Mayor to introduce bill to outlaw horse-tripping

Steve Sebelius

Monday, Sept. 30, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Six months after Clark County outlawed the controversial rodeo sport of horse tripping, the city of Las Vegas is moving to adopt a similar law.

Mayor Jan Laverty Jones is expected Wednesday to introduce a bill that would ban intentionally tripping a horse "for the purpose of entertainment or sport." Violations would be a city misdemeanor.

The bill will be sent to a recommending committee before coming back to the council for approval.

The current city code already outlaws overdriving, overloading, torturing, beating or unjustifiably injuring any animal, but City Attorney Brad Jerbic requested a specific line in the law to address horse tripping.

Horse tripping, which involves lassoing the legs of a running horse, was banned by Clark County in April in response to a television documentary on the subject. The city's measure mirrors the county law on the topic.

Horses often fall on their heads when tripped and break their necks.

A state law, authored by state Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, that would have banned the practice died in the Senate Natural Resources Committee during the 1995 Legislature. Rancher and committee Chairman Dean Rhodes, R-Tuscarora, never granted the measure a hearing.

California, Texas, Maine, New Mexico and Colorado have all banned horse tripping, which often takes place in Mexican rodeos known as "charros."

Titus said at the time that horse tripping had begun in Elko County and then had moved south.

Wednesday's council agenda also includes:

* A twice-delayed action to boost the salaries for City Manager Larry Barton and City Attorney Brad Jerbic. The council has put off the raises twice at the behest of Councilman Matthew Callister, who said he wanted to review salary surveys before voting to grant the raises. Councilman Arnie Adamsen has twice voted against the delays, saying he was ready to OK the hikes.

* Adopting of a downtown master plan, prepared by EDAW Inc., a city consultant. The plan includes design guidelines for downtown offices, more amenities for downtown workers and visitors, establishing a downtown parking authority and designate the Union Pacific property as a special district.

* Introduction of a bill expanding the city's redevelopment area to include parcels in the central city and eastern Las Vegas. An Oct. 16 public hearing has been scheduled for the expansion.