Whats your opinion on?

Question

horse racing. I dont like it. anything about it its horrible

did you know:

*thoroughbred racetracks in the U.S. reported more than three horse deaths a day last year and 5,000 since 2003??*

why do we do this? THREE A DAY!

its disgusting.

am I alone in thinking this?

dont you think its horrible?

let me know what YOU think.

Answer 1

Here's what I think- Horse racing is singled out as having so many casualties because let's face it, it is the most publicized horse sport. People who don't know anything about horses know about racing and there's always news reports on what's happening on the tracks. other horse sports and disciplines are dangerous as well. Some even more so than racing. "Normal" people don't know about that. So of course racing is going to get a bad name. I don't think racing is this evil sport that so many think it is. I do think there are things that could be improved and I'm not saying I agree with everything involved with racing. There are always pros and cons to everything, it's not just black and white or good and bad. basically i do not agree with knowingly putting a horse at risk for injury by pushing them past their limits.

Answer 2

Well this is my view point on it

Horse racing may come off as totally horrible but here's the thing. There are pleny of other horse sprts in which horses get hurt or die

The reason horse racing looks so horrible is because that is what the spotlight is on. Plenty of horses die in jumping too.

Most horses who race LOVE it. If they didn't then they wouldnt be so great

Now the bad part is, especially in amature racing, when a horse isnt winning any money or is retired. Most of them are sent to slaughter

It's all in how you look at it

Answer 3

Well show jumping casues deaths too i wont deny it. I am a show jumper but i know racing is worse. Not the triple crown stuff we all see but some in the lower levels there is haphazardous breeding and the horses are moved from track to track causing stress and even colic. some horses are over worked and alot of horses that turned out wrong and wont be good racers are badly mistreated, abused or abandoned or sent to slaughter. Some ex racers arre bred to death and cause extra unwanted horses or the ex racers are sent to slaughter. It's not fair.

Answer 4

I think anything can be horrible if the people are only in it for the money.  You can say the same thing about the show jumpers that jump their horses higher and higher to see which horse jumps the highest and to set records, you can also say the same about people who only ride their horses a few times a year on trail rides without keeping them conditioned.  You can make the same call about not only any sport with horses, but any sport period.  If you don't like it, don't watch it, and don't support it.

Answer 5

It depends on the type of racing, but generally I really don't like it. It's OK to race your friend on your horses across a polo field, but not racing young horses to the death like in the Kentucky Derby

Answer 6

Several horses died at the Rolex this year, are you against show jumping, cross country, and dressage?  Horse racing (namely, of Thoroughbreds) is just the most publicized for equine deaths.  

The part of racing I don't like is how young the horses are when they are raced.  Racehorses are virtually growing babies/teenagers and can be quite frail.  I also do not like that some consider racehorses, if not fast enough, disposible and send the horses for meat.

Answer 7

I love horse racing.

These horses are bred, born, raised, and trained to run. They would never exist if it weren't for racing.  They love to run, and most of them love to race.  

They're not too young, they're teenagers.  We let teenagers play football, run races, lift weights, etc.,etc.,etc.  It's good for the teenagers; they're healthier because of it, not just while they're teenagers but for the rest of their lives.  And racing is good for horse teenagers.

Yes, some are injured; some unfortunately die.  But so do horses playing in fields.  How about Teddy O'Connor, the famous eventer, who recently died in his field?  Should we never let horses out in fields because they might injure themselves?

I recently adopted a thoroughbred from the track.  He'd been injured and his race career was over.  I nursed him through that, gave him 6 months pasture rest, then was just about to start him when he got a completely unrelated and far worse injury playing in the field!  He's just now healed from that (almost 2 years!!) and I'm planning to start him under saddle.  The moral?  Horses get hurt.  It's the nature of a high spirited flight animal.

Yes, it's tragic when accidents happen.  Yes, I cried for Eight Belles and Barbaro.  But those horses were injured doing what they wanted to do:  run.  Those beautiful, noble creatures would never have existed without racing.

I know I won't change your mind, but you asked for opinions and that's mine.  I love horses.  I love racing.

