Horses require extensive care. They are intelligent, emotional animals that respond to people according to how they have been raised. The cowboy invests a great deal of time and personal effort, as well as money in order to ensure that he has a steady, reliable mount that will perform as expected.

During rodeos, horses are treated like valuable athletes and every precaution is taken to ensure their continuing safety and performance.

There are several developmental stages a horse goes through before being ready for the rodeo. Naturally, the whole process begins when the baby horse is born. A nursing horse, no matter what gender is referred to as a foal. When it reaches 4 to 6 months of age it becomes a weanling. At one year of age the baby horse is known as a yearling. After that, gender alters the names given. Two year old animals are called colts if they are male, or fillies if they are female. When horses reach five years of age, they become stallions if they are un-neutered males, geldings if they are neutered males, and mares if they are females.

Did you know that?

• All horses share the same birth-date of January 1st, no matter when they were born.
• The modern horse first evolved in North America from the Eohippus, or "Dawn Horse". That evolving species died out, but not before its descendants crossed the land bridge between North America and Asia. Once there it evolved over 50 million years to become the horse we know today.
• Albino horses are the only true white horses. All white horses descended from Old King, an albino horse whose offspring were always born white, regardless of the mare's colour.
• There are five basic horse colors: bay, black, brown, chestnut, grey, and white (albino).

 

Is being in the rodeo harmful to the horses? Along with the people who compete at rodeos like the Kispiox, the stock that takes part is often over shadowed by the riders themselves. Joy Allen and her husband Gene raise bucking horses that compete in many of the BCRA rodeos and on the professional circuit in Canada and the U.S. She said a lot of work goes into making sure the stock is in good shape for each and every rodeo. "Most of the bucking horses have been bred to buck," Allen said, "Most of them are top athletes who are bred from bucking mares and studs that have a long history of being in rodeos."

One of Joy Allen's Rough-Stock trying to eat our photographer's sweater.

"The stock used at the Kispiox rodeo has also competed at professional rodeos south of the border.", she added. "The quality stock here is what world champions have ridden." "Stock is also brought in from other contractors.", she noted. Allen said, "We have put up with a lot of verbal abuse and complaints from animal rights activists, but they just don't understand what's going on. If they're being mistreated, a horse will go nuts in the chute. The horse knows its going into the arena and won't perform. Activists have also complained about the flank strap that goes around the horse. The belt is a five inch thick piece of sheep wool, it doesn't hurt the horse at all. It only makes them buck harder because they are trying ride themselves of the belt.". "There have also been stories about horses having Tabasco sauce on their genitals, or burrs in their behinds - all complete lies." She explains, "With animals that valuable, we don't harm them in any way. The stock may be unapproachable in the arena but when they are out in a pasture the entire herd will run up to you on a whistle.".

 

Horses' Prayer

Please read the horses prayer and try to go by it word for word.

Feed me, water me and care for me.
And when my day's work is done, provide me with shelter, a clean, dry bed, and a stall wide enough for me to lie in comfort.
Talk to me. Your voice often means as much to me as the reins.
Pet me sometimes, that I may serve you gladly and learn to love you.
Do not jerk the reins and do not whip me when going uphill.
Never Strike, Beat or Kick me when I do not understand what you mean, but give me a chance to understand.
Watch me, and if I fail to do your bidding, see if something is wrong with my harness or feet.
Examine my teeth when I do not eat. I may have an ulcerated tooth that is very painful.
Do not tie my head in an unnatural position, or take away my best defense against flies by cutting my tail. (I don't take away YOUR mosquito curtains.)
Don't smoke in my barn or leave me tied up overnight and perhaps burn me to death while you are sleeping in your comfortable bed.
And last, my master: When my strength is gone, do not turn me out in a pasture with no shelter and let me freeze to death, or sell me to some cruel owner to be slowly starved to death, but take my life in the kindest way, and God will reward you - HEREAFTER.

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