Keeping livestock safe during California Rodeo Salinas

While medical care may be voluntary for the competitors, at the California Rodeo Salinas, if an animal gets hurt, they get medical attention right away. The success of the Rodeo is dependent on the health of the livestock. Some of these animals are worth tens of thousands of dollars, so it starts with the people who own the
animals.

“The cowboys will take care of their own horses and they’ll make sure those animals are really ready to go because this is their livelihood,” said Cindy Schonholtz, director of industry outreach at the PRCA. “And some of those calf roping horses or team roping horses are worth $50,000.”

If a stock contractor can’t deliver a healthy stock, they may not be invited back the next year. Many animals perform once a day, though some once during the entire Rodeo. Even before they get into the arena, they’re checked out. Judges look for things like a limp, or an animal not eating or drinking, maybe one with eyes that aren’t bright.

“We have judges that get onsite beforehand and they inspect the animals before every competition,” Schonholtz said. “And if there’s any animal that they feel isn’t at its best, they’ll put that animal out of the draw.”

Local veterinarians and the SPCA for Monterey County keep an eye out, watching animals as they enter and exit the arena, looking for any signs of injury.

“I think an orthopedic injury is probably the main thing that we’re looking for,” said Dr. Tim Eastman with Steinbeck County Equine Clinic. “Like a sports related injury like a human athlete would have and so, we’re watching to make sure they aren’t limping also to make sure there’s no abrasions or puncture wounds or that kind of thing out there that could be bleeding.”

If an animal is injured, first aid is given immediately. There’s equipment at the Salinas Sports Complex where vets can do a more thorough physical examination or an ultrasound. While they say the rate of injuries is very rare, there are offsite clinics available just in case.

“So if something is more significant or we need more advanced diagnostics,” Dr. Eastman explains, “We can move the animal about ten minutes away from here to a hospital for further evaluation and treatment.”

While their jobs are mostly routine, sometimes unplanned events happen too. A lamb was born on Thursday morning. A sheep used in the mutton busting competition will now be laying low after giving birth.

“Can’t remember an animal being born out here before,” Dr. Eastman said.