Mandy Magro
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Bestselling Australian Author
'Mandy writes great stories…sexy and uniquely Australian!'
ADAM BRAND - AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY MUSIC ARTIST
My Blog
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Support rodeos!!
| Posted on 5 July, 2011 at 22:59 |
comments (1344)
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G'day Hope you've all had a rip snorter of a week! This week I wanted to touch on a serious issue. One that is very close to my heart.  I love attending rodeos, the thrill of the bull riding and the courage of the riders are major draw cards for me, along with thousands of other Australians. But, the future of the high adrenaline sport is under threat because of the concerns of animal activists. They think that bull riding is cruel and inhumane. I think they are very misinformed and if they looked closely at how the bulls are cared for they may change their minds. Don’t get me wrong. I love all creatures great and small and I am the first to jump up and down when I think there is cruelty to animals. But, I believe the animal activists concerns are very far fetched and I will explain why.  The NCCAW is a national body whose role it is to assess animal welfare and report back to the government for the making of laws to protect them. After a massive investigation last year they have chosen to support rodeos as they seen for themselves that the bulls’ health safety is the number one priority.  One top controversy is the flank strap. (Which is the strap, covered in sheepskin I may add!!, that is placed around the bulls flank, in front of its hind legs). It does not go over the bulls genitals, like animal activists seem to believe. And a good point to remember.....The bulls’ genitals are very important for future breeding so risking damage with a flank strap is a big NO NO!  For the stock contractors, the bulls are a major investment and highly valued. It’s their livelihood so I ask you, why wouldn’t they care for their bulls in the same manner as a farmer cares for their crops? They treat the bulls with the upmost respect, I know this from experience, as I have helped to feed and train bucking bulls.  The contractors know that only when a bull is in top condition will it buck like a champion. If a bull doesn’t want to buck, it wont, it will just lay down behind the chutes and refuse to move. And you try moving a one tonne beast. In fact, due to the light workload of a bucking bull, life expectancy for rodeo stock is longer than that of feral bulls. Believe me, if they weren’t bucking out at rodeos most of these bulls would be at the meatworks, being killed for our dinner plates. A recent survey has found that there is only 1 injury for every 2800 times a bull is used in the arena. There is always a vet on site, at every rodeo, to care for the bulls and to make sure they are in top condition to buck.  For the riders, there are also some very tough rules. Spurs must be blunt and only be 3mm thick. Considering that the bulls hide is 7mm thick, it means there is no harm done to the bull. To get that into perspective for you, human skin is only 1-2 mm thick. The bull riders will not hurt a bull. If they do, they’re immediately disqualified, which means loss of any chance of obtaining prize money, which is their number 1 goal! And also, they admire and the respect the bulls that are there for them to ride. For without the bulls, there wouldn’t be a sport.  And without the sport, it would leave all of us rodeo fans sitting on the sidelines of an empty, dusty arena and most of the bucking bulls without a reason to be fed and cared for. Which I think, would be a very tragic outcome. So please, support rodeos so the bulls can live a long and happy life. I know I will be!! Thought for this week "Grab life with both hands and give it all you've got!" Until next week, keep dreaming and smiling Mandy :-) |
Win a signed copy of Rosalee Station
| Posted on 10 May, 2011 at 21:14 |
comments (854)
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G’day  This past week has flown by in a flurry of excitement with my box of books arriving from Penguin, Chloe winning the little miss cowgirl at the Chillagoe rodeo (so very proud!), beginning preparations for my book launches, interviews and organising my wedding for the 25 of June. My goodness! No wonder I’m feeling a little bedazzled.  I’m so thrilled to announce the start of the competition where one lucky entrant will win themselves a signed copy of Rosalee Station. I would like people to tell me in 100 words or less about their most memorable experience in the outback. Be it because it was funny, scary, exhilarating, heart warming or just because it was downright pleasurable. I’m really looking forward to hearing about other people’s adventures in our magnificent country areas, be it anything from camping and fishing to mustering or pig hunting. So come on, tell me your stories. Who knows, I might use them in one of my upcoming novels! Please send all entries to [email protected]The winner will be drawn on May 30.  I had to put a photo in of Chloe winning her little miss cowgirl. She is still telling me how she won! Bless her; she looked so adorable out there in the centre ring with her Nanna standing so proudly beside her. I was watching from the sidelines, hooting and hollering for her!   The Chillagoe Rodeo is such a pleasure to attend with plenty of shade to pull up a chair and such fantastic entertainment in the ring. The bucking broncs and the earth shuddering bulls were a sight to behold and I got goose bumps watching the riders as they proved their determination and guts of steel by getting on the back of them. Good on ya guys! Only 19 more sleeps until the release date of Rosalee Station! Thought for this week Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly Until next week, keep smiling and dreaming Mandy :-) |