This code of welfare encourages all those responsible for the care of rodeo animals to adopt the highest standards of husbandry, care and handling, and to equal or exceed the minimum standards.
This code of welfare applies to anyone responsible for the welfare of all animals being used in rodeos (although only cattle and horses may be used) and includes animals used in rodeo training, and animals used in rodeo schools. This includes New Zealand-based rodeos and visiting international rodeos.
The purpose of this Code is to provide information to the owners and persons in charge of rodeo animals about the standards they must achieve in order to meet their obligations under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
This Code of Welfare encourages all those responsible for the care of rodeo animals to adopt the highest standards of husbandry, care and handling, and to equal or exceed the minimum standards.
Adequately maintaining the welfare of animals being used in rodeos requires experience, training and the observance of high standards.
The Animal Welfare Act 1999 provides for the welfare of animals in New Zealand. It puts obligations on people who own or are in charge of animals to provide for the welfare of their animals.
The Act establishes the fundamental obligations relating to the care of animals and provides for the development and issue of codes of welfare.
Codes of welfare expand on the basic obligations of the Act by setting minimum standards and recommending best practice for the care and management of animals.
This Code of Welfare also references regulations issued under the Animal Welfare Act 1999. Regulations are prescribed under the Animal Welfare Act and impose enforceable requirements on owners and persons in charge of animals. For ease of reference, regulations relevant to this Code are set out in an appendix to this Code. Penalties for failure to comply with the regulations are specified in the relevant regulations. The appendix to this Code is not intended to provide an exhaustive list of all obligations under the Act or regulatory requirements. Owners and persons in charge of animals are responsible for ensuring that they are aware of and understand all Act and regulatory requirements that are relevant to them including all applicable Codes of Welfare.
Note that the Act sets criteria for whether a procedure carried out on an animal is a significant surgical procedure. Only a veterinarian, or a person who is acting under the direct supervision of a veterinarian and who is a student undergoing his or her training to become a veterinarian, are able to perform a significant surgical procedure, unless a regulation says otherwise.
This Code of Welfare is intended for all persons responsible for the welfare of all animals being used in rodeos (although only cattle and horses may be used) and includes animals used in rodeo training, and animals used in rodeo schools.
Under the Act the "owner" and every "person in charge" of an animal are responsible for meeting the legal obligations for the welfare of animals under their care.
For many animals being used in rodeos, the owner of the animals places them in the care of others who become the persons in charge, but this does not derogate from their responsibility to ensure that the requirements of the Act and animal welfare regulations are met.
Who should read this code of welfare amended on 9 May 2021 by Notice in the Gazette 2021-go1589
Failure to meet a minimum standard in this Code may be used as evidence to support a prosecution for an offence under the Act. A person who is charged with an offence against the Act can defend him or herself by showing that he or she has equalled or exceeded the minimum standards in this Code.
This Code of Welfare includes information and example indicators for each minimum standard. The list of indicators is not exhaustive but is given to provide guidance on ways in which a minimum standard may be met.
Owners and persons in charge of animals are not required to comply with the recommendations for best practice in this Code but are encouraged to do so to provide higher standards of welfare.
This Code does not provide an exhaustive list of the Act’s requirements, and owners and those in charge of animals should note that they must comply with the minimum standards in this Code and the general provisions of the Act, and any regulations issued under the Act.
Animal Welfare Act 1999 – New Zealand Legislation
Legislative background amended on 9 May 2021 by Notice in the Gazette 2021-go1589
Other codes of welfare should be consulted where appropriate. This Code of welfare applies to all animals used in rodeos. However, further detail on the transport of livestock and species-specific requirements for animals are generally covered in relevant codes of welfare.
Codes of welfare must be accompanied by a report that sets out the deliberations that the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) undertook when developing the codes of welfare including the standards and recommendations for best practice, the nature of any significant differences of opinion during drafting and consultation, and any matters that should be dealt with by regulation. Code reports can be accessed online.
Report to accompany to Code of Welfare: Rodeos [PDF, 278 KB]
Although efforts to include relevant regulations within this Code have been made, there may be other regulations which are relevant to you. The full list of all animal welfare regulations should be consulted where appropriate.
Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018 – New Zealand Legislation
This Code of Welfare applies to all persons responsible for the welfare of all animals being used in rodeos (although only cattle and horses may be used) and includes animals used in rodeo training, and animals used in rodeo schools.
Refer to Schedule I: Interpretation and definitions.
The welfare of animals during a rodeo often involves changing responsibilities because different parts of the rodeo event may be carried out by different people. Under the Animal Welfare Act 1999, both the owner and the person (or persons) in charge of animals have responsibilities for meeting the animals’ needs. While the animals used in rodeos may sometimes be under the responsibility of others, this does not derogate owners or persons in charge from their responsibilities under the Act. In addition, responsibility may be shared between several people, particularly during the handover of tasks or animals.
The rodeo organiser is the person who is responsible for the running of the rodeo. Responsibility for meeting minimum standards relating to the provision, design and maintenance of facilities and equipment, the allocation of operational responsibilities and the competence and supervision of employee performance generally lies with the rodeo organiser. The rodeo organiser also has overall responsibility for the welfare of the animals. Whilst all duties are not necessarily performed directly by the organiser, the organiser needs to ensure that the rodeo staff and stock handlers are adequately performing their responsibilities. Each contestant is personally responsible for the animals he or she uses during an event, and during that period of use is considered to be the person in charge.
An animal welfare officer needs to be appointed to each rodeo and have his or her responsibilities specified in writing. The animal welfare officer has direct responsibility for the welfare of the animals and will work in liaison with the rodeo organiser and the veterinarian. The animal welfare officer’s role is to liaise with clubs, promoters, stock contractors, contestants and the veterinarian to co-ordinate and evaluate all steps taken to ensure the welfare of the animals.
The veterinarian is responsible for providing expert advice on the health, injury or disease status of an animal and its suitability for competition. Veterinarians need to be familiar with working with cattle and horses in order to deal effectively with, and provide expert advice on, the health and injury status of any animal used in the rodeo and any issues that may arise during the event.
At an operational level, those responsible for carrying out particular tasks during the rodeo event are likely to be considered the person(s) in charge for the purposes of the Animal Welfare Act and are responsible for ensuring that applicable minimum standards in this Code are met.
The importance of competency and stockmanship in the maintenance of animals’ welfare cannot be over- emphasised. All people involved in rodeos need to be competent in the care and handling of the animals and understand how their actions may affect the animals’ welfare. The knowledge, skills, abilities and attitude of the stock handlers are integral to the standard of welfare experienced by animals used in rodeos.
Stockmanship includes the ability to identify an animal’s needs and ensure that action is taken to address those needs in a way that demonstrates an affinity with and empathy for animals. Knowledge of the normal appearance and behaviour of animals being used is essential and those in charge of the rodeo animals need to be able to recognise injuries or early signs of distress so that prompt action is taken or advice sought.
Owners and persons in charge of rodeo animals should ensure that their personnel have either the relevant knowledge and training, or appropriate supervision to ensure that the health and welfare needs of the animals in their care are met. Handling techniques can be included as written procedures in a welfare assurance system that is easily accessible to all personnel.
In order that the welfare of animals used in rodeo events is safeguarded, rodeo organisers, contractors, stock owners and contestants should clearly understand and accept their responsibilities. All people involved with and participating in rodeo events need to be familiar with this Code.
It is important that the judges and the animal welfare officer are empowered to disqualify any official or contestant who compromises the welfare of an animal.
More than one animal welfare officer can be appointed at each rodeo event, thus allowing animal welfare officers to also compete if they should wish to do so.
Welfare assurance systems need to emphasise the importance of training of personnel.
The New Zealand Rodeo Association holds a number of training days for new contestants and for those wishing to learn more about rodeo events.
Animals used in rodeo events, training and rodeo schools need to have their food and water requirements met in accordance with the species-specific codes of welfare. Deprivation of food and water or changes in the volume or quality of food and water will compound the stress associated with rodeo events and can also result in metabolic disturbances and increase susceptibility to disease. Water is also important for regulation of body temperature.
