by Rob Jobst

About the author: Rob Jobst is a freelance writer.

Last night’s ninth-heat crash cast a pall over the seventh night of the Rangeland Derby. “The track was in great condition” said chuckwagon driver Mark Sutherland. “It was just one of those nights. The horses were going down.”

—Calgary Sun, July 12, 1996

Death and suffering are a big part of rodeo. A big part. It would be difficult to dispute that an event that involves the roping of calves, the “busting” of bulls and the “breaking” of broncs is inherently violent toward animals.

A Picture of Abuse and Cruelty

But rodeo types don’t like to dwell on that aspect of their sport. They prefer to drawl on about tradition, heritage and simpler times...