‘I won’t stop until rodeo stops’
Lynn Charlton is well known in rodeo circles. Not because of her skills on a horse but for the decade she has spent protesting the ‘‘abusive and cruel nature’’ of the sport.
In that time, Charlton says she has been called every name under the sun, threatened verbally and on social media, and has been physically grabbed at venues. But the animosity has not dampened her drive. ‘‘I won’t stop until rodeo stops.’’
Rodeo New Zealand president Lyal Cocks said protesters were welcome at rodeo events.
‘‘There is always going to be some element of the population who don’t like the sport and are going to be protesting it.’’ Rodeo NZ had talked to its community about showing respect towards those protesting, he said.
Charlton’s activism began in 2013 when she went along to one of New Zealand’s biggest rodeos, in Warkworth, and found the atmosphere ‘‘disturbing’’.
‘‘One of the things I found difficult was the noise. The crowd screaming and cheering at these animals in pain. The crowd was getting off on the terror of the animals, their sheer panic and the crowd was loving it. I found the sadism of that awful. I found it psychopathic.’’
The sport was banned in the UK in 1934 and Charlton said it needed to be banned in New Zealand too.
In July last year, lobby group Safe and the NZ Animal Law Association (NZALA) went to the High Court to try to stop rodeos but Justice Peter Churchman acknowledged he did not have the expertise to assess each rodeo event.
Safe chief executive Debra Ashton said she still believed a ban on rodeo was possible. ‘‘We won’t give up on the animals. We will continue to work with our litigation partners from the NZ Animal Law Association to . . . challenge the legality of rodeo.’’
Cocks said the court hearing was ‘‘a waste of everyone’s time and money’’. ‘‘The court says the code and sport is legal, and the applicants have backed off. The sport is legal and strong.’’
The last full Wānaka rodeo in 2019 attracted 3000 people and 10 protesters. Methven and Winchester rodeos drew full houses over this year’s Labour Weekend and no protesters. Cocks said the sport adhered to animal welfare standards more than ever. Over the five years he had been in the job, Rodeo NZ had tightened up some rules.
The length of run in certain events had been shortened; contestants now had to qualify; and the criteria for disqualification if the animal was not treated or handled correctly had been tightened. But while Safe, NZALA and rodeo protesters maintained animals were harmed or distressed during events, Cocks said that was not correct. ‘‘There are never any reports of pain or stress on the animals,’’ he said.
‘‘Yes we do have accidents, and we have reports for them . . . these reports are very low.’’
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor acknowledged there was public concern over the use of animals at rodeo. However, Justice Churchman’s ruling meant the requirements in the rodeo code would remain unchanged until an animal welfare review – due to go out for public consultation next year – was completed, he said. ‘‘While there are no current plans to ban rodeos in New Zealand, it is my expectation that all rodeo events and participants comply fully with their obligations under the Animal Welfare Act.’’
When asked about the treatment of animals at rodeos, the National Party appeared to lean on both sides of the fence.
The party’s animal welfare spokesperson, Nicola Griggs, said she was ‘‘largely satisfied’’ the appropriate level of veterinarian oversight was present at rodeos.
‘‘However, injuries do occur and, when they do, I view that as a failing of the competitors and organisers.’’
Since Charlton began her quest in 2013, she believed political parties had not stepped in where they should. She also felt farmers, who believed in treating animals well, should speak up about the damage rodeos did to their reputation.
Charlton said protesting itself had become a dangerous sport.
She copped abuse at every event she went to, she said.
Before protesting at the MidNorthern Rodeo near Whangārei, she was messaged and called a c... and warned to watch out because a bow and arrow would be waiting for her.
At a South Island rodeo, the announcer singled her out over the loudspeaker so the crowd could boo at her and her protesting friends. Charlton said this was bullying.
Charlton said she knew she was a sitting duck at such events but she would not give up. ‘‘In a way anyone protesting is a bit of a watchdog.
‘‘We are showing the public what happens and the lies rodeo are willing to tell, [like the claim] ‘the animals love it’.’’
‘‘The crowd was getting off on the terror of the animals.’’ Lynn Charlton