Humane Regulations

A. It shall be the dual responsibility of the Stock Contractor and Rodeo Officials to provide sufficient stock to prevent the extensive use of animals.

B. Both Rodeo Committee and Stock Contractor shall be held responsible for the humane treatment of stock.

C. Animals for all events will be inspected. No sore, lame, sick or injured animal or animals with defective eyesight shall be permitted. Should an animal become sick or injured before the time it is scheduled to be used in competition that animal shall not be used and another animal shall be drawn to be used.

D. Any IJRA Stock Contractor, Official or Contestant guilty of mistreating livestock will lose franchise, and/or membership in the IJRA.

E. Contract acts and clowns using stock shall be subject to the same rules of humane treatment of stock as apply to all others.

F. It is the responsibility of the Rodeo Committee to see that any injured animals be removed and/or cared for at the earliest possible time.

G. The Committee will have available the name and location of the nearest facility for emergency animal treatment.

H. The Stock Contractor, Rodeo Judges and Arena Director shall have the option to shorten any event time limit, in which contracted stock is used, for safety reasons and to minimize stress on the animals.

Humane Rules

A. No wooden paddles or twisted wire whips are permissible.

B. In calf roping, calves may not be intentionally flipped backward. Contestant must adjust rope and reins in such a manner that will prevent horse from dragging calf. The rope is to be removed from calf's body as soon as possible after the "tie" is completed.

C. No animal shall be treated inhumanely or prodded excessively. Standard electric prods shall be used as little as possible. Animals shall be touched only on the hip or shoulder area with prod.

D. A conveyance must be available and used, if possible, to remove animals from arena in case of injury. Injured calves shall be removed from the arena on a sled, pickup truck, or calf stretcher. Animals removed from the arena shall be placed in a situation as isolated and comfortable as possible to reduce stress.

E. No bull tails will be allowed under flank straps.

F. No stimulants or hypnotics are to be given to any animal used for contest purposes.

G. No small animals or pets allowed in arena where restraint is necessary, or where subject to injury to attack by another animal.

H. Livestock shall be removed from arena after completion of entry in contest.

I. Use of fireworks to frighten animals is prohibited.

J. If an IJRA member, including Contestant or Stock Contractor abuses an animal by an unnecessary non-competitive or competitive action said person or person may be disqualified. Officials will immediately inform the announcer that the Contestant has been disqualified and spectators will be informed of the disqualification due to unnecessary roughness to livestock.

K. No livestock shall be confined or transported in vehicles beyond a period of 24 hours without being unloaded and properly fed and watered.  Failure to abide by this rule shall subject the Stock Contractor or Contestant to possible suspension.

L. Any animal that becomes overly excited so that it gets down in the chute, or in any way appears to be in danger of injuring itself, may be released immediately.

M. All team roping steers must have horn wraps that extend four (4) inches down the jaw from the base of the horns.