The Rural Voice, 1989-09, Page 43Rodeo host Liz Ritchie.
Cowgirls have always taken part
in rodeos. The ladies' barrel race
attracted 18 entrants for the two days.
One intrepid cowgirl took a turn at
junior steer riding. A husband and
wife team, the Doners, competed in
team roping.
Rodeo is a multi-million dollar
sport. Horses and the equipment to
move them are costly. Rodeo -riding
is a family sport too, with families
making the circuit and often all family
members competing.
Charges of inhumane treatment of
animals have been haunting rodeos in
general. Electric prods are used on
steers and calves as they leave the
chutes. Cinches are used on broncos
and bulls. But strict rules control the
treatment of the animals involved.
The spurs used in saddle bronc riding,
for example, cannot be sharp or the
contestant is disqualified.
"It's not half as inhumane as peo-
ple say," says Liz Ritchie, organizer
of the rodeo and owner of Ritchwood
Farms. "The safety of the animals
comes first, then the safety of the
cowboys. Cowboys help each other.
Then, we all have a good time."
Ritchwood Farms is a polled
Hereford operation with quarter horses
as a side interest. Liz Ritchie has been
a rodeo fan for a long time. "The
Ontario Rodeo Association asked me
about hosting the rodeo. I thought it
was a great idea for fund-raising for
the arena." Proceeds from the rodeo,
which was helped along by local
sponsors, went to the Port Elgin and
District Community Complex.
Jan Bonhomme, local recreation
director, was in charge of promotion.
She was pleased with the attendance.
"We were set to hold 1,300 people
both days, but 1,500 showed up
Saturday, and 1,800 people came
on Sunday."0
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SEPTEMBER 1989 41