To think horse racing is cruel?

[alwaysncxx]

Got very upset watching some of the horses fall today at Cheltenham

I can't help but feel sad when it happens.

A horse dying so some twat can have a flutter and a good day out. It's a bit like gladiatorial games. And just because some privately owned horses are neglected and abused that is a separate issue to sort and doesn't mean horse racing can be ok.

And they may live like royalty but the horse has no concept of what that means. It's just some rich dude looking after a prized asset to get the biggest return. It's not some altruistic thing.

There are some interesting points from other posters which have educated me Family for example and I get the ££££ the industry makes and the jobs it creates etc. It's still not right that a horse potentially has its life cut short so someone can wear a nice hat for the day.

Another horse has had to be euthanised today 💔

Yes, definitely is cruel. I hate it. Its all for money. Rubbish.

If a horse doesn't want to race, it doesn't. It's big enough and strong enough to refuse.

As are performing elephants, dancing bears and trick-orcas at marine parks, I suppose?

Miss all of those are equally as barbaric but this thread is about horse racing

The entire industry is cruel—the overbreeding, the nurse mares and their discarded foals, the overtraining, the dangers of competition, and the way surplus and retired animals are disposed of once they are no longer of commercial value.

Sorry Miss I misunderstood your post. Apologies

tellme I was trying to make the point that an animal's large size doesn't mean it is impervious to human control against its will.

tellme no worries

alwaysncxx question for you? You have started a thread on the cruelty of horse racing making a big announcement when an animal is injured yet I'm sure you were talking about betting on another thread, how does that work?

As I understand it that horse threw a shoe before the race, the shoe it seems wasn't put back on properly and the horse over reached (strike into a forefoot or hoof with a back foot - some horses do this naturally) and stood on a piece of overhanging shoe. That action caused the damage to the leg. Normally the shoe will come off but with the forces involved/the speed and delicacy of a tb's legs it seems it was the leg instead. Poor bloody horse, totally and utterly avoidable and the course official, farrier and trainer need holding to account for allowing that horse to race.
I've argued the point that race horses are very well cared for (although I have my reservations about how good that care is for the horse) compared to some horses, however that has disgusted me completely.
When I had a horse he wouldn't have left his stable with a twisted shoe, never mind raced.

Race horses are treated incredibly well with excellent access to vets etc. And no they won’t run if they don’t want to, everyone has seen many a horse refuse a jump or to even start a race. On the other side there are lots of non race horses living in horrible conditions with arsehole owners who neglect them. You should feel sorry for them instead.

Why instead? Why can't we be concerned about the horses like Sir Erec as well as the pony in the field that's overfed and crippled with laminitis, or the coloured cob tethered at the side of a road with no shelter, company or basics?
It's not either or, you can be concerned about both.

Regarding leg breaking in horses: I would suggest that you speak to someone who actually cares for horses. It may seem callous to put down a horse with a broken leg but it's not done to simply write off a loss of value; horses simply aren't able to properly recover from most leg fractures and will suffer for a long time, if not the rest of their lives.

I think horse racing is problematic and of course horse runnafter they’ve fallen, they follow their mates! They are herd animals.
They are also stabled 24/7 which is horrific for them and they often are very vicey or have ulcers

However the general standard of horse welfare in this country is the pits; took friends daughter to her riding lesson at a BHS approved riding school and everything is 1/10th lame, utterly fed up and in poor fitting tack. I know a lot of people who horses that can’t really afford the vet bills so just avoid calling one out until the issues are extreme. And a lot of people who own horses that can’t spot a lame one till it’s hopping. Horses that are hideously overfed.
Ponies used as toys by small children.

I’ve got two ex racers and they are lovely mannerly boys but breaking in horses that young concerns me, never turning them out, putting shoes on them that young. All just shitty outdated horse management.

However racing funds slme amazing advances in vet med that wouldn’t be there otherwise. Is an enourmous employer in the UK.
I don’t doubt for a second either that the lads and lasses earning £200 a week and starting work at 5am don’t utterly adore them either.

@Gronky

Totally agree that horses do not do well with broken legs, and often end up being PTS after painful and distressing treatment anyway. It's a horrible thing about horse ownership, and horses can break their leg in any circumstances. Seen quite a few over the years, playing, kicks, slips etc. People do seem to think they're shot because they're no use anymore when in 99% of cases that's not the reason at all, it's the welfare of the horse.
But that horse that died today should not have raced, or the shoe replaced properly (not easy I know on a wound up tb about to race). Although there was probably no saving him once the damage was done, it wasn't 'inevitable' that the fall happened as I've seen in reports, from what I understand.

Brilliantidiot I can't comment on that specific case, I'm not an expert and don't really follow horse racing, however, I have been present at many edifying discussions over lunch between a very nice lady who owns a few horses as pets and our resident militant animal rights proponent.

Also I do agree if your horse has broke its leg it needs putting down.
You cannot imobilise a horse long enough for it to heal, putting them under general anestetic is so risky as their resting heart rates are SO low anyway.

And I’ve seen many many many horses break legs in fields, out pottering out hacking etc. Their propensity to get injured is quite remarkable really.

YADNBU it's an extremely cruel sport.

@Gronky

That must be interesting to be a part of. There's so much that people who don't understand horses assume, and it adds to the frenzy that is whipped up this time of year by Cheltenham and the National. But there's also genuine concern too. As someone who has worked with and kept my own, and still has the joy of helping with a friend's horse, I can see both sides of the main argument.
Yes racehorses usually have the best feed, rugs, bedding, veterinary care etc - but that's because they need to be in tip top condition. A poor conditioned horse won't race well, however the unnatural lifestyle that goes with it is of concern too for me.
As are incidents like today. On balance the horse probably suffered less being PTS minutes after the injury by a vet already in attendance, than say a domestic horse breaking it's leg in the field, and the owner finding it hours later and waiting for the vet etc.
Other sports also have awful practices, but as they're not so high profile, no one knows about them.

That is one of the stupidest things I’ve seen on these boards. They have no choice..

But they carry on when their jockeys fall off

Glig they are heard animals, have you ever tried to leave one horse in a field and take all its mates out?? They go fucking mental.
They are trying to stay with the heard as it makes them feel safe

Horses are bred for it and enjoy it. Don't watch it if you don't like it

The arguments "for" on this post are enough to convince anyone of semi-intelligence that it's cruel. They're ridiculous!

"They're big animals and would stop if they wanted". Don't even know where to start with this one

"They're bred for it thus it's ok". Ah right, because when you BREED an animal for something that allows you to do whatever you like to it.

The horses wouldnt exist if there was no horse racing. They are bred specifically for this purpose.