SHARK PRESS RELEASE
(Dec. 13, 2012) — SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) has uncovered stunning evidence of horses being shocked out of the bucking chute at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) being held in Las Vegas this week. Shocking horses is against the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s bylaws and rules, the only exception being for known chute stallers. However since “known chute stallers” are prohibited from being used at the NFR, using electrical prods to make the horses perform is against the PRCA’s own rules.
Video footage reveals horses ridden by top champion contestants in the saddle bronc riding competition being shocked. Implicated riders include Wade Sundell, Taos Muncy, Cody DeMoss, Sterling Crawley and brothers Jake and Cody Wright (the Wright brothers, Jake, Jesse, Alex and Cody are amongst the top earners in the PRCA).
To view the footage click on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXh81Nb4RRA [or at the end of this post-Ed.]
The device used, the Hot-Shot Power Mite, is an electric prod, which was never intended for use in horses or at rodeos. The manufacturing company has very strong statements on the use of the electric prod. Amy Scheel, Marketing Director of Miller Manufacturing Company Inc. has previously stated, “We don’t condone the use of this on horses and not in rodeos.” SHARK recently contacted the manufacturer and Amy Scheel reiterated that the company policy remains the same relative to the use of the product and the company continues to stand by her statement.
SHARK president Steve Hindi said, “They are breaking their own rules using this electric prod to shock horses. Not only is it cruel, but also as only the top riders and horses are competing, this should be completely unnecessary. ”
Rodeos have a tainted history of using electric prods to provoke horses into bucking to make them appear wilder then they are. SHARK has been documenting this abuse since 2005 and yet despite public outrage, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association is turning a blind eye to the practice.
SHARK is a US registered 501©(3) tax-deductible non-profit charity. SHARK’s mission is to nonviolently battle animal abuse whenever and wherever possible.
Tuesday's Horse 
so much for your all BS. I a m 80 yr old and never seen or heard of this. Also seen no proof from you.
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There are countless videos on YouTube like this one:
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So it’s legal to shock a horse? Honestly, I think rodeos should be shut down permanently. I see no public good from terrorizing horses and cows, and in fact it looks to me like torture. How can I be surprised that a bunch of psycho hicks — the riders, the handlers, the arena staff, the judges — routinely shock and manhandle the animals for a “better” show? Nor am I surprised that the AQHA is a sponsor.
We should all be protesting to the sponsors: Wranglers,Dodge, Coors, Coca Cola, and the AQHA. There was public outcry to tire chain Schwab when footage was posted of horses being tripped and dragged at a rural Oregon rodeo that Schwab sponsors. The PR person called me back and said she’d heard from “lots of people like you” and that Schwab would be reevaluating its sponsorship. They may need more pressure next year, but they took note.
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This is to me a extremely cowardly act if you ask me and very sicking
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Expose them I’ll check and see if they have fan pages. This is so called sport? Crock of b.s. Cowboy up, morons, and find another way to make a living, like natural training, yeah, like you would be a candidate for that!
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