Letter to the editor: Ban the Mexican rodeo’s cruel “steer tailing” event

Back in 1994 California outlawed the Mexican charreada’s brutal “horse tripping” event. As a result, the U.S. Charro Federation changed their rules for the entire county. Progress!

Charreadas feature an even more brutal event, “steer tailing” (aka “colas” or “coleadero”), wherein a mounted charro grabs a running steer by the tail, wraps the tail around his leg, then rides off at an angle, slamming the hapless animal to the ground. Tails may be broken, stripped to the bone (“degloved”), even torn off.  Horses may suffer broken legs when steers run the wrong way. “Steer tailing” is not a standard ranching practice anywhere in the U.S., and already banned in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties (1993), and Nebraska (2008).

It’s likely that passage of a California ban would result in a U.S. Charro Federation rule change banning “steer tailing” nationwide. Even Cesar Chavez was an outspoken critic. Deadline for bill introduction is February 16. Email pattern for all legislators:

[email protected]

[email protected]

County ordinances are also in order. Let your representatives hear from you!

Sincerely,

Eric Mills, coordinator, Action for Animals