![\"Petco](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.animals24-7.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Picsart_25-03-06_18-12-22-834-e1741313568536.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/p>\n(Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n SAN DIEGO, California\u2013\u2013\u201c<\/strong>The San Diego Humane Society\u2019s Humane Law Enforcement team has concluded their investigation into the tragic death of a 16-year-old pregnant horse at the rodeo held at Petco Park,\u201d\u00a0 the society announced on March 6,\u00a0 2025,\u00a0 but the findings suggest they found more evidence of bulls having been in the San Diego Padres\u2019 infield<\/p>\n \u201cOn the evening of January 11, \u00a02025,\u201d\u00a0 the San Diego Humane Society posted,\u00a0 in a message correctly dated on Facebook but backdated to February 11,\u00a0 2025 on the San Diego Humane Society website,\u00a0 \u201cthe horse participated in the saddle bronc competition.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were no visible signs of injury during the event,\u201d\u00a0 the San Diego Humane Society said,\u00a0 though observers familiar with horses should have seen the horse was in advanced pregnancy,\u00a0 \u201cbut approximately 15 minutes after competing, \u00a0the horse began shaking.<\/p>\n See San Diego Rodeo, SF live markets, & the last refuge of scoundrels in California<\/a>.\u00a0 (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cA call for veterinary assistance was placed immediately and our humane officers, \u00a0along with on-site veterinarians, \u00a0responded within minutes,\u201d\u00a0 the San Diego Humane Society recounted.<\/p>\n \u201cTragically, \u00a0the horse collapsed and died before any treatment could be provided,\u201d\u00a0 but the most appropriate treatment,\u00a0 horse experts consulted by ANIMALS 24-7<\/strong> agreed,\u00a0 would have been to keep the mare quiet at home,\u00a0 not to truck her to a saddle bronc competition.<\/p>\n \u201cOur team launched an investigation immediately into the cause of this tragic loss,\u201d\u00a0 the San Diego Humane Society claimed, \u00a0\u201cand whether criminal negligence played a role.<\/p>\n Tim Eastman, DVM.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cA necropsy of the horse determined that she was in her third trimester of pregnancy, \u00a0and that the cause of death was a ruptured uterine artery.<\/p>\n \u201cAs part of the investigation, \u00a0our humane officers worked with two forensic veterinarians, \u00a0as well as the lab veterinarians who performed the necropsy,\u201d\u00a0 the San Diego Humane Society rattled on.<\/p>\n The necropsy,\u00a0 incidentally,\u00a0 was performed by Tim Eastman,\u00a0 DVM,\u00a0 of Salinas,\u00a0 California,\u00a0 whose history of failing to identify alleged cruelty at rodeos stretches back decades.<\/p>\n (See SHARK video shows dogs baiting bulls at Calif. Salinas Rodeo 2019<\/a>.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cOur officers also traveled out to the ranch the horse came from to investigate if there were any legal concerns with husbandry or care of the horses at that location,\u201d\u00a0 the San Diego Humane Society mentioned,\u00a0 but instead of junketing,\u00a0 closely viewing video of the performance might have been more to the point.<\/p>\n Bryan Pease.\u00a0 (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cAfter thorough investigation, \u00a0there is no probable cause to bring charges against the rodeo or horse owner,\u201d\u00a0 the San Diego Humane Society asserted,\u00a0 a finding found questionable by,\u00a0 among many others,\u00a0 San Diego attorney Bryan Pease,\u00a0 who has an almost 30-year history of winning cruelty cases.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is unclear whether participating in the saddle bronc competition directly caused the horse\u2019s death,\u201d\u00a0 the San Diego Humane Society claimed.<\/p>\n But consider that a foal in the third trimester before birth already has four hooves.\u00a0 Readers who have themselves given birth might imagine bouncing on a trampoline while bearing a fetus wearing spike heels.<\/p>\n (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Scoffed Pease,\u00a0 \u201cThe whitewashed San Diego Humane Society report claims this condition [a ruptured uterine artery] \u2018may occur spontaneously.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cSan Diego Humane fails to mention,\u201d\u00a0 Pease pointed out, \u00a0\u201cthat each horse used in this saddle bronc event had a tight \u2018bucking strap\u2019 tied around the abdomen, \u00a0which forces the horse to buck wildly against the painful apparatus. \u00a0Clearly this is what caused the ruptured uterine artery in an 8-month pregnant horse.\u201d<\/p>\n Imagine wearing a tight girdle while bouncing on a trampoline while bearing a fetus wearing spike heels.