In a race if a horse have his two legs broken why do they kill the horse?

Question

i just don't understand the cruelty because the horse can't race no more they have to kill it just don't get it do you ?

Answer 1

It's not that they just can't race anymore.. It's also because they will either never be able to walk again, or they will never be able to walk without being in constant pain.

In comparison to the size of a horses body, it's legs are rather small. Horses are almost always euthanized after a leg injury, although sometimes it can be mended.

Answer 2

Although it seems sad, the horse would have died a long painful death anyway. It couldnt even walk off the track. People give horses euthenasia because they want to be nice to the horses and put it out of its misery. sorry, but its true. :(

Answer 3

The horse would never even walk again, it would die a long, painful death.  Euthanasia was exactly what the horse needed.

Answer 4

yes, i do get it,,,as sad as it is,,,, its hard enough for a horse to deal with one broken leg, and if they manage to make it through that they are retired

but when there are two broken legs, there is no way for them to stand or support there weight,,and to try and save them, would put them through a lot of unnessesary pain,,which would probably lead to death in the long run anyways

giving them a lethal injection or euthanasia is the best humane thing to do,,,,,,,,it is very sad,, but think of it this way,,,if you had a pet horse and you were riding it and it broke both its front legs and  couldnt get up,and if there was no chance of survival in the long run ,,what would you do

let him rest in peace or make him go through months of paiinful treatment that he probably wouldnt even live through

Answer 5

There is no way for the horse to support his or her own weight. That is the only way. Sorry, but it happens all the time in the industry. If there was any other way, don't you think they would do everything they could. Look at all the money they lost in future profits. what would be cruel ,is to let the horse go on suffering. If it hadn't of been the KY Derby, then nobody would have known the difference.

Answer 6

Horses aren't like people, and they have to stand on four legs, not two.  There is no way she could have led an even close to normal life with two broken legs.  They could have put her in a sling, but that would've just prolonged the agony.  They did the right thing.  That horse wasn't cheap, and she could have made a ton of money being a brood mare, but the owners were thinking of her, not themselves.

Answer 7

It is not about not racing anymore. Eight Belles would not have a front leg to stand on, and most of the horses weight is on the front, so all that added weight to the back would cause pain and problems in the back legs as well. In this case the horse would either die laying in great pain and she lost all the blood flow to her legs, or be euthanized and be free of her pain.

Answer 8

euthanizing a horse is sometimes the only option to an injured horse.  If both legs are broken you cant just but a cast on a horse because they will reject them and try and break them off and injure themselves further so a bone break will never heal.  It is a tough and realistic part of the sport

Answer 9

The horse will not be able to support its own weight.  It will die in pain.  It is actually more humane to put the horse down.  It sure is sad though.

Answer 10

Broken legs in horses do not heal...It will suffer until it dies of the pain of broken legs...So, it is the humane thing to do , to avoid further pain on the horse

Answer 11

It would stop the suffering and the horse would die anyway.

Answer 12

The horse will be in constant pain even if they have surgery to repair them.

Answer 13

It would actually be more cruel to try and save the horse.  

The horse would be in excruciating pain, could not stand for months and months (which is impossible for a horse) and runs the risk of a deadly painful infection.

To euthanize a horse with injuries that are not fixable is actually a very brave humane thing to do.