Bill banning Mexican rodeo events horse-tripping and steer-tailing dies
A controversial bill that would have banned two traditional Mexican rodeo events in Colorado is effectively dead after failing Monday to get out of committee in the state House of Representatives, the bill's sponsor said.
The Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources postponed indefinitely House Bill 1039, which was sponsored by Denver Democrat Beth McCann and would have made the practices of "steer-tailing" and "horse-tripping" criminal acts of cruelty to animals.
Steer-tailing involves a mounted cowboy grasping the tail of a steer and bringing the animal to the ground. Horse-tripping is a roping event in which the competitor lassos the animal's legs and brings the horse down.
Had the bill become law, Colorado would have joined several states and numerous counties and cities with bans or restrictions on horse-tripping but only the second to ban cattle-tailing. Nebraska enacted a similar statewide ban in 2008.
http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_17188054