<\/p>\n Posted Pease to Facebook,\u00a0 \u201cVideos taken by the Animal Protection & Rescue League,\u201d\u00a0 which Pease himself heads, \u00a0\u201cof each horse being abused in the January 11, 2025 saddle bronc event at the Padres Rodeo are here: \u00a0https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1Iubx0sAC3A<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cSan Diego Humane, \u00a0the San Diego Padres, \u00a0and C5 Rodeo are refusing to identify which of these horses is the one who died shortly after the video was taken,\u201d\u00a0 Pease said,\u00a0 but viewers may hazard an educated guess.<\/p>\n The Animal Protection & Rescue League and Showing Animals Respect & Kindness \u201chave a pending unfair business practices lawsuit against the Padres and C5 Rodeo,\u201d\u00a0 Pease mentioned, \u00a0\u201cand will be obtaining this information as part of the lawsuit.\u201d<\/p>\n The San Diego Humane Society piled the self-evident bull and horse manure higher with a question-and-answer postscript.<\/p>\n Circle shows where 2018 San Dimas Rodeo worker is allegedly electroshocking pregnant mare on the other side of her neck.<\/strong><\/em> \u201cWhile San Diego Humane Society and many animal lovers stand in opposition to this practice,\u201d\u00a0 the Q&A said,\u00a0 failing to identify any such stand taken by the San Diego Humane Society in at least 145 years,\u00a0 \u201cit is common for pregnant horses to participate in saddle bronc competitions.\u201d<\/p>\n No,\u00a0 it is not.\u00a0 Mares rather than stallions are used in saddle bronc competition because mares can more easily be stabled together before and after an event.<\/p>\n But ANIMALS 24-7<\/strong> spent hours of online searching for any mention of a pregnant mare identified as such participating in a saddle bronc competition,\u00a0 anywhere,\u00a0 ever.<\/p>\n We found only one:\u00a0 Showing Animals Respect & Kindness in 2018 videotaped a pregnant mare allegedly being electroshocked at the San Dimas Rodeo,\u00a0 116 miles north of San Diego via I-5.<\/p>\n (See https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=n-gt2ACErFM<\/a>.)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n NewspaperArchive.com,\u00a0 including the content of most newspapers published in the U.S. since 1704,\u00a0 includes a report of the San Diego Humane Society,\u00a0 founded on March 10, 1880,\u00a0 having successfully prosecuted \u201coverriding a colt\u201d in a rodeo as early as June 9,\u00a0 1880.<\/p>\n But NewspaperArchive.com does not appear to include any mention of a pregnant mare,\u00a0 a mare with foal,\u00a0 or a mare of any similar description,\u00a0 being used in any rodeo anywhere in any manner.<\/p>\n Finding nothing through search engines,\u00a0 ANIMALS 24-7<\/strong> turned to Google AI.<\/p>\n Offered Google AI,\u00a0 \u201cAccording to most equine experts, \u00a0a pregnant horse should not be used in a rodeo, \u00a0as the strenuous activity and sudden movements can pose significant risks to both the mare and her unborn foal, \u00a0especially in the later stages of pregnancy; \u00a0while some light exercise may be beneficial during pregnancy, \u00a0rodeo events are considered too intense and potentially dangerous for a pregnant mare.\u201d<\/p>\n (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIt is standard practice in the rodeo industry for bucking horses to be pregnant,\u201d\u00a0 the San Diego Humane Society alleged, \u00a0\u201cbecause they are more focused.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen horses are in heat, \u00a0they don\u2019t focus and are less able to compete,\u201d\u00a0 the San Diego Humane Society contended,\u201d\u00a0 neglecting to mention that a saddle bronc,\u00a0 even a mare, \u00a0need not either be in heat or pregnant.<\/p>\n In fact,\u00a0 ANIMALS 24-7 <\/strong>did find accounts of former championship bucking mares successfully foaling new generations of bucking saddle broncs\u2013\u2013but only after being retired from rodeo use.<\/p>\n \u201cSadly, pregnancy is considered performance-enhancing,\u201d\u00a0 the San Diego Humane Society reiterated,\u00a0 failing to identify any source for the claim.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever,\u201d\u00a0 the San Diego Humane Society at last conceded, \u00a0\u201cit is not\u00a0<\/em>common for horses to be in the third trimester of pregnancy when competing.<\/p>\n Rodeo injury report by Tim Eastman, DVM.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIn this case, \u00a0the owner states that he was unaware of how far the horse\u2019s pregnancy had progressed,\u201d\u00a0 although most horse owners are acutely aware of their horses\u2019 breeding cycles, \u00a0\u201cand staff on-site did not observe obvious signs of late stage pregnancy.<\/p>\n \u201cThe forensic veterinarian reviewing the footage was also unable to immediately determine that the horse was in her third trimester, \u00a0and it was only determined postmortem,\u201d\u00a0 the San Diego Humane Society said,\u00a0 but in view of what else Tim Eastman has failed to observe and confirm,\u00a0 even when clearly shown in Showing Animals Respect & Kindness video,\u00a0 skepticism may be in order.