On April 15, the Nevada Senate Natural Resources Committee let SB 364 die without taking a vote. The bill would have outlawed the practice of "horse tripping" which is a standard event at some rodeos. Senators Mark Manendo and David Parks supported the bill, but Senators Rhoads, Roberson and Lee opposed it in spite of overwhelming evidence of need for the measure.
Although Senator Manendo gave a very compelling opening when bringing the bill back for one last effort to pass it, the senators who opposed it maintained that it would open the doors for more anti-rodeo legislation. Horse tripping is a cruel sport in which running horses are roped by their legs often resulting in injury and putting the horse's lives at risk.
Horse tripping is already banned in eight states including California, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arizona, Nebraska, Illinois, Maine and Florida.
According to reports, Senator Rhoads, cattlemen's associations and farm bureau members were the driving force behind those opposing the legislation.