A horse had to be euthanised after the Kentucky Derby this Saturday (it broke both ankles after the race). The Kentucky Derby is the biggest horse race in the US. The Preakness and Belmont are 2 other big races (a horse that wins all three is called a "triple crown winner" and its very rare and prestigious).
There have been a number of other horse that were injured in the races. Most recently Barbaro in the Preakness 2 years ago. Some people think there is a pattern of injuries others say it's just a coincidence. Some reasons given for the pattern theory of injuries are A) over-breeding B) racing fillies with Colts C) over crowding the races.
I know a lot of people here like horses so I was wondering what people though of racing? Filly’s Death Casts Shadow Over Big Brown’s Derby Victory
mmm i dont think i'd end horse racing just cause i love watching it and curse the fact that im too tall to be a jockey :P
but eh lol
i'll come back when its not 6am (y)
“The good things don’t always soften the bad, but vice-versa, the bad things don’t necessarily spoil the good things and make them unimportant.”
“Nobody important? Blimey, that’s amazing. Do you know, in nine hundred years of time and space I’ve never met anyone who wasn’t important before.”
“If it’s time to go, remember what you’re leaving. Remember the best. My friends have always been the best of me.”
Horses always have to be put down after races if they're injured. It's the 'humane' thing to do for them. Horses enjoy racing, and they are treated like gods.
Yes I agree with you they do like jumping etc to a limit though,
what do you mean humans die from human entertainment? if they are a willing participant than thats the risk they choose to take, thats their business, these animals dont have that choice,
im confused by your argument here, if its against the humans will than you know i will be disagreeing with that just like the horses.
My argument is that the horses enjoy it and they are treated fantastically so no one can make an argument for animal abuse or anything. At a jumping event if the horse is tired and doesn't want to jump then the rider will stop. Obviously they'd rather to finish, but they want to do the best for the horse. Horses have a will of their own, if you've ever tried to make a horse do something it doesn't want to do then you'll know what I mean.
I didnt make a claim that they are abused.
Just because your treated well it doesn't make running (literally) to death any more pleasant does it?
The argument i was responding to was the story this threat was created about, racing not jumping, im not talking about jumping or little competitions, im talking big races which is what the thread was about.
Okay so your a trainer/rider at the grand national and theres a lot of money riding on you, your horse is tired so you would not race than??
You sound like you care about horses and im not arguing with you to be horrible, its just that this is in the debate section. x
I didn't say that you claimed they were abused, I was just getting my opinion in there before anyone said they were treated badly. Racing and jumping both result in horses being put down and that is what I was bringing up. Also because I'm watching the Badminton competition at the moment, one of the biggest competitions of the season.
In the Grand National if your horse is tired then it will naturally slow and will probably not attempt the jumps. The jockey can't force the horse to do anything and so will leave the race. Horses are only put down if they have a serious injury like a broken leg which would make life pretty unbearable for them. You advocate assisted suicide for humans, and it's the same principle for the horses.
I agree if animals are in bad pain and suffering too much its kinder to put them to sleep, i know this with my own,
The thing is how they get to be injured in the first place, so that argument to me doesn't stand up.
Also you say if the horses don't want to run they wont, is this while they are being whipped to ****
Also putting animals to sleep is out of love, racing a horse to death isnt out of love, its out of greed and selfishness, not to mention human entertainment.
They get to be injured doing something they enjoy. Horses will run around and jump of their own free will, it comes naturally to them.
Whipping the horse is a means of encouragement, it isn't used (or abused) in an excessive manner and can actually result in your horse stopping altogether.
Yes, horse racing is big business and those who own a horse want it to do well obviously. But I do not see what is selfish about horse racing.
^ And jockey's get fined or something like that if they are using the whip too much.
I do think it's sad when the horse's die because i love them so much! However they are treated well, a lot better than some horse's are treated. Also horses do get injured all the time anyway, i've known/owned a lot that seemed to just want to run through things and injure themselves! Atleast race horse owners are going to have the money to save the horses if possible and also the means to put it down if need's be.
I don't like the fact that horses die, but everything has to at some point.
Ali xox
With demons dancing off mirror images reflecting all that you wanted.
So far from perfect, onward we will strive.
Take it for what it's worth, this truth that you've realized.
You're not who you thought you were, it's time to see the other side of what you have become.
Of the people who say there are more injuries these days the reasons cited are A) horses are being bred to be powerful but fragile B) racing fillies vs colts (its was several fillies that died in the high profile races) C) they are racing too many horses at a time (often 20). A previous reason given was the racing surface and that has been addressed in recent years.
One interesting article:
"Is Horse Racing Breeding Itself to Death?"
"According to several estimates, there are 1.5 career-ending breakdowns for every 1,000 racing starts in the United States. That's an average of two per day.
Thoroughbreds are muscularly more powerful than ever, but their bone skeletons seem to be getting lighter and frail."
In the UK.
Jockey rules state you can only hit the horse with the ship a maximum of twice.
So really the jockey is waving it around like a mad man.
Also, horses are pack animals, they flee with others, which is really what they are doing in a race, yet all beit being 'asked' to.
I rode for 10 years competitively and it was only when I had my accident that practically crippled me I stopped.
I've heard of more people having accidents in XCountry and SJ than in Racing, Horses die, every year in the Grand National one dies, or at least it's very common, (anyone remember the year it had to be started 5 times?).
Also, I've been to the races, and when watching the animals in the parade ring, they are bright, they are alert and they look excitied, if possible.
Most of the horses going willingly into the starting boxes.
I don't see a problem with it, it's big buisness and there's lots of money in it.
^ Exactly, what is so shocking? [That was to Erotophobia's post]
I love horses, have been riding since i was 9 however i accept the fact that these things happen.
There's a lot of horses in the world, a small percent are used to race and an even smaller percent die because of it.
Ali xox
With demons dancing off mirror images reflecting all that you wanted.
So far from perfect, onward we will strive.
Take it for what it's worth, this truth that you've realized.
You're not who you thought you were, it's time to see the other side of what you have become.
