The public will get a chance to add their views on a proposed amendment to Lyon County's animal control ordinance that would expand the definition of animal cruelty.
The Lyon County Commissioners will hold a public hearing Thursday at the Lyon County Administrative building in Yerington on an amendment designed to, among other things, ban horse tripping and steer tailing.
Both events are common at many nonsanctioned Mexican rodeos across the country and in Mexico, although Bob Rubis of the Tri-County Rodeo Events Association said horse tripping did not occur at events he sponsors at the Dayton Valley Events Center, and steer tailing was no worse than bulldogging or steer wrestling, which take place at sanctioned rodeos.
Rubis plans to attend Thursday's hearing.
"We don't do horse tripping, but we do the steer tailing," he said.
Steer tailing is when a rider on horseback rides out of a chute and grabs a steer by the tail and flips him. The winner of the event is the one who takes the least amount of time and space to flip the steer.
"It's not much different than American rodeos other than one is grabbing the tail and the other jumps off the horse and grabs the steer by the horns and twists their neck to bring them down," Rubis said. "Not much different except they're (Mexican riders) are on the opposite end."
Rubis said he was in favor of continuing the Mexican rodeos and allowing steer tailing.
He said there is no vet on site at the rodeos and none have ever been called.
"We've never had a horse get hurt," he said.
As for steers, Rubis said if one is injured it is taken out of the arena and moved to where the public can't see it, and after the event it will be sold for beef.
In 2007 Tri-County paid Lyon County $200 for the first six hours of the event at the Dayton Valley Events Center and $60 for every hour thereafter, in addition to a $50 fee to use the water truck, Rubis said.
They also pay the Lyon County Sheriff's Office $84 per hour for two deputies to keep the peace, Rubis said, totaling about $550-$600 for security.
The association promotes about one rodeo a month from April to October, weather permitting, he said.
Each event attracts about 45 riders and 200-250 spectators, mostly of Mexican ancestry, Rubis said, and the tickets are about $15 each. The association also runs a concession stand that offers food, beer, water and soft drinks.
Lyon County Commissioner Larry McPherson proposed the amendment to the ordinance last month, saying a deputy who was handling security at a Mexican rodeo in Dayton reported the activities as cruel.
He also said Clark County has proposed an even stronger ordinance. He added that the animal control officers would define what constituted cruelty.
Other activities that would be banned by the amendment would include using animals for targets in events or circuses, fighting animals, overworking animals and keeping animals in too-small crates.
If You Go
WHAT: Lyon County Commission meeting
WHEN: 9 a.m. Thursday
WHERE: 27 S. Main St., Yerington
CALL: 463-6531