Animal cruelty has no place in national sports awards

March 7th, 2025

SAFE is calling for rodeo riders to be excluded as contenders from all future rounds of the New Zealand Rural Sports Awards, saying the inclusion of rodeo legitimises animal cruelty. SAFE Campaign Manager Emily Hall says the organisation was shocked to learn 20-year-old bull rider Rylee Ward has been named as a finalist for ‘Young New Zealand Rural Sportsperson of the Year.’

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