Bucking bronco horse at Calgary Stampede; Creative Commons image by SA 3.0 via Wikipedia
By Karen Pearlman
Feb. 11, 2026 (San Diego) — In a decision that could eventually bring change in the professional rodeo circuit, a judge with the the San Diego Superior Court at the end of January issued a landmark ruling against the San Diego Padres and the C5 Rodeo Company, the producer of the San Diego Rodeo event.
Following a week-long trial held just before the 2026 San Diego Rodeo, Judge Joel R. Wohlfeil determined in a 21-page ruling that specific practices during the 2024 and 2025 San Diego Rodeos constituted “needless suffering” and “unnecessary cruelty,” and determined that the San Diego Rodeo was to have proper medical technology on site and that pregnant mares were not allowed to be part of competition.
The San Diego Rodeo is an independent event not sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Produced by C5 Rodeo Co. in partnership with the Padres, the rodeo just concluded its third annual run at Petco Park from Jan. 16 to Jan. 18, once again drawing sold-out crowds.
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Bucking bronco horse at Calgary Stampede; Creative Commons image by SA 3.0 via Wikipedia
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