A proposed Worcester ordinance meant to protect rodeo animals from pain and fear could end up killing off rodeos in the city altogether, according to City Manager Eric D. Batista. The measure would ban flank straps, electric prods, shocking devices, and other practices long used in bull riding and saddle bronc events, and the City Council is set to review it Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
What the Ordinance Would Ban
The proposal, unveiled by Batista's administration, prohibits rodeos from using tools and practices that could inflict pain on or induce fear in animals, according to MassLive. If passed, it would ban flank straps, electric prods, or shocking devices on animals, and it would also prohibit pulling their ears, twisting their tails, and using chemical or physical irritants such as hot peppers or tacks. Flank straps are wrapped around the flank or waist of a bull or horse and are used in bull riding and saddle bronc riding.
Batista wrote that a ban on flank straps specifically would “effectively end the presence of rodeos” in Worcester. The city manager said most flank straps are made of soft cotton rope and are not harmful, though his letter does not address whether electric prods or other practices should be banned.
Why the Council Is Taking This Up
The push for new rules traces back to 2025, when Council Vice Chair and Councilor-at-Large Khrystian King requested an ordinance restricting rodeo equipment and practices. King said he wanted to ensure the safety of people and animals at rodeos, framing the effort as a safety measure rather than an attempt to ban the events outright.
Animal-welfare advocates see the equipment differently than Batista does. MSPCA-Angell argues that flank straps can cause bulls or horses to buck excessively, sometimes hard enough to break their legs or back, and the organization has said the straps cause panicked and aggressive bucking through abdominal constriction and distress. The group also notes more broadly that the public is increasingly questioning the use of animals for entertainment, per the same account.
Economic Stakes for the DCU Center
Batista said losing rodeos could negatively affect Worcester's position in a highly competitive live entertainment market, as well as related economic activity. The DCU Center has hosted Professional Bull Riders events from 2001 to 2025, and Batista said rodeos boost the local economy by attracting visitors, generating tourism revenue, and supporting hotels and restaurants.
Batista acknowledged the importance of animal welfare and said rodeos can be conducted with animal welfare in mind, adding that modern rodeos visiting Worcester and their host venues already follow guidelines for humane animal treatment, equipment and practice limits, public health, and zoning. He suggested the city raise awareness of rodeos as a way to balance animal welfare, economic support, and preserving rodeo heritage.
Echoes of a Bigger Fight
Worcester's debate mirrors a similar clash playing out in Los Angeles, where a proposed ordinance also lists flank or bucking straps and electric prods or shocking devices among prohibited rodeo equipment, according to the Los Angeles City Clerk. An analysis from the city's Equine Advisory Committee argued that ordinance, as written, would effectively eliminate rodeo entirely from Los Angeles — the same warning Batista is now sounding in Worcester. A 2022 review by the Los Angeles Times found that more than 125 animal injuries had been reported at California rodeos since a veterinarian law took effect in 2001.
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 272, Section 77 already prohibits torture, torment, or unnecessarily cruel treatment of animals, a backdrop that has shaped how both sides frame the Worcester debate. Reports on an Attleboro rodeo incident in 2024 diverge on the details: the Worcester Guardian reported eight loose bulls, while MSPCA-Angell said seven bulls escaped their pen and that no one was hurt.
King did not respond to a request for comment on Monday ahead of Tuesday's meeting. Whether the council adopts, amends, or rejects the proposal remains to be seen when members take it up this week.