<\/p>\n \u201c<\/strong>Tragically, the foal did not survive,\u201d\u00a0 the Q&A continued.\u00a0 \u201cIn addition to the rupture of the uterine artery, \u00a0which was the direct cause of the horse\u2019s death, \u00a0the uterus itself ruptured. \u00a0Medical examiners could not confirm whether the uterus rupture contributed to the cause of death or took place postmortem.<\/p>\n (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201c<\/strong>During the necropsy, \u00a0which was performed on Monday, \u00a0January 13, \u00a02025,\u201d\u00a0 the Q&A detailed,\u00a0 \u201cit was determined that the uterus was friable, \u00a0meaning that it was more susceptible to damage. \u00a0As mares have foals, \u00a0the arteries around the uterus become more delicate and rupture more easily. \u00a0It\u2019s a possibility that the horse could have experienced a rupture prior to participating in the rodeo. \u00a0It\u2019s certainly possible that participating in the rodeo caused the rupture, but we cannot say for certain, \u00a0and the injury could have happened regardless.\u201d<\/p>\n But is not the mere fact that \u201cAs mares have foals, \u00a0the arteries around the uterus become more delicate and rupture more easily\u201d sufficient reason to keep a 16-year-old pregnant mare in her third trimester from even being taken for a long truck ride,\u00a0 let alone being ridden in a bucking event?<\/p>\n Eric Mills, Action for Animals<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cAnimal cruelty in California does not need to be intentional or malicious to bring criminal charges. Under Penal Code \u00a7597,\u201d\u00a0 the San Diego Humane Society admitted,\u00a0 \u201canimal cruelty can be charged if someone intentionally, \u00a0knowingly, \u00a0or through criminal negligence causes harm to an animal. \u00a0In the context of animal cruelty under California law, \u00a0criminal negligence refers to behavior that is reckless, grossly careless, or demonstrates a disregard for the well-being of an animal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe cannot prove definitively whether the horse\u2019s participation in the rodeo directly contributed to her death or that anyone had knowledge that she was more pregnant than the assumed eight months, \u00a0based on the horse owner’s breeding schedule,\u201d\u00a0 the San Diego Humane Society said.<\/p>\n Responded Action for Animals coordinator Eric Mills,\u00a0 \u201cI find it difficult to believe that nobody knew the mare was eight months pregnant. \u00a0 Surely that had more than a little to do with the horse’s death only minutes after leaving the rodeo arena. \u00a0Somebody should be held liable for this avoidable death.\u201d<\/p>\n Injured horse at the 2024 San Diego rodeo.<\/strong><\/em> \u201cNo laws were broken when this pregnant horse and her foal died at Petco Park,\u201d\u00a0 the San Diego Humane Society insisted,\u00a0 \u201cnor were any laws broken when a horse was injured at last year\u2019s rodeo,\u201d\u00a0 though there seems to be no record of evidence being subpoenaed,\u00a0 including of the ultimate fate of the horse,\u00a0 let alone being submitted to the San Diego County district attorney.<\/p>\n \u201cThis incident \u2014 along with the injury of a horse during last year\u2019s rodeo in San Diego, \u00a0as well \u2014 reinforces our opposition to rodeos and the inherent risks they pose to animals,\u201d\u00a0 the San Diego Humane Society said.<\/p>\n (See Shoveling the bull & horse manure after the San Diego Rodeo.)<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe fact remains: \u00a0two rodeos have been held in our city, \u00a0and both resulted in animal injury and death,\u201d\u00a0 the San Diego Humane Society acknowledged,\u00a0 nearly two years too late to have joined in the 2023 lawsuit brought by the Animal Protection & Rescue League and Showing Animals Respect & Kindness that could have prevented both.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile the law does not currently prohibit rodeos, this is a policy issue that demands attention. \u00a0No laws were broken, \u00a0but a horse is dead,\u201d\u00a0 the San Diego Humane Society concluded.\u00a0 \u201cThat is why we\u2019re advocating for policy change in San Diego. \u00a0We encourage city leaders to take action to ensure no rodeos are held within the City of San Diego in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n So where has the San Diego Humane Society been,\u00a0 besides at 5500 Gaines St, \u00a0San Diego, CA 92110,\u00a0 during almost two years of activist effort to either pass a San Diego rodeo ban or inspire the city to actually enforce a Petco Park licensing provision that prohibited animal events?<\/p>\n (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n As ANIMALS 24-7<\/strong> has documented,\u00a0 San Diego Humane Society credibility has not been especially strong over the past decade.