To the editor:

On Sept. 5, Laura Kelly wrote about “Rodeo cruelty.” Obviously, Ms. Kelly doesn’t know much about rodeo livestock or has never actually seen a rodeo. She has been brainwashed by the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) people who also don’t know much about rodeo.

I raise longhorn cattle and sold the bull in your front page picture featured Sept. 1. I know the young boy riding and his family. This bull, as most rodeo stock, is taken better care of than a lot of people’s house pets.

I’ve been to many rodeo events and have never seen any type of burrs or irritants used on rear flank straps — not tight ropes around the abdomen to make the bull buck, as Ms. Kelly thinks. I also have never seen open wounds and burns on any of the stock. It is just not true that electric prods are used to make stock buck at any type of sanctioned rodeo. I have seen a few animals and cowboys injured, which is going to happen in any type of sport. Should we boycott all sporting events?

Ms. Kelly should get her facts straight before writing about something she knows nothing about nor has ever seen in person. She should also take some of her spare time to visit ranches that raise rodeo livestock. She then might have a grasp of what really goes on at rodeo events.

John Prochaska,

Lawrence