We will be documenting the many ways that rodeos in Australia cause physical and psychological harm.
17/08/2026
We didn’t like Guardian Australia’s photo essay of the recent Mount Isa Mines Rodeo because it would have you believe that a great time was had by everyone. This was not the case for the animals of course.
So here’s screenshots from videos taken at this year’s Mount Isa Rodeo to show that the reality for the animals there this year was stressful, scary, and sometimes painful. 😟
Screenshots from footage taken by AnimalKind volunteers.
16/08/2026
Guardian Australia’s ‘Mount Isa Rodeo in pictures’ would get the tick of approval from any rodeo association or big rodeo fan. It features 100% positive images of the human competitors with matching positive captions. The animals get little focus, and certainly no concerns are expressed. It’s totally biased as a result, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Disappointing to see from this publication. 😔
We’ll present our own Mount Isa Rodeo in pictures tomorrow to try and bring some balance. Stay tuned!
The Mount Isa Rodeo: broncs, bulls and exceptional horsemanship – in pictures The 2026 championships on Kalkadoon country, Queensland, drew a large and diverse field, including a showcase for First Nations talent
Last Friday the annual Mount Isa Festival of Animal Exploitation began. In this footage you’ll notice the steer’s very slow movement out of the arena after his ugly experience being wrestled. Steer wrestling is the only event where this slow exit happens quite frequently. Pain and dizziness are thought to be the causes. The crowd should be ashamed that they cheered this obvious mistreatment. 👎😡
Footage courtesy of AnimalKind.
SOUND ON. Imagine the furore if 2 people roped the head and back legs of your beloved dog in 2 different directions. But this happens to the animals in team roping. The Nebo Rodeo announcer even says in this clip, ‘He stretched him out.’ 😩
These are sentient animals who need - just like you and me - to feel in control of their movement. Team roping takes this control away from the animals and even if this happens for a short time, it’s still quite unethical. And all for sport. Say no as always to rodeos.
Filmed by AnimalKind volunteers.
Poor little calf. He was desperate to escape the chute at last weekend’s Kilcoy Rodeo in Qld. He was just about to be used in the women’s Breakaway Roping, an event with fewer concerns than most. But the calves are still harassed in the chutes, often making them very fearful. And no young animal is happy away from their own kind.
Footage courtesy of AnimalKind.
05/08/2026
What’s on at the Mount Isa Rodeo this weekend they ask? You might like to go to the original post and tell them! 😡
🤠 What's on at the Mount Isa Rodeo this weekend?
Heading to Buchanan Park this weekend? Here's a look at some of the new and returning highlights at this year's Mount Isa Rodeo.
🐂 Riders from across Australia and overseas will compete for the biggest prize pool in the event's 67-year history.
🐎 The inaugural Ladies Bronc Series will see Australia's top female bronc riders take to the arena, alongside more junior and female competitors than ever before.
🤠 Kalkadoon cowboy and national rodeo champion Donovan Rutherford will lead Thursday's free Indigenous rodeo clinic alongside PBR Rookie Champion Jake Curr and six-time Australian champion protection athlete Darryl "Chongy" Chong.
🖤 Sunday's Indigenous Rodeo Championships will feature ambassador Sam Thaiday and performances by world-renowned Kalkadoon didgeridoo artist William Barton.
🪽 Australian trick rider Dayna Bradshaw – the Cowgirl with Wings – will make her Mount Isa debut.
🎸 Elvis Kernaghan and The Barnyard Band will provide live entertainment across the weekend.
👢 New this year is RODEO RUNWAY, celebrating western fashion for all ages.
🛍️ There'll also be market stalls, western retailers, food vendors and family attractions throughout Buchanan Park.
🎟️ Tickets and the full program are available via the Mount Isa Rodeo website.
📻 Listen to ABC North West QLD: https://ab.co/3mRJWAn
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31/07/2026
Tell us what you think of the Alice Springs Correctional Centre’s new program where some prisoners currently in jail for offences including domestic violence are being given rodeo training ‘to reduce re-offending and reintegrate offenders into society’.
We know what we think. 😟 😖 Link to ABC segment about this initiative in comments.
UPDATE: If you’d like to let the NT Department of Corrections know of your objections to this scheme, please see email addresses in the comments.
30/07/2026
Wonderful interview on ABC Darwin yesterday about the welfare problems that all bucking horses experience. Dr Cath Henshall, an equitation scientist from University of Charles Sturt, explains the concerns in detail. Highly recommended.
Listen from the 43 minute mark: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/darwin-afternoons/afternoons/106958966
29/07/2026
‘An event that shows the grace and beauty of true sportsmanship along with the athletic skills of both horse and rider.’ Guess what rodeo event is being talked about? Calf roping!!! You wouldn’t even think a calf was involved, would you, from this utterly deceptive language.
This nonsense was found on the website of Outback Rodeos, an organisation running the rodeo at the Coolgardie Outback Festival from 14-16 August.
TAKE ACTION: If you haven’t already, please drop a quick line to the Shire of Coolgardie telling them that no outback festival should have a rodeo, given the massive welfare concerns for calves, horses and bulls.
Please email: [email protected]
PLEASE SHARE THIS POST WITH YOUR WA FRIENDS TOO. 🙏
No vet was there at Miriam Vale Rodeo earlier this year to check on this horse who crashed into the arena fence.
HAVE YOU TAKEN ACTION YET TO CALL FOR MANDATORY VETS AT QLD RODEOS? GO TO: https://animalkind.org.au/2026/04/28/makevetsmandatoryatrodeos/?fbclid=IwZ