NYC’s Madison Square Garden (“MSG”) hosts Professional Bull Riding (“PBR”) for a three day show, every January. It has been doing this for years. Prior to Covid-19 hitting, MSG planned to host the first full blown rodeo in NYC in thirty years. When Covid hit, MSG postponed the show (and all shows, at that time). A massive anti-rodeo campaign was launched by Animal Cruelty Exposure Fund, and New York State Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal introduced legislation that would essentially prevent any rodeos from being hosted in places like NYC within the State of New York. MSG never re-scheduled the full blown rodeo, but it continues to host PBR every year.

ALL RODEO ACTS ARE ACTS OF ANIMAL ABUSE, BRUTALITY, AND VIOLENCE. 

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO TO STOP IT:

FIRST:

SIGN OUR PETITION HERE!

SECOND:

Call and email Madison Square Garden, and demand that they cancel the show! 

Here is their contact information, along with an email template and phone script below:

Email Guest Relations: [email protected];
Call:  (212) 465-6225.

Here is a sample email you can use as a guide if you want:

To Andrew Lustgarten, President of MSG,

My name is [insert name]. I am urging you to cancel ALL rodeo events at Madison Square Garden, including the Professional Bull Riding that takes place every January.

All rodeo acts are brutal and violent, and they are not family friendly.

Animals used in rodeo acts suffer horrible injuries and immense pain from broken bones, torn muscles, ruptured internal organs and damage to the throat. They are agitated and provoked to “perform,” and eventually sent to slaughter.

NYC has worked tirelessly to become more compassionate to animals, and animal cruelty is NOT welcome in this city!

Andrew Lustgarten, cancel the show! New York rejects PBR!!

Sincerely,[Name and signature]

Here is a sample phone script you can use as a guide if you want:

Hello. I am calling to demand that Andrew Lustgarten and MSG stop hosting Professional Bull Riding every year.

Rodeos and bull riding events are brutal and violent, and they are not family friendly.

The animals suffer horrible injuries and immense pain from broken bones, torn muscles, ruptured internal organs and damage to the throat. They’re provoked to “perform,” and eventually sent to slaughter.

Animal cruelty is not welcome in NYC! Please cancel the show!

THIRD:

There is a bill pending in New York State’s Legislature to Stop the Rodeo – URGE YOUR NEW YORK LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT BILL A02124 !!

Bill A02124 – sponsored by Assemblymember Rosenthal  – will effectively stop rodeos, as it makes the tools necessary for certain rodeo acts illegal, which will, in effect, prevent the happening of events such as calf roping, bull or bronco riding. The bill would prohibit the use of tools such as spurs, flank or bucking straps, and electric prods. Said measures are key components in rodeos and would, effectively, make them obsolete.  You can see the whole bill here:

https://nyassembly.gov/leg/?default_fld=&leg_video=&bn=A02124&term=&Summary=Y&Text=Y

Click https://nyassembly.gov/mem/search/ to contact your Assemblymember and https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator to contact your State Senator.

Here is a sample script you can use for writing an email, or making a phone call:

Dear [insert Senator/Assemblymember],

My name is [insert name]. I urge you to sponsor Bill A08554/S7971which will prohibit certain rodeo acts such as calf roping, bull or bronco riding, and will prohibit tools such as spurs, flank or bucking straps, and electric prods.

Rodeos are brutal and violent. Animal lovers like myself are horrified about how innocent animals are exploited and abused for the sake of profit and entertainment.

A renowned large animal veterinarian said that the animals suffer horrific injuries and immense pain from broken bones, torn muscles, ruptured internal organs and damage to the throat. Animals used in rodeos such as bulls are naturally docile, and they must be agitated and provoked to “perform”.  When they are no longer deemed profitable, they are sent to slaughter.

Rodeos are barbaric and we should not be having these violent events in our state. Please sponsor Bill A08554/S7971.

[Name] [Signature] [Address]

THESE PHOTOS CAPTURE THE BARBARIC NATURE OF A RODEO, AND DEMONSTRATE WHY THEY MUST END. [Note, we want to thank our friends at SHARK (Showing Animals Respect And Kindness) for their tireless work on this issue, and for providing the photos used herein.]