Western rider turned English, so I am going to answer anyway.

It's been my understanding that people think rodeos are abusive to animals because it's been SAID (rumors) that cowboys (or people in general at the rodeos) will beat the horses to get them to buck. I saw a video on youtube of some cowboys beating a horse in the head because he wouldn't buck. They were really wailing on him and it made me so angry. I know that all western riders/cowboys aren't like that, but some are. Just as you're right that some english riders are snobs, but not all are. It's human nature to think that we are better than others.  

Answer 14

people can think whatever...because everyone has opinions but who really cares about those opinions?

Answer 15

Dont you think your being a hypocrite?

Your complaining about people sterotyping cowboys as horse beaters, while youve just stero typed english riders as being snobs.

Your acting exactly like the type of person your complaining about.

And no I dont believe cowboys brought horse riding to life.

Answer 16

Well, from the answers I saw from A.A., Carleigh, Crazy4 & Horsechica I can see that the majority of I.Q.s still average BELOW that of my 7 year old.

A.A.:  It takes YEARS to make a barrel horse, you do NOT just run around the barrels.  If you think it is so easy, TRY IT SOMETIME!!!  Those horses are highly trained & skilled athletes.  They have to do many things at once while they are running full out.  I guarantee you could NOT keep your butt in the saddle riding one.

Carleigh:  WOW!!!  You have been to 2 rodeos & have 2 rodeo videos...Then I guess you know EVERYTHING there is to know about rodeo huh?  I'll bet you know more about it than those of us who grew up in rodeo & grew up on ranches where rodeo events originated from.

Crazy4:  HA HA!!! your answer was so ridiculous I have a hard time making sense of it.  Horses have 3 layers of skin?  I suppose they shed their skin like a snake or lizzard also huh?  Where did you find THAT idiotic piece of information?

horsechica:  Your answers to #5 & #6.....WHAT????

There is no use telling you people that these horses & bulls buck because they LOVE IT & are BRED FOR IT!!! or that ONE single bull or bronc is worth more money than most other people's horses will EVER be worth.  Because I am unable to write it in crayon for you to be able understand it.

All I can say is that if you do NOT know what you are talking about & when you are unable to even provide a 1/2 way intelligent answer, it is better to keep your mouth shut.  It is better to stay quiet & be thought a fool, then to open your mouth & remove ALL doubt!!!!

Answer 17

idk... its just some peoples opinions.

Answer 18

ya people dont really know how the rodeo started they start by people say like a have a horse that cant be rode or roping is when is when they see who can rope thte fastest and barrel racing is to see how fast they can go to get the cow s and break away os what a steer gets out that is why i get mad when peoplesay cowboys are mean thats how they started rodeos A.A there is so much time put in to barrel racing we learn everthing about your horses you have no clue so u should go to a rodeo or 2 there is so much time we partice Crazy4Mahorses u dont know how much we cowgirls and cowboys take care of your horse we work hard and play hard we are not crul to no animals and it does not hurt the horses back to buck like that i'm with bronco assassin  they dont see the hard work put into that horse

Answer 19

because people are ignorant and uneducated....i ignore them cause they dont deserve my attention

edit...carl you have been watching and listening to shark on u-tube a little to much...it doesnt matter what sport your in....there is always accidents.... and really do you know the whole story....no you see what you want w/o asking questions...contractors are the last people that want there animals hurt ....because that is what makes there living....duh.....and there is always something in every sport that people will consider mean...what the heck ever.....

EDIT.....THANK YOU KEVIN

AND JOHN.....no worries...not leaving anybody out...when are going to talk about slaughter....lol....that was a big joke!!

Answer 20

i don't know... i think because the bulls and broncs are bucking, that they are in distress or pain. what they don't understand is that these animals are made to do that, they are bred on purpose and trained to do that, just like you breed the best jumpers or the best racehorses to get better faster horses. the bulls and steers and horses used in the bigger professional rodeos receive great treatment, the rodeo is their job and they love doing it.

besides i'd rather see my steer at the rodeo rather than sending it off to slaughter.  

Answer 21

to A.A barrel racing requires alot of hard work just like any other sport so dont think all you do is run you have to work for a long time before you can really get good at it and make nice shar turns

Answer 22

**Sigh**

I knew if I started reading answers to this question I wouldn't be able to walk away without answering...

It sickens me how so many people are completely clueless about the sports and events involved with rodeos. All those BS story's they hear from god only knows who, and then they run and tell their buddies... "rodeos are abusive! They shock the horses! They tie barbed wire on the horses and bulls balls to make them buck!".... Yeah I think I've heard just about every uneducated rumor out there....

One that always makes me laugh is when the morons suggest rodeos and cowboys are cruel because of all the mishaps they claim happen during rodeos. What about events like jumping? Polo? Racing? Do you think those events are completely without these 'mishaps'?? C'mon, wake up!... Oh yeah oh yeah, they're "accidents when they happen there aren't they? Ha!