Selecting and accepting the appropriate animals to compete in a rodeo are key processes to ensure that only animals that are able to cope with participating in rodeo events are selected. The responsibility for this is shared between the rodeo organiser and the stock contractor. Contract stock are to be used where possible and the rodeo organiser(s) needs to select the stock contractor supplying animals for rodeo events well in advance of the date of the rodeo.
The stock contractor or the owners of non-contract stock (when used) are responsible for the appropriate husbandry and handling of their rodeo stock. They need to have knowledge of the minimum standards contained in this code and care for the animals that are to be used in rodeo events in accordance with their species-specific codes of welfare.
Animals suffering from disease, injury, or other abnormalities may experience pain or distress. For this reason, all animals need to be inspected prior to being used in the rodeo and those that are not fit for use are not transported to the rodeo site. Personnel who are inspecting animals need to be competent at recognising normal and abnormal behaviour in the different species of animal used in rodeo events.
Regarding travel to the rodeo site, the Code of Welfare: Transport within New Zealand and the summary of regulations appended to this Code regarding animal transport.
NAWAC considers that sheep riding has the potential to cause harm to the sheep. For this reason, sheep may not be ridden in rodeos.
The animal welfare officer needs to take responsibility for the welfare of the animals used in rodeo events to ensure that all minimum standards in this Code are met. The animal welfare officer is also responsible for monitoring how many times each animal is used during the rodeo.
NAWAC has concerns about the welfare implications of using non-contract stock in rodeo events as a result of the increased level of stress that these animals will experience when compared to contract stock. NAWAC encourages the industry to take steps to move forward towards the use of contract stock only in rodeo events.
Rodeos involve situations where animals are subjected to a risk of injuries and distress, and proper consideration needs to be given to the health and welfare of the animals used in all events. Distress and risk to both the animals and handlers is decreased when good handling practices are followed. Loading animals into and subsequently releasing them from the chute for the rodeo events can cause them stress, and the use of good handling practices during this procedure is essential.
See summary of regulations appended to this Code:
Introduction amended on 9 May 2021 by Notice in the Gazette 2021-go1589
Consideration needs to be given to the different animals that are held together in pens and yards and the stocking density at which they are held. Crowding of animals is likely to contribute to stress and injury so animals need to be provided with sufficient space that they are able to move away from handlers or other animals.
The size of the arena and the condition of holding facilities, including fencing, yards, chutes, gateways and ground surfaces, are critical in protecting stock from injury. Careful planning and construction of arenas will make the handling and removal of stock from the arenas easier and will improve stock and contestant safety. Arenas which are too small create a potential danger to stock, contestants and spectators.
In general, the standard arena should have a suitable, soil-based surface, rotary-hoed or softened to a depth of approximately 5-10cm. Other surfaces may be used provided that they are well drained, provide a secure footing and be at least as safe for the animals as an appropriate soil-based surface.
See summary of regulations appended to this Code:
Rodeo events are high-paced activities and the use of well-fitting gear is important to protect the animals. It is important that the gear is correctly fitted to reduce rubbing or slipping and minimise discomfort. For reasons of comfort, hygiene and safety it is necessary that all leather and synthetic equipment is maintained in clean, supple condition, free from cracks, build-up of dirt, sharp edges or other features likely to cause chafing, burns or abrasions.
See summary of regulations appended to this Code:
Introduction amended on 9 May 2021 by Notice in the Gazette 2021-go1589
The type of gear and the way in which it is used can have a large effect on the health and welfare of the animals. The incorrect or severe use of any piece of equipment, including gear, bits, ropes and goads can have a potentially significantly harmful effect on animals. All personnel involved in rodeo need to be aware of this and have knowledge of how to use all gear correctly.
There are a number of different events in rodeo, all of which can place different types of stress on the animals involved. Events and procedures in rodeos need to be specifically designed to prevent suffering and minimise the impacts of the welfare of the animals used.
NAWAC continues to hold welfare concerns for the use of animals in rodeos and in particular, events using calves. The committee is aware that rodeo events using calves have been banned in a number of countries due to the perceived physical and psychological stresses that they place on the animals. The general principles of the use of animals in rodeo events and the associated welfare issues will be reviewed by NAWAC in future and may result in changes and further restrictions to ensure that such activities remain ethically acceptable to New Zealanders.
