Grabbing the bull by the tail: Venezuela’s cowboy sportThe sport of bull tailing or coleo is a key cultural touchstone in the Venezuelan llanos (tropical grasslands) but has been criticised by animal rights groups. Unlike their Texan counterparts, coleadores don’t try to ride the bull or grab it by the horns but rather chase its tail. For Neomar Sanoja, one of the judges, it’s Venezuela’s “national sport” — a bold claim in a baseball mad nation. To reach the bull’s tail, riders spur on their horses and when they draw alongside the animal’s flanks, perform acrobatic maneuvers to try flip the beast. The AnimaNaturalis animal rights NGO, which is active in Spain and Latin America, has called for the practice to be abolished.

Source: Bangkok Post March 07, 2026 15:58 UTC