Is Horse Racing a humane sport?

Question

A thrilling Kentucky Derby with the winner (Big Brown) seemingly a dominant horse with a real shot at the triple crown. But tragedy strikes again: Eight Belles, the lone Filly in the race, finishes second, but then breaks two ankles after the race is over. Mercifully, she's immediately euthanized (as opposed to the way Barbaro's life was senselessly prolonged as he suffered greatly to the end). The horses are bred for incredible speed and generally have more fragile bones as a consequence. They are pushed to the limits. I know that horse racing will probably always be around, but is it humane?

Answer 1

I think that two year old racing is cruel, and should be banned.

In the old days, they were not aware of muscle to bone mass, and didn't know how destructive it was to race-condition a horse so young.

If they use shock absorbing surface, and stop two year old racing, it wouldn't be so disastrous.

I used to have a retired race horse..He lived to run. absolutely loved it, and was upset when I held him back.

Answer 2

no it is a shame these horses are made to race in over crowded tracks It seams as if the owners don't care about the horse just about winning they race them until they die and then destroy them

Answer 3

Yes

The horses are breed to race and it's completly humane. Many people think whipping hurts them it dosent. Also, after they retire from racing most are used for breeding and are treated incredibly well

Answer 4

I have grown up loving horse racing. But the more I learn about it the less I like it. Watching horses run is truly beautiful to me. What happens to those that don't produce is disgusting. Follow this link to learn about the horses that don't win or never make it to the track.                         http://www.chai-online.org/en/compassion...

The same thing happens to dogs that are done racing as well.

Answer 5

I saw the race myself and it also reminded me of the Barbaro tragedy.  Check out the following fact sheet provided by PETA (no, I am not a member).  It was very informative and frankly, quite sad.

http://www.peta.org/factsheet/files/Fact...

Answer 6

I believe that all things revolving around hardly training a horse with mind-to-mind mentality with humans is not humane. Horseback riding itself is about the relationship between the rider and the horse, and how well they respect eachother. Humans are selfish and believe that we are to break them and stick metal in their untrained mouths. Is it so we can feel accomplished by controlling them so 'masterfully'? I believe that a true horseman would use the natural, sensitive ways to train horses, parelli as a good example.

The way people look at 'animals' is not humane. We've forgotten that we are, too, animals, and that they also have feelings just as we do. Running a horse around a track and beating it with a crop means nothing to them. They don't understand what is going on, only that they've got to go - and fast. Maybe it would be a little more humane if they were given time to learn and comprehend what we teach them and not just get them green broke enough to carry a saddle.

Horses should be treated with the same respect a person is treated with, and instead of having horses learn the language of humans, humans should meet them at least half-way there.

Answer 7

First I want to say that My own personal feeling is that Horse racing is more of a sport than Golf.  When over weight men and eight month pregnant women can play on the pro golf tour then it's not much of a sport.  It's a game you play when you retire.  Horses are athletes, They compete with speed just like runners, football players etc.  I understand your concern about whether they are treated humane.  They are sometimes pushed to the limits just like their human counterparts.  But no one knows if the animal wants to compete at all, and the human can chose for himself.  But I'll say, that I believe that horses and other animals, like us humans, have intelligence with personality, and know what they want and don't want.  if the horse doesn't want to race it wont.  and that's when it becomes cruel and inhumane when it is forced to do so.  And mind you, we can say the same thing about any child being pushed to perform by a parent or coach.