I'm not usually the type to judge based on what style/discipline that you ride... But some of you idiots who answered really proved the english rider stereotype correct today... That they are snobs.

Horsechica, I didn't even bother to continue reading your pathetic defense after the first sentence. You proved your ignorance right there. "english riders aren't snobs that's like being ridingist(racist against english riders)"... hahaha.... English riders are not a RACE, therefore you can't be racist against them. But I'm sure you meant to say prejudice didn't you...?

Answer 23

i would like to note that i am an english rider, and i do love cowboys and hate that animal rights groups target them unfairly. . . i tell people that if you dont know the sport you cant talk about it like you do.

those horses and bulls are worth more then those animal rights groups X1,000. i'd like to think i'm not a snobb, but i'm too laid back to care bout if someone thinks that b/c i ride english i'm automattically against rodeo (i did fun shows where i did barrel racing and such, only diff i used an english saddle. but i still had fun)

Answer 24

people think that because they dont take the time to findout a bit more about the subject that they are commenting on, its the same with everythin

People who say that probably hav no knowlge of cowboys nor hav they seen them in action!!!!

Answer 25

because they associate cowboys with the saying "git r' done" which implies no effort or time spent perfecting things such as we do in english riding...take barrel racing for example you run as fast as u can around barrels...there is no time put into that such as dressage...

Answer 26

Ok here is my opinion... No one had anything to say to or about "cowboys" when the cowboys were the only means of getting food on the table. Now that Cows are standing around in feedlots people want to point out cowboys and say that they are cruel because there is no point in it and they just do it "for money"... Thats right they do win money, but so do english riders. I am not against riding English and I don't know much about it... But the few shows I have been to some of the poor horses had their head tucked in their chin.

Take a look at how people ride western...(correctly) the horses head is about level with their whithers, slack in the reins and when they turn they don't "plow rein" them the horse turns when he feels the rein on his neck. No Force there! I don't think that English riders are cruel but I think that western riders are a little easier on their horses mouth.

When we get into the cattle side of things, most of the people against the cruelty to cattle are still eating it at the dinner table, but the cattle that they are eating have been standing at a feed yard almost their whole life, their only job in life is to get good and fat then get eaten. If you want to start talking about how people are cruel to cattle why don't you worry about the cattle that are directly concerning you.

In rodeos, even the roping steers have owners that make money off of them, and why would they go out and try to get their animals hurt when if they safely do their job in the rodeo they go home with him and they make money for him again. I would rather be an animal in a rodeo then a human in some parts of America, it is safer there.

The animals that are killed in rodeos are killed by accident, obviously. Right some animals are killed and it is sad but the cowboy didn't say ok there is the calf I am roping... Hopefully I can kill him within 30 seconds... People have been killed in other sports, football, Soccer, Hockey, Baseball... etc... But no one is saying hey lets outlaw hockey because so'n'so got killed the other day. They got killed because of an ACCIDENT.

Accidents happen in every sport, on every farm, every ranch, every stable... Just because the accidents happened to an animal at a rodeo doesn't make it any different from a cow getting his head stuck in a fence and breaking his own neck. Sometimes it just happens, It isn't planned and it is sad but it happens.

Ok I am rambling My point is

Most Western riders in my opinion are easier with their horse then the English riders I have seen (which isn't very many so I am not talking about all english riders)

Rodeos are not cruel in most cases

AND the deaths at the rodeos are accidental.

*****EDIT*****

To horsechica

  Just so you know horses will not do anything that they know will hurt them... So if it hurts their back to buck then why do all of them buck, why do horses that are being rode english buck, why do horses being rode western buck, why do horses buck out in the pasture playing??? Horses Buck no matter what sport or event you are doing... you will see a horse buck, maybe not that day maybe not that month but pay attention to something other then your bruised ego and maybe you will learn a little more.

Answer 27

they try to see what the animal actually feels and thinks as if it felt and thought as a human does. that might hurt us but they dont understand that they do worse to each other in the pasture every day.

Answer 28

I think they are/aren't mean they're mean beacause they whip them but aren't because horses have 3 layers of skin  and each is <            > well you know what i mean

                          n i do also have somethin for WESTERN riders they treat thier horses badly n inappropriatly

Answer 29

I think it is lack of education to humans. Cowboys/Cowgirls love their horses and they are treated great. There are bad pets owners with every breed of animals.

However my horse loves to work not matter if it barrel racing, cow cutting, cattle driving, dog rounding or just working. He love the attention and the reward for all the help at the end. My horse is most likely more motivated than me.

There are some that just want to please and will do what ever you ask.. sometimes whatever you don't ask just because it needs to be done. They will do whatever your relationship has and will encourage them to do.

I love Western~

Answer 30

i dont think they do

im cowgirl :)

i love barrel racing

crazy4 i dont treat my horses wrong and i ride western

mostly people in other countries have their horses in schools not at their house and their not around them as much as the people who have horses at their own house