Festival western de St-Tite: visit in the behind the scenes of a rodeo

Charel Traversy

Saturday, 9 September 2017 19:25

UPDATE
Saturday, 9 September 2017 19:38

Look at this article

SAINT-TITE – It has been almost four years, on the Festival western de Saint-Tite, in Mauricie, has started to change its regulations. Well before the Law on animal welfare and the injunction that, finally, has been withdrawn in the month of June.

“What is interesting is that it uses the size of the Festival western de Saint-Tite to change a sport that is ultra-conservative. And it is well received by our american colleagues”, explained Pascal Lafrenière, director general of the event.

On Saturday, the media were able to visit the facilities and see the underside of a rodeo. The ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Quebec (MAPAQ) and the three observers named after the injunction will have unlimited access to the facilities and the stables for the duration of the festival. In fact, the organization wants to seal the debate on animal welfare.

A horse rodeo is used only two times during the festival.

In the morning, and the day before a competition, a veterinarian inspects the animals.

Saturday, at the first rodeo, the organization has explained the usefulness of the back strap installed on the horse.

“The strap is in sheep, it is doubled. Since he was young, the horse is associated with the tightness of the strap has a annoyance. He has associated that when it rut, the strap arrived and it is finished,” said the columnist and moderator Marcel Bouchard.

This is not the first tour behind the scenes. For the past 10 years, the public may attend to the hidden Face of The rodeo. A visit that was full and that helps demystify the sport.