By KRWG News
New Mexico – The New Mexico Livestock Board says it will investigate alleged animal cruelty at the National High School Finals Rodeo following the release of an Internet video depicting horses and bulls being electrically shocked with handheld cattle prods.
The four-minute clip filmed by an animal rights group shows more than 10 bucking horses and nine bulls being prodded with the pronged devices as the rodeo chutes open at an arena that appears to be McGee Park.
Many of the film clips detail the use of prods beyond what the National High School Rodeo Association animal welfare rules allow.
The association's rule book states horses can be shocked below the neck if the animal stalls in the chute but bulls are never to be prodded when inside the chute.
Video clips document as many as six rodeo workers prodding horses in the upper neck as gates open, and one rodeo worker prodding bulls in the hind legs and tail within the chute.
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Information from: The Daily Times, http://www.daily-times.com
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.