California Rodeo Association condemns viral Salinas bull video and bars renter from future events
SALINAS, Calif. —
The California Rodeo Association has released a statement regarding a viral social media video from an event hosted by an “independent outside promoter renting the Salinas Sports Complex” that shows a bull rider being injured and what many viewers say is the abuse of a bull.
According to the statement, the third-party promoter held the bull riding event on Saturday, and the rider shown in the viral video was violently injured while riding the bull. The association said the event was not affiliated with the California Rodeo Association.
The video has sparked widespread outrage because, after the rider was off the bull, several people appeared to lasso the animal to the ground. The video then shows several individuals kicking and stomping the bull, while another person stomps on the downed bull after pulling its tail.
“We recognize that the incident occurred at a facility we manage and that many people associate with our organization. We take that responsibility seriously,” the statement reads. “The California Rodeo Association does not condone animal abuse or the mistreatment of livestock under any circumstances. The actions depicted in the videos are inconsistent with our values and with the standards we expect of anyone using our facilities.”
The association said the renter violated its rental agreement and will be barred from hosting future events at the Salinas Sports Complex.
The California Rodeo Association also said it will fully cooperate with law enforcement and regulatory agencies investigating the matter and will provide any information requested.
The association said it has been committed to the responsible care and humane treatment of animals for more than a century. It thanked community members for bringing the concerns forward and said it remains committed to ensuring its facilities are used in a manner that reflects its longstanding standards and values.
KSBW 8 has reached out to the Salinas Police Department, and they said nobody has filed a report on the incident as of yet.