This event involves releasing a horse from a chute into the arena, where it will buck in an attempt to dislodge the rider from its back. There are two types of event: saddle bronc riding where the horse is fitted with a saddle; and bareback bronc riding where the horse is fitted with bareback rigging only. In both events the horse will be fitted with a flank strap which runs around the body of the horse just in front of the back legs, which will encourage the horse to buck.
See summary of regulations appended to this Code:
Regulation 19: Use of equipment that may injure horses and other equids
Introduction amended on 9 May 2021 by Notice in the Gazette 2021-go1589
The pick-up riders operating in the arena remove the rider from the horse, remove the flank strap and direct the animals to the exit chute from the arena following the completion of the ride. A sufficient number of riders performing this role will enable the animals to be directed as calmly and efficiently from the arena as possible.
This event involves a bull or steer being released into the arena where it will buck to dislodge the rider from its back. The animal is fitted with a front ‘bull rope’ which wraps around its body and which the rider holds onto to maintain his seating. This bull rope needs to be a quick release type of rope that will fall away from the animal as soon as the rider is displaced or dismounts. The animal is also fitted with a flank strap to encourage bucking.
Rope and tie, team roping and steer wrestling are time events that are performed at a fast pace over a set time period.
In the rope and tie event, a calf is released from the chute which then triggers the release of the horse and rider, who will rope the calf in the arena, dismount, put the roped calf on the ground and tie three of the calves’ legs using a pigging string, while a well-trained horse will effectively maintain the tension on the rope. The calf needs to remain tied for six seconds for the tie to be considered successful. Calves used in these events can be subjected to physical stressors and need to be fit, healthy and without defects.
Following completion and signalling of the tie, the contestant will walk quickly to his horse to loosen the contact of the catch rope on the calf. Two other handlers will simultaneously untie the calf, ensuring that the catch rope is not attached at either end when the calf is released to regain its feet.
Team roping involves two ropers, the header and the heeler, both on horseback. The header will rope the steer around both horns, the head and one horn, or the neck, and the heeler then ropes the steer around the hind legs. The time recorded is that after the steer is stopped and there is no slack in both the header and heeler’s ropes. The rope is slackened immediately upon completion of the event when the clock is stopped. This again is a fast-paced event and the steer needs to be in good physical condition with no defects.
In the steer wrestling event, a mounted rider chases a steer, drops from the horse to the steer and wrestles the steer to the ground. The time is flagged when the steer has all four hooves off the ground and legs pointing out straight. The steer needs to be healthy and in good physical condition to withstand the physical stress during this event.
The calf riding event is designed to enable younger and lighter competitors to participate in rodeo. The weight restrictions are designed to ensure that the animals involved in these events are not placed under undue stress, but animals also need to be fit, healthy and have no defects.
Child contestants need to be supervised at all times when competing or when around the calves to ensure the welfare of the animals is not compromised.
It is important that the majority of the child’s weight is kept behind the shoulder of the calf being ridden as placing too much weight in front of the animal’s shoulder can cause its front legs to collapse. Riding a calf with the rider facing backwards is likely to place more weight on the front on the calf and cause it unnecessary stress and so it is important that calves are not ridden in this way.
Barrel racing is an event where the riders guide their horses around three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern in the least amount of time as possible. Horses are required to move at speed and turn quickly during this event and it is important that they are fit, healthy and appropriately trained to perform this event.
See summary of regulations appended to this Code:
Introduction amended on 9 May 2021 by Notice in the Gazette 2021-go1589
Horses must be ridden in a manner that minimises pain and distress during this event.
Horses need to be trained to turn quickly to perform in this event. Appropriate training will minimise the need for severe tack and harsh handling during the race as the horse will turn using less pressure on the bit and less pressure by the rider on the horse’s sides. This needs to be taken into account when preparing for this event. Provision of sufficient space past the finishing line of this event can prevent injury as a result of the horse being pulled up too suddenly or running into fencing or other horses waiting on the other side of the finishing line.
Rodeos involve situations where animals may be subjected to a risk of injuries and distress and proper consideration needs to be given to the health and welfare of animals used in these events. Events and procedures need to be specifically designed to prevent any suffering and minimise the impacts on the welfare of animals used.
