Horse racing not fair?

Question

I always wondered why any humane person could force a young, immature, underdeveloped animal to run a physically and emotionally gruelly race and then beat that animal with crop when it doesn't preform as they think it should??!!! Then turn them into broodmares that do nothing but shell out babies that end up the same way year to year.

Horses (mares, geldings and stallions) would run much better if allowed to grow up before being forced to race. There bones and muscles would be fully devloped enough to be able to race and continue to do so for a long time. Crops should be banned from racing and all equestrian sports. If your horse can't do it without being whipped, he/she wasn't meant for it!!!

Push aside your selfish desires to make millions off of these poor animals and allow them the chance to develop into mature athletes before you race them!!!

Answer 1

Thank you for your statement. You could put some weight to your arguement by enlightining us with your no doubt plethoria of qualifications and expertise on the subject....

Oh, you dont have any? Oh what a surprise.........

Answer 2

wrong site and definitely wrong category...

You want to rant against racing? May I suggest PETA's site? You can join Pamela Anderson, she will support you in your rant, but you won't find any supporters here!

Answer 3

I somewhat agree that racing could be a cruel sport but the horses are made, and live for this! You have nothing to worry about. If you do know someone that is abusing a horse please get them to stop!!!! But back to your question..... the horses are perfectly fine!

Answer 4

Your quite wrong about the crop. Maybe in racing it is cruel, but not during lessons. Its used if your horse is being lazy, to wake him up. And you can't really force a horse to do anything.

Answer 5

thoroughbreds are early maturers and are fully grown well before they race. you may want to do some more research.

Answer 6

Well sorry to say you all who has answered this good question are in denial, or just don't have a clue....and probably haven't spent much time on the backside of a race track.

FIRST; 2 is too young to start to race for many a horse. Horses like people mature differently, and the larger of horses esp. So many horses break down or begin the process of breaking down at this age, esp. the larger ones. their bones grow and their muscles and body fill out well into their threes. It is very individual though, but the problem is that there is so much money to be made off a 2 yr. old that it blinds horse people to train and race horses that should not train or race then. The other problem is that the smaller horses, that are not so hard on themselves, are the ones making the cash and the larger horses are being knocked off right out of the gate(no pun intended). And I feel it has not helped the breed overall.

2: the whip... well I've seen huge welts and cuts on the flanks and under the bellies of horses after a horse race. And the bit  about you can't force a horse to do what it doesn't want only applies to water, (you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink it) everything else is open for debate as to how the horse has been schooled and/or how much one can intimidate it or abuse it to make it do what one wants. Have you ever seen a horse not want to go into a trailer or the starting gate before a race and watch men with whips and trying to push that horse into the gate or trailer, well I have too many times(many a many race horse hate that contraption). Those who say that whips are not necessary are the first to use and abuse them. And by the way thoroughbred people are not the only ones guilty of this.

I must admit I have met horses that love the track and to run and I've met horses that hate it and are forced to do it, but their are no choices for whom have no voice. WE will abuse people that have no voice, so imagine what we are capable of with animals. I am so tired of people using P.E.T.A. and other extreme animal rights activist groups to dismiss any and all abuse that happen in all the horse communities for argument sake and to take sides, and in the meantime horses die, while these debates continue.

People wake and smell the run for the roses.....because it is a tough road that is paved with flesh and bone of young horses.

Answer 7

???

go hang out on a training farm. they're not 'forced' to do anything.  if the animal doesn't want to run, no one's going to shell out thousands to make it get to the track.

they like to run, they're born for it.

as for the crop, they're corrective implements.  people do abuse them, hence the fines jockeys face if they abuse the crop.  the horse often drift one way or another, or stop paying attention.  then the crop is used.

there are horses out there running at 9 and 10 and 11 years old, and even older in some cases.  most of the time they're retired young because the owner wants to start breeding them.  and yes, they get bred, because they're animals and animals reproduce.  what's your problem with broodmares?  they live a life of LUXURY.  

i'd assume someone like you, who apprently never has gotten on a horse, so you don't have to 'abuse' them, would really appreciate that a horse would live out it's days with premium feed, tons of space, tons of other horses to socialize with and a comfy, safe home to live in, most likely without ever being ridden again.

push aside your self-righteous indignation and get your facts straight before you try to tell people who are better educated than yourself anything.

Answer 8

Firstly the Thoroughbred has been bred over centuries to mature and grow quickly - hence why we are able to race them at 2.

Secondly, have you ever ridden a horse?  I doubt it as if you had you would know that you cannot force a horse to do anything it doesn't want to - I've had the bruises and concussion to prove it!

Have you ever visited a racing yard or a stud farm?  If you had you would know that racehorses are among the most pampered creatures on this earth: they get the best food, the best bedding, the best veterinary care, etc.

I don't understand your problem with broodmares having a foal every year (though I would point out that most mares don't have a foal every single year).  In the wild a mare would be covered by a stallion whenever she came into season and would probably have a a foal every year of her mature life.  It is natural!

I respect your opinion for disliking racing and other equestrian sports, but your arguement holds no water.  Please respect other people's rights to enjoy and make their living from these sports, no one is forcing you to like it.

Answer 9

race horses are treated better than most people, and some

horses race without whips, the great "bill shoemaker" never

would hit a horse if it was dropping back, and the barn could

not get purse money, example 6th placed or further back,

so relax, and drink your wine, and enjoy the sport of kings...