Do the horses that are used for racing get treated badly?

Question

because someone told me that they whip them and give the stuff to make them go faster

Answer 1

Even cheaper racehorses are treated extremely well. Grooms care for each, in addition to the care provided by the owners and trainers. I most cases, grooms are poorly paid and are there because of their love for horses rather than personal gain.

Yes, they DO get pushed to run fast....just as Kobe Bryant gets pushed to jump high, just as a high school football player gets pushed to run fast......but that doesn't equal bad treatment; it's what they love to do.

Answer 2

The race officials watch the races very carefully for abuse.  Jockeys can be fined for excessive whipping.

It's illegal to give them "stuff" to make them go faster.

If they're not well fed and in good condition, they won't win; therefore, most trainers and owners see that they are.

There'll always be some bad apples, but most are treated fairly.

Answer 3

nope sure dont

Answer 4

of coarse not you crab race horses win money and things that win money get treared like royalty.... like humans

Answer 5

No, they aren't treated bad.  Most of those horses are treated better than alot of people.

Answer 6

Racehorses are investments for the owners, and must be well looked after if they are to perform well on the track.  They are thoroughly examined by veterinarians before and after races.  They are cooled off, washed, and brushed after they workout and race.   They are tested for drugs.  They are well fed.  The riders love their horses.  The grooms love their horses.  The fans love the horses.  Jockeys may take a whip to encourage a harder run, but it should not be misconstrued as abuse.  Most horses push with just a show of the whip.  Racing has been bred into these animals.  I knew a horse named Les Lou who raced named Go Cuervo.  He retired from racing after winning twice in Florida and became a cop in NYC.  The mounted officer whose partner was Les Lou told me great stories of being lined up with the other NYPD horses and Les Lou always had to be in front of the others and it was hard work for the officer to keep him in formation.  The horse just had to run and be in front.  It is a true instinct for racehorses.  The very large majority of the caretakers of these animals do it because they love the horses, and the horses do it because it is what they, and their parents before them, know.

Answer 7

These horses cost millions of dollars. Do you think the the owners are going to allow them to be mistreated?

Answer 8

THERE ARE GOOD TRAINERS IN RACING AND BAD ONES

JUST LIKE SHOW HORSE TRAINERS GOOD ONES AND BAD ONES

BUT OVER ALL AT THE BIGGER TRACKS NO THEY ARE TRAINED WITH RESPECT

Answer 9

Some do not alot but some do. People will race their horse until they are like dead and even when their like that they are still forced to race they get beat and alot of other bad stuff but i was lucky i got a 5 year old of the track for christmas not last year's christmas but the 1 before that so he didnt get beat and i am taking him to a horse show this weekend and he is only 5 he is ah mazing

Answer 10

Though not all race horses are well treated, most in the United States and other major countries are.  This is a billion dollar a year industry, there are rules in place to protect the animals.  Most whips, and this might be all, not sure on whether this rule is official yet, have a foam core, they make a lot of noise, but offer little to no pain, sort of like whacking yourself with a wiffleball bat.  Not all thoroughbreds are worth millions, but even the lowest level of claimers are loved by someone.  Leaving out the bad apples that pop up in every sport, most trainers, grooms, exercise riders, jockeys, etc. treat the animals well, that is not to say they never whip or slap the horses, but most of these animals weigh in excess of 1,000 lbs of the people handling them......if you aren't the boss, you're in the dirt.  To be honest the thoroughbred industry has more rules and is better at enforcing those rules than ANY other equine sport.  It sounds horrible, but accidents happen, the recent tragic events in racing are heartbreaking, but it is NO REASON to condemn the industry, accidents are just that, accidents...if you don't understand the term, look it up in the dictionary.  These animals are bred to run, they love to run, if they don't love it, then they don't make it to the track, if you ever doubt that thoroughbreds love to run, visit your local thoroughbred nursery and watch yearlings race each other in the pasture, or if you ever get the chance to ride a thoroughbred and have the experience to do so, give them their head and marvel in the feel of a powerful animal in flight.  You don't need to give them anything to make them go faster, it is in fact illegal in thoroughbred racing, they simply want to go faster, it is as natural for them as breathing.

Answer 11

http://www.sportales.com/Equestrian/Is-H...

whipping isnt as bad as some of the stuff...  ya, and not all cost millions of dollars...many are only a few thousand dollars.. read the link - no graphic pics