What do you think of kids' rodeo?

My cousin's new fiancee (let's call her Kate) came out to meet the family, and we went to go see a rodeo where several members of the family, including the 2 five year olds, participated. Kate was shocked by the little kid's rodeo, like the mutton busting and stuff. She thought it was incredibly irresponsible (she told my cousin this, not us), but every single one of us did it when we like 3, 4, 5 to around 8 or 9. What do you think - would you let your kid be in a rodeo?