The animal welfare officer at a rodeo has the ability to prevent animals from competing if he/she considers that an animal is not fit to compete in any rodeo event. The animal welfare officer cannot override a veterinary decision to put an animal out of an event, but he/she is able to override the veterinarian’s decision to let the animal compete, if necessary.
The Animal Welfare Act 1999 was amended in 2015 to set new criteria for whether a procedure carried out on an animal is a significant surgical procedure. These criteria came into force on 9 May 2021.
The criteria are set out in Section 16 of the Act.
If any person has to determine whether a procedure carried out on an animal is a significant surgical procedure under this Act, the person must determine the question by considering the following criteria:
Only a veterinarian, or a person who is acting under the direct supervision of a veterinarian and who is a student undergoing his or her training to become a veterinarian, are able to perform a significant surgical procedure, unless a regulation says otherwise.
For all animal welfare regulations, see Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018 – NZ Legislation
Note that not all of the surgical procedures included within these regulations meet the criteria of a significant surgical procedure, some have been regulated for clarity only.
Significant Surgical Procedures inserted on 9 May 2021 by Notice in the Gazette 2021-go1589
Animals may become injured during a rodeo event and it may be necessary to humanely kill an animal in order to prevent it suffering further pain or distress. Humane killing requires that brain activity ceases as rapidly and as painlessly as possible, and that death ensues as soon as possible. In a rodeo event, this would usually be undertaken by the on-site veterinarian either by intravenous injection or by directly damaging the brain (a blow or shot to the head, with a firearm or captive bolt).
Whenever a firearm is used, it is very important that the operator is competent to use the gun and takes care to ensure their safety and that of other people and animals.
There are two types of captive bolt firearm – penetrating and non-penetrating. A penetrating captive bolt enters the skull and comes into contact with brain tissue; a non-penetrative captive bolt employs a "mushroom" percussive head. Both methods provide a concussive blow to the skull, resulting in insensibility because of brain tissue damage, although the damage caused by the penetrating captive bolt will result in less chance of the animal regaining sensibility.
The correct position and direction of aim are critical for the humane and effective killing of cattle and horses.
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The optimum position for cattle is at the intersection of two imaginary lines drawn from the rear of the eyes to the opposite horn buds. |
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The optimum position for horses is at right angles to the frontal surface, well above the point where imaginary lines from eye to ear cross. Figure source: Based on Humane Slaughter Association (2005) Guidance Notes No. 3: Humane Killing of Livestock Using Firearms. Published by the Humane Slaughter Association, The Old School, Brewhouse Hill, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire AL4 8AN, UK. |
Welfare assurance or quality management schemes that provide for minimum standards and recommended best practices provide assurance to the public and to organisations responsible for auditing compliance that a strong emphasis is being placed on the welfare of animals.
To ensure that standards of animal welfare and husbandry are maintained, the organiser of each event or series of events should implement a welfare assurance system that provides for written procedures. The adoption of a generic (e.g. New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association) welfare assurance system will meet this recommendation.
While the welfare system should be based on the general principles of Standard AS/NZS ISO 9002 or similar, it is not essential that the quality system be certified under the JASANZ (Joint Accreditation Standards for Australia and New Zealand) certification scheme.
The Animal Welfare Act 1999.
as defined in the Act:
NAWAC takes to mean technologies which are used practically to care for and manage animals, for example, existing chemicals, drugs, instruments, devices and facilities.
an official appointed by the rodeo organiser(s) to be responsible for overseeing animal welfare at a rodeo in conjunction with the veterinarian.
riding a horse using rigging and no saddle.
a timed event in which an individual horse and rider complete a clover-leaf pattern around three barrels.
a horse that is trained to buck in the rodeo arena.
riding a bull or steer using a girth rope.
a male bovine of breeding age.
throwing a calf so that it rotates 180°, landing on the broad of its back.
bovine under one year of age.
a stockade from which animals are released into the arena.
animals that refuse to leave the chute when the gate is open.
a device (usually a strap or buckle) that connects the saddle or bareback rigging to the girth.
stock trained and maintained for use in rodeo events.
a device that is capable of delivering an electric shock to make an animal move, but does not include electric stunners use to stun an animal immediately before slaughter or electric devices used on animals by the New Zealand Police.
when the flag judge drops his/her flag to signify the end of the event.
a rope or strap that is tied over the lower back and around the flanks of a horse or bull.
an object used to make an animal move, but does not include an electric prodder.