Answer 8

i am soo with u

in australia most race horses who dont prove stud are taken to teh slaughetr house

some are saved and trained to become eventers and so on but i dont like it.

Answer 9

I dont like horse racing but I harness race horses. Harness racing I just hate how they whip the horses so hard and keep whipping them till they win or even place last. I fired a jerk who I told not to whip my horse all through the ending lap and he kept doing it harshly too I smiled when I took my horse shook his hand and said " Your Fired, have a great day."  I just think ground racing is worse because the horses are whipped way worse and are all crowed together if one bumps into one that could take 9 down all from one bump and get them killed or hurt badly. So I understand and am against it

RIP EIGHT BELLS!

Answer 10

agreed!

Answer 11

i dont HATE it. but i dont like it. i think its stupid to make horses run and end up breaking bones b/c their jockey wanted to win and thats it.

its like... you can gallop a thoroughbred without having to kill it by doing stupid stunts.. i agree

Answer 12

Hmm... with out sounding derogitory... and i am a strong believer that every one has a right to their opinion... you are making a judgement with out any evidence... i ride track work (gallopers) and all our horses are in amazing shape, they are all happy and they are all winning, and none have any major injuries... racing has been given a bad name by the individual choices made by certain trainers... not all trainers act and make decisions which are detrimental to horses... and i resent that you would make an acusation like this with out first researching and second becoming involved... you might be plesently suprised by the level of care most race trainers place on their horses... and as far as breaking in tb's when they are young... i do believe that they should be a little older... but tb's hit their racing peak at 3/4 so if we waited any longer they would never get a chance to train and build the correct muscle and position before being raced... i hope this is informative for you... and maybe next time you will save your self the personal attacks by the others... and make an informed statement, make up your own mind... dont just repeat some one elses ideas because some one told you this...

well good luck and best wishes :)

Answer 13

i dont like that they race them soo young! for gosh sakes they are 3 years old, there bones are still soft. just wait a few more years!

Answer 14

i think that since you arent in the industry that you shouldnt have an oppinion.

do you know how many horse's are abused each year from all other areas of riding? how many have been sent to slaughter houses over seas(not counting the race horses)?

there are many people who do wrong things in many area of the horse industry. . . and there are many good people other there who are really good horse owners.

it may sound horrible that i dont totally agree with you, but how many live? how many get new homes? how many people try their hardest in the racing industry? you wouldnt know that b/c you didnt bother to look it up, most people just want to generalize and not do any real research besides looking at the negitve numbers. these owners of horses call a vet the second they think something is wrong, they get their feet looked at to make sure they're in good condition, and they call more specialist then most other people do that own horses. . . how/why do they do this? b/c these horses are their way of making money, so they better they keep them, the better chances their of bring in some money.  yes it is about money, but to own horses(in other areas of riding as well), you need money.  it's the american dream, unless you didnt know that. to be as successful as possible at what you choose to do in life.

"we" dont do this, i dont race horses. people do good things, people do bad things, it's part of life.

dont be offended that i dont totally agree with you, maybe if you used more facts that are put into context i would agree with you.

edit:

i wasnt putting you down, i was stating my opinion like you asked me to, you just happen to not like it. if you didnt want opinions, then you shouldnt have asked for them. i'm a realist and i'm not sry for it. you may not be cluess, but you only looked up 1/2 of the facts, where are all the facts before you state that everything about it is horrible?

edit yet again: grow a thicker skin, not everyone is going to sugar coat everything, i know i come off hard/rude/whatever you'd like to call it, but i'm nice compared to most people i know/call friends. dont ask questions you dont want the answer to if you think you may get you're feelings hurt. peace out, hope you get answers you like rather then opinions.

Answer 15

If your not in the industry, then i dont think you should judge, any person who rides and lives horse know that there are risks with anything you do as horses are so unpredictable. They can get hurt doing jumping, rodeo and even riding in a paddock

BTW if a race horse is not up to scratch they dont ALL get sent to the doggers. alot get sold to other trainers for low costs, I know this for a fact as i have retrained and sold many and i know a few people who do.