An investigation into the death of a pregnant horse at the San Diego rodeo in Petco Park found no criminal liability or negligence on the part of event organizers or the San Diego Padres. The horse, which was eight months pregnant, died from a ruptured uterine artery during a saddle bronc competition. The San Diego Humane Society’s enforcement officers conducted a necropsy and determined that no laws were broken, but the death of the horse raised concerns about the use of pregnant horses in rodeos.
The San Diego rodeo Alliance defended the event’s record on protecting animals, calling the horse’s death an unforeseeable medical event. Despite the Humane Society’s findings, local animal advocates criticized the rodeo as being inherently harmful to animals. A lawsuit was filed two years ago to prevent future rodeos in San Diego County, with advocates pointing to the bucking strap as a likely cause of the pregnant horse’s death.
Humane Society officials remain opposed to rodeos and have started a petition to stop future events in San Diego. The lawsuit filed by advocacy groups is in the discovery process, and the latest horse’s death will be added to the evidence. The San Diego rodeo Alliance stated that no other animals involved in the event required medical treatment.
