Horse Tripping Faces Ban in Arizona

Newly-elected Phoenix city councilwoman Thelda Williams said her first item of business is to make the sport of horse tripping illegal in Phoenix.

Horse tripping is often the focus of charreadas, or Mexican rodeos. Williams explains that participants in the sport have the horses gallop around a rodeo arena and then pull wires to trip the animals. Horse tripping can also involve competitors chasing a horse and roping it by its legs, causing it to crash to the ground. Williams says the downed horses are often left with broken legs and necks and many have to be euthanized.

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Animal welfare organizations have long criticized horse tripping. Such groups want to see the sport outlawed in all states, and they want to see offenders punished as felons.

Horse tripping has been banned in a handful of states, including California, Maine, New Mexico, and Texas, but it is classified as a misdemeanor.

Williams said she first learned of the practice while working with Arizona’s Maricopa County sheriff’s office last summer. “I don’t understand the entertainment or the sport of it all because all they’re doing is maiming and killing horses, but it is considered a part of a rodeo and I want it stopped,” she said.

Williams said she’ll present an ordinance banning the sport to the Phoenix City Council later this month.

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View Comments

Terri says:
January 4, 2008 at 8:06 am
DO THESE PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF TIME ON THEIR HANDS????? This is awful, awful way to treat, a horse, and this is suppose to be a SPORT!!! Maybe we should turn this around, and have the horse, chase a man around the ring, and have him fall by a trip wire!!!!!!! And see how long, that would last!! THIS JUST OUTRAGEGOUS!!! And the people that does this should have the same punishment!!! BAN IT!!!!
Amy says:
January 4, 2008 at 8:17 am
I think that it is wonderful that someone can finally try to put a stop to such abuse. So many horses are left to suffer. I hope the ban goes through.
Lynda says:
January 4, 2008 at 9:32 am
I agree with Thelda Williams - horse tripping should be outlawed - its cruelty to horses and the sheriff should arrest those who are involved in such practices - Not to long ago when that rodeo was in Phoenix - I called the Sheriff's office and they informed me to call the Department of Agriculture - I called the department and they infact told me they were looking into it. After that I didn't hear anything from them. So lets be one of those States that outlaw horse tripping.
sabrina says:
January 4, 2008 at 10:30 am
I agree with you all they should put a stop to this stupid act that they are doing to these poor animals. I don't see how anyone can do stuff like this and then think that it's funny. I know that they wouldn't like it if some one done them that way. I say outlaw this stupid stuff!
Jennifer says:
January 4, 2008 at 11:17 am
This is a sick sport and I hope to see it stopped as well!
Sasha says:
January 4, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I wholeheartedly agree that this "sport" that takes advantage of defenseless horses should be stopped. While most rodeo, from barrel racing to goat tying, makes sense to me, this does not serve a purpose and in fact aims to hurt the horses by making them run. I hope it will be a felony to participate in this abusive game!
Caitlin says:
January 4, 2008 at 12:43 pm
What a terrible wretched thing to do to a poor horse! It tries to run away because it's so scared, and for some sick twisted reason people think it's funny to make it fall over, injuring or killing itself. Sick people.
Cat says:
January 4, 2008 at 2:22 pm
I was totally shocked when I read this! How could some one do something so horrible to something so beautiful!
Gina says:
January 4, 2008 at 9:15 pm
wow. that is unbelievable. I had never even heard of horse tripping until now. It definately needs to be banned in all states. I don't know what kind of people think that that is entertainment, it is just plain wrong.
Shelley says:
January 4, 2008 at 10:11 pm
It should be banned immediately! This is horribly inhumane and just torture for the horses! I don't understand how this can be considered entertainment.