Monday, Oct 22, 2018
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Shaun Tahau competes in the open bull ride at the Methven Rodeo yesterday.
Firefighters kept busy P6
Horse death mars successful rodeo BY LINDA CLARKE
LINDA.C@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
Softball celebrations P15
PHOTO HEATHER MACKENZIE 211018-HM-053
Methven’s annual rodeo attracted a bumper crowd of at least 5000 yesterday but a rare event cast a shadow on the rodeo, when a horse was injured and later died. Organisers said the 49th annual rodeo started with a full carpark and full spectator areas, and the crowd was wellbehaved in the presence of extra police assigned to cover the event. New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association president Lyal Cocks said the horse was injured during a second division saddle bronc event when its saddle slipped and the horse became entangled in the girth. The horse was sedated by the event’s veterinarian but later died. The competitor, who was uninjured, was bucked off just prior to the saddle coming loose. Cocks said it was a rare accident and the welfare of the stock was a priority at every rodeo.
“We endeavour to minimise every potential risk to stock and competitors and it’s disappointing when a rare accident like this occurs. “I’ve been involved in rodeo, off and on, for more than 40 years and I’ve never seen this happen before. “We will investigate the accident and, if there’s anything to be learned from it, the investigation will reveal that.” He will receive reports from the event’s animal welfare officers and the veterinarian. The current rodeo season has just started with the first event held at Winchester, without incident, on Saturday. Events at Methven got under way at 10am yesterday, with second division competitions leading up to the premier bull riding and saddle bronc contests. The top bullrider was Ernie Rika while last year’s rookie saddle bronc champion Arthur Shaw won the open class this year. Other events included barrel racing,
steer wrestling and calf roping. There was no second division bull ride this year as a precaution against spreading the cattle disease mycoplasma bovis – second division bulls usually come from local farms. A three-legged race for students from schools in the Methven area generated plenty of vocal support from the crowd with Mt Somers Springburn School unable to defend the title it won last year and a team from Methven Primary School coming out on top. Some of the profits of the day will be given to groups helping reduce suicide in rural areas. Methven town hospitality spots had post-rodeo entertainment organised, while organisers are already thinking about special features for the 50th anniversary rodeo in 2019. A group calling for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to put an end to rodeos was in attendance at the Winchester Rodeo on Saturday.
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