They shoot horses don't they ?

Question

When a horse breaks a leg is it never possible to treat it. People, dogs etc are not shot when this happens. Is it simply a callous way of avoiding the bother and claiming the insurance.

Answer 1

They don't shoot them, they give the horse a lethal injection. It's the nicest thing to do for the horse. It's too difficult to plaster a horses leg. The horse wont keep it's leg straight for it to heal. It would need approximately 12 weeks and longer for the bone to properley repair. Not only that, it's too painfull for the horse. It's got nothing to do with insurance.

Answer 2

yes they do im afraid, if a horse breaks its leg badly, it never heals and cant put weight on it so its the most humane way im afraid

Answer 3

They dont shoot a race horse, if its not possible to cure a horse then yes sadly in the racing industry you have to put the horse to sleep but with a shot, to peacefully put them to rest. But they dont shoot them.

Answer 4

They have been known to fix a broken leg in a valuable stud horse, but it's very rare, due to the costs involved.

Answer 5

It will depend on the severity of the injury.  Many race horses have minor chips and cracks which are treatable and heal.  Severe injuries will call for a lethal injection to humanely end the suffering and to prevent injury to personnel via a thrashing hoof.

Answer 6

The reason they shoot race horses is because they are so heavily trained, once they stop all the muscle would turn into fat and the life of the horse would be in jeopardy, so it is better for the horse in the long run

Answer 7

shooting a horse in the head, is not pleasant to watch but it is the quickest and most effective way of relieving a horse that cant be treated.

think of how big the lethal injection would have to be! and how much money it would cost to bring someone out to administrate it

part of it does come down to the owner when money is involved, one shot in the head is real cheap...in more than one way.

Answer 8

The real reason is not that the owners are callous and greedy but that a horses leg is a delicate and slender mechanism that is extremely difficult and most of the time impossible to repair. A horse will not take "bed rest" and the alternative method of supporting the animal in a sling hanging from supports is not practical or humane and uncomfortable for the horse. There have been cases in which a horse's legs have been reset and the animal has survived to live albeit a disabled life. On the whole the "kinder" thing is to put the animal down and save it from further suffering.

Answer 9

I used to tape the horse races at a racetrack so I had to see this a lot. They give them a lethal injection and then put them in the "meat wagon" it is really sad. If it  happens in front of the customers they put up a curtain so they don't see it :(

Answer 10

It is the most humane and kind thing to do under such tragic circumstances.  It is a shame such kindness is not extended to some poor suffering humans, but that is a question of euthanasia, and that is a different question altogether.

Answer 11

It is truly sad. When they have run horse races and are injured they are shot, whether or not they are a famous horse. They have no say, and are powerless, to their own destiny.

Answer 12

A horse is not like a dog or a human, their bones take a lot more stress and pressure, through weight and centre of gravity, I have seen horses have fractures fixed but very rarely because not only of cost but its very difficult for horses to cope with the treatment and very unfari to put them through months of stabling (which few horses can cope with) with their movement limited!