IGRA rules provide guidelines for animal well-being.

More than 75 rules and references in the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) Rodeo Rule Book pertain to the treatment and welfare of animals used in the IGRA circuit.

Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association (ASGRA) and all member associations are required to adhere to these rules to prevent cruelty or mistreatment, intentional or unintentional, of animals used in the rodeo and to insure their well-being. At one rodeo, we saw a contestant disqualified because he was pulling on a steer who had the rope rapped around it's legs. The cowboy was looking the other way trying to pull the steer and didn't realize there was a problem, but he was disqualified anyway.

IGRA reviews and updates these rules and regulations annually. The organization currently holds the position that IGRA endorses and adopts the promotion of animal welfare and the humane, responsible treatment of animals in their housing, feeding, training, exercising and competition.

We shall strive to assure that our events are purposefully tailored and executed to provide animal and human participants the safest environment possible and shall act to immediately disqualify or reprimand any contestant, official or contracted personnel found to be treating animals in an inhumane manner.

Following strict IGRA rules, ASGRA requires that all livestock have appropriate health certificates and be certified by officials prior to their performance.

IGRA contestants are generally of an amateur ability, so the health of the livestock is a necessity for contestant safety. Only healthy animals perform well in the arena, and there are provisions for removing any animal from competition which does not meet stringent guidelines.

IGRA rules require the presence of a large-animal veterinarian on-site during all performances. A vet also is on-call 24 hours a day when animals are at the rodeo site.

Rodeo animals are bred for the purpose of performing in rodeo arenas and it has been shown that, due to the high quality of care, rodeo livestock outlive those animals which do not engage in the sport.

Some extremist groups have intentionally distributed erroneous information about rodeos. Some of these misleading statements include accusations of the misuse of flank straps, spurs, and electric prods.

A flank strap is a sheepskin lined leather strap placed behind the animal's rib cage. It does not engage the genitals in any way. There is also never any irritating material used inside the strap. Internal organs are not injured by the strap because they are protected by the rib cage. Even though the strap has a quick-release buckle, the animal will often instinctively buck after the release.

Spurs may be used by contestants, but the type and use is strictly regulated. No sharp spurs are allowed; and since the animal's skin is many times thicker than that of a human, the spurs do not cause any injury to the bull or horse. IGRA rules specifically prohibit the use of electric cattle prods.

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