<\/p>\n First a newborn baby boy was killed on April 22,\u00a0 2016 by a two-year-old pit bull named Polo,\u00a0 rehomed by the San Diego Humane Society six months earlier.<\/p>\n (See How did San Diego shelters respond after a newly rehomed pit bull killed a child?<\/a>)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Then more than 300 guinea pigs,\u00a0 rabbits,\u00a0 and other small mammals were transferred on August 7,\u00a0 2023 from the San Diego Humane Society to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona,\u00a0 but the following day were relayed to a python breeder.<\/p>\n (See\u00a0318 missing small pets: San Diego Humane vs. HS of Southern Arizona<\/a><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0and<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Cold, hard evidence re small mammals missing from humane societies<\/a>.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n On December 20,\u00a0 2024, \u00a0 San Diego Superior Court Judge Katherine A. Bacal ruled that \u201creturn to field\u201d\u00a0of tame cats found at large, \u00a0as practiced by the San Diego Humane Society,\u00a0 unlike the practice of \u201ctrap,\u00a0 neuter,\u00a0 release\u201d of feral cats, \u00a0violates California Penal Code section \u00a7 597s,\u00a0 which states simply that,\u00a0\u00a0\u201cEvery person who willfully abandons any animal is guilty of a misdemeanor.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n (See\u00a0San Diego cat control trial verdict & L.A. shelter fine expose \u201cno kill\u201d failures<\/a>.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The San Diego Humane Society responded by announcing that it will do nothing to change procedures pending the outcome of an appeal.<\/p>\n (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The San Diego cat rescue charity Joanne\u2019s Furry Friends in early January 2005 posted to Facebook that it urgently needed a home for a three-year-old previously spayed female cat with no hind claws,\u00a0 whom the San Diego Humane Society allegedly advised the finder to release into a neighborhood where the cat had been attacked by other cats.<\/p>\n Multiple prospective adopters stepped forward.<\/p>\n The post San Diego H.S. says “no cruelty” in rodeo death of 8-months-pregnant mare<\/a> appeared first on Animals 24-7<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" (Beth Clifton collage) Mare and foal died from “ruptured uterine artery” moments after violent ride SAN DIEGO, California\u2013\u2013\u201cThe San Diego Humane Society\u2019s Humane Law Enforcement team has concluded their investigation into the tragic death of a 16-year-old pregnant horse at the rodeo held at Petco Park,\u201d\u00a0 the society announced on March 6,\u00a0 2025,\u00a0 but the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":118783,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12022],"tags":[52619,5796,4121,11402,52618,52620,3210,11401],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-118781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-activist","tag-8monthspregnant","tag-cruelty","tag-death","tag-diego","tag-h-s","tag-mare","tag-rodeo","tag-san"],"yoast_head":"\nMare and foal died from “ruptured uterine artery” moments after violent ride<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nHumane officers responded to mare’s death instead of preventing her use<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nThird trimester of pregnancy<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n“No probable cause”<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nHorse manure does not make good whitewash<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nLawsuit seeks horse’s identity<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
(From SHARK video.)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n“Common for pregnant horses to participate in saddle bronc competitions”<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n“A pregnant horse should not be used in a rodeo”<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n“Pregnancy is considered performance-enhancing”<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n“Owner did not know the mare was eight months pregnant”<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nUterus of pregnant mare ruptures more easily<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nEric Mills:\u00a0 “I find it difficult to believe that nobody knew”<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
(From TikTok video)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n“No laws were broken”<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nTwo years late & many dollars short<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nPit bulls & pythons<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nLost “cat trial of the century”<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nPlease donate to support our work:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
www.animals24-7.org\/donate\/<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n