If you spend enough time on TikTok or Instagram, you will probably see a video saying rodeo is abusive, outdated or cruel. These videos get millions of views and are often made by people who have never worked with livestock, been in an arena or spoken with a stock contractor. Still, their opinions spread much faster than any fact-checked explanation.
Rodeo has always faced criticism, but social media has turned it into a world of misinformation. Context gets lost, details are ignored and crazy stories always get the most attention.
Caring about animal welfare is important. The real issue is that social media rewards outrage instead of accuracy. A short video of a bucking horse can look dramatic to someone who doesn’t know how horses behave. An image of a calf in the air can seem shocking to someone unfamiliar with proper roping. Also, a video of a bull kicking in the chute can appear cruel to someone who does not realize that bulls often test their footing and react to pressure.
Viewers miss what happens outside the camera’s view: veterinary checks, training programs, strict rules, penalties for poor handling and the fact that rodeo animals are among the most valuable and well cared for. But those things don’t go viral.
Misinformation spreads because it’s simple. It is easy to call something abuse if you’ve never cared for livestock. It’s easy to judge a sport you’ve only watched online, and it’s easy to assume the worst when you don’t know what you’re seeing.
For students at the University of Wyoming, a school known for its “Cowboy Spirit,” this gap is especially frustrating. Many UW students grew up around ranching, rodeo or livestock work. They understand the difference between stress and harm, energy and fear and a working animal versus an abused one. However, online stories often make them look like bad guys before they can explain their side.
This leaves students feeling like they always have to defend their culture against people who only know rodeo from viral videos. It causes tension, misunderstanding and a feeling that the Western world is being judged by outsiders.
UW could help change this. As the state’s only 4-year university, in a place where rodeo is the official sport, UW should lead the conversation about what rodeo really is. This includes educational events, livestock-handling demonstrations, Q&A sessions with athletes and stock contractors and opportunities for students to see the sport in person rather than just online.
Being open builds trust. Seeing things firsthand builds understanding. Learning the facts does more to fight misinformation than arguing in the comments ever could.
Rodeo isn’t perfect, but no sport is. The people who work in rodeo, from athletes to contractors to veterinarians, have expertise that social media can’t show. They should be part of the conversation, not pushed aside by viral outrage.
If students want to criticize rodeo, they should. But they need real knowledge, not just repeated misinformation. They should talk to people who live this life, not just those who post about it, and realize that a sport rooted in ranch work, tradition and animal care can’t be understood from a short video.
Social media might be loud, but that doesn’t mean it’s right. Rodeo deserves more than to be judged by online haters.
