Promoters for a Mexican rodeo have voluntarily canceled a “steer-tailing” event for this weekend at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.
The American Humane Association had planned to file an emergency injunction today to stop the event.
The promoter signed an agreement replacing the event — known as a coleadero — with bull and bronco riding competitions mixed with family-centered activities. The promoter also agreed to abide by Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association rules and have a veterinarian on-site.
The events will be held from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies completed an animal cruelty investigation last week and have issued a summons for the father-son promotion team alleged to have failed to provide veterinary care to animals injured in a July 18 coleadero.
Sheriff’s spokeswoman Jacki Kelley said investigators received a complaint after the event, in which riders grab the tail of steers to bring them to the ground.
Deputies searched the Adams County property of promoter David Martinez and found seven steers whose skin was pulled from their tails. Also, two were lame, one had a broken pelvis and one had a broken leg. The two with broken bones were euthanized.
While the case for the July 18 complaint is underway, deputies were concerned about future acts of animal cruelty, Kelley said.
