Don't you think horse racing is cruel?

Question

Horses often get injured and even killed from horse racing. I am against the jockeys whipping them too. Why? What has the horse ever done to deserve that?

Answer 1

horses are fragile animals that get injured all of the time.

Answer 2

i think it is cruel too

Answer 3

Horse racing isn't cruel.  The horses are treated better than some people are.

Answer 4

Would I be on the horse racing category if I thought horse racing is cruel?

Personally, I think horse racing could do without the whip.  It's not necessary.  However, it doesn't actually hurt the horse.  I've used a crop when I ride.  It's not like it leaves welts on the horse or anything.  It's just a little tap as a reminder for the horse to try its hardest.

Horses are injured doing anything, not just in racing.  They're hurt in the show ring every year.  They're hurt in the pasture.  They're hurt in their stalls... Nashoba's Key had to be put down earlier this year because she broke her leg when she kicked her stall wall.  Racehorses are extremely well cared for... they get the best feed and the best care... people are there watching over the horses and tending to them almost 24 hours a day.  If we didn't have horse racing, those horses wouldn't be getting the kind of care that they are.

And the industry is working hard to minimize horses' injuries... horses do no "often" get injured and they extremely rarely are killed in racing.  There is both good and bad in the sport.

Answer 5

How do you compare cruelty??  You'll find cruelty almost everywhere, in animals and in humanity.  Cruelty exists everywhere.  When you come to this category, one doesn't want to hear about cruelty, when there's so much abuse everywhere. No ones intentions are to be cruel to the animal or any animal for that matter.  Horse racing is a sport and one that is interesting and fun to many, and it's been around for a long, long time.  Please don't come here to bring us down with sadness.  I love horses and do most in the horse racing industry. Shame on them if they don't. I know for a fact most treats their horses better than gold.  If you want to help horses, I would focus more on old farmer Jones, who's horses are filled with sores and diseases and worked to death on a farm and never get to run for fun.  I personally love horses as do all in this category.  We see the positives and work on the negatives.  May God bless all living things.

Answer 6

Not when you consider that they were once primarily a food source for mankind until he discovered how to utilise them in many other ways.

I think the beast of burden is treated like royalty in some some racing circles and are a lot better off than when they were used in battle etc.

Answer 7

Horse racing in and of itself isn't cruel.  Some of the methods some of the trainers use to break and train the horses are cruel, and ultimately counterproductive.  Racing is the most natural sport for horses, and the horses that do well LOVE to run, and are naturally competitive.  Flat racing is a lot more natural a sport than jumping, barrel racing, and and many other equine disciplines, including dressage (I know, dressage is simply getting the horse to perform  on command those movements he does on his own in the field. . . still, I see way too many sour dressage horses)

The changes I'd like to see in the racing itself are:1.) limited use of the whip (which is happening),2.) racing career starting much later in 2 y.o. year, if not at 3.    3.) racing both ways in the US     4.) races with better purses  written to encourage trainers to keep their horses sound enough to run at older ages, rather than to retire them to stud after winning 2 stakes races . . . .

But I do agree that there are way too many breakdowns, and more research and better training methods (and better breeding practices?) are necessary.

PS  I jump, and train up through 2nd level dressage, so those of you involved in  those sports can smooth your cackles back down.

Answer 8

I do think whips should be prohibited...along with steriods.

I do NOT on the other hand agree that racing in genral is cruel. Those horses are bred to race, and love it. They should be racing naurally though...not with any "help" from whips or steriods which are actually more harmful.

If the horse doesn't LOVE racing then it should not be raced...but if it inherited what the good racing breeders strive for (which is determenation and LOVE of racing) the YES they should be raced.

I hated it though when i found out that the horses could use steriods and such legally. When I found out Big Brown used them I was astonished and very mad...horse racing is like any other race and should be won far and square but the athlete with the most NATURAL talent, not by some man-made injection to make them hyped up :P

Idiots...I am glad it is banned know though.

Answer 9

yes at times and it issaying they dont feel the whip is baloney you dont if that hurts the horse it does it one sport iam so over and iam with you all the way