NAWAC takes to mean a standard of care that has a general level of acceptance among knowledgeable practitioners and experts in the field; is based on good sense and sound judgement; is practical and thorough; has robust experiential or scientific foundations; and prevents unreasonable or unnecessary harm to, or promotes the interests of, the animals to which it is applied. Good practice also takes account of the evolution of attitudes about animals and their care.
the underside of the front of the saddle.
as defined in the Act: "in relation to an animal, means causing the animal to suffer, by any act or omission, pain or distress that in its kind or degree, or in its object, or in the circumstances in which it is inflicted, is unreasonable or unnecessary."
a judge who has been appointed by a rodeo association to officiate at a rodeo.
minimum standards provide the details of specific actions people need to take in order to meet the obligations in the Act. They are identified in the text by a heading, and generally use the word "must" or similar. They are highlighted in boxes within the text.
stock not regularly used in rodeo events (also called club stock) and which are only used once at a particular rodeo.
as defined in the Act: "in relation to an animal, includes the parent or guardian of a person under the age of 16 years who –
mounted persons in the ring who are responsible for collecting riders from bucking horses and guiding animals out of the arena following rodeo events.
a short length of rope used to bind a calf’s legs after it has been lassoed.
as defined in the Act: "in relation to an animal, includes a person who has an animal in that person’s possession or custody, or under that person’s care, control, or supervision."
NAWAC takes to mean the best practice agreed at a particular time, following consideration of scientific information, accumulated experience and public submissions on this Code. It is usually a higher standard of practice than the minimum standard, except where the minimum standard is best practice. It is a practice that can be varied as new information comes to light. Recommendations for best practice will be particularly appropriate where it is desirable to promote or encourage better care for animals than is provided as a minimum standard.
Recommended best practices are identified in the text by a heading, and generally use the word "should".
a girth strap and handle used in bareback riding.
any public event which involves any of the following:
or any event which calls itself a rodeo.
persons in the ring during bucking events who are responsible for distracting bulls away from the rider and/or freeing rider’s hand if caught up, after the rider dismounts (also known as bull fighters).
an official of the organising association, and who is responsible for the running of the rodeo.
an officially organised event for the purpose of instructing students in correct techniques of various rodeo disciplines, training of time event horses and for teaching trainee judges.
any situation where people and/or animals are trained to participate in rodeos.
catching by lasso, throwing and tying a calf by the legs (previously known as calf roping).
a rope and tie or team roping event.
a spoked revolving disk at the end of a spur.
riding a horse that bucks, using a saddle.
NAWAC takes to mean knowledge within animal-based scientific disciplines, especially those that deal with nutritional, environmental, health, behavioural and cognitive/neural functions, which are relevant to understanding the physical, health and behavioural needs of animals. Such knowledge is not haphazard or anecdotal; it is generated by rigorous and systematic application of the scientific method, and the results are objectively and critically reviewed before acceptance.
castrated male bovine over a year of age.
catching and throwing a horned steer by one rider with the use of a hazer (also may be known as bull dogging).
a person who provides stock for rodeo events.
a steer-roping event that involves two horse riders where one acts as a header (the person who ropes the horns or head) and the other as a heeler (who rides in and ropes the steer around the back legs), in order to bring the steer to a standstill between the two riders.
Schedule 1 electric prodder: replaced on 27 August 2020 by section 25(1) of the Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Amendment Regulations 2020
Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Amendment Regulations 2020 – New Zealand Legislation
This Appendix is not part of the Code of Welfare but is included as a reference.
Although efforts to include relevant regulations within this Code have been made, there may be other regulations which are relevant to you. The full list of all animal welfare regulations should be consulted where appropriate.
Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018 – New Zealand Legislation
In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,—
Regulations 33(1), 35(2), and 38 to 43 do not apply to transporters.
In this regulation, goad means an object used to make an animal move, but does not include an electric prodder as defined in regulation 48(5)
Appendix replaced on 9 May 2021 by Notice in the Gazette 2021-go1589
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