REGARDING recent comments by Sue Moran in the media about rodeos - I'd like to say how wrong she is.
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A flank strap is not pulled tight on sensitive organs. It is fleece-lined and adjusted nowhere near even as tight as you would girth up a saddle on a horse.
I have seen first-hand the special care taken with these bulls and broncs and they are in better condition than you would find some people's pets.
I remember back in 1997 when Shellharbour held a rodeo on the football grounds packing out the whole stadium - the locals really love a rodeo. The following is great - especially among the huge horse community in Albion Park.
I have been training and riding show horses and I have competed at rodeos since 1990 and I have never heard such rot that it is cruel to the animals - those bulls are bred to buck and they love it.
If you think a flank strap on a bucking bull is cruel head out to a local pony club and see how tight they girth horses over the rib cage and put metal bits in their mouth and see young inexperienced kids yanking on those ponies and flogging them with whips and crops. Those ponies put up with a whole lot more than a bucking bull or horse ever would.
I look forward to seeing a huge crowd at the Shellharbour Rodeo and congratulate the organisers on a fabulous effort on putting on such a huge event. It's a great thing for the Shellharbour community. Much needed and way overdue.
Katrina O'Brien
Mt Warrigal