Is horseracing animal abuse?

[MickyMacgraw]

Now excuse my ignorance as I'm a city boy, but just n ow looking at the C4 horseracing where they are being ridden to within an inch of their lives whilst having their rear beaten/smacked with a stick in order to make it go faster and win the race,does this border on animal cruelty or do the horses actually enjoy all the attention, exercise and grooming?

[wolf63]

Like you I don't know the answer - I think foxes are cute and that the countryside doesn't smell very clean at certain times of the year.

I have heard protesters doing their protesting over certain jumps and certain race courses. But have heard nothing condemning horse racing in general.

I think that it is nasty when they shoot them. I admit to being tempted to strangle one of my cats quite a few times though.

;-)

[seadogg]

If it is cruel its just one of a long line of cruelties against horses going down the ages. Think of warfare.
And what about greyhounds?
The suds that work donkeys to death.
etc. etc.

[cazzz1975]

horses were/still are also used to plough the land and pull barges, in the past they were used in mining (pit ponies)

horses have always been used as workers

[tiggerblue10]

Not sure how they feel about being whacked on the rear by a stick but I get upset when a horse has to be put down when it gets seriously injured during a race.

[Rasman]

The Shire Horse was originally purpose bred as a war horse during the middle ages.
They were trained (out of terror) to trample and chew the faces off men in battle.

[seadogg]

Hate to admit it but I'm old enough to have seen horses and ponies doing those things.
By and large they were well treated. Seen the care pit ponies got and the horse was vital to a farmer and treated accordingly.

[Clanad]

I can't speak for horseracing in the U.K. or Europe, but here in the U.S., especially here in the western U.S., it's clear from observing horses in the wild that they truly enjoy running.
The government needs to control the numbers of wild (mostly feral) horses on public lands in the western States, and, having participated in the roundups it's truly inspiring to see the horse run in the wild. It's also clear that there is competition among many of them for being in the lead. I've friends in the horse racing business, both Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds, and the young horses are selected for racing based in large part on their desire to compete.
The "whip", as you call it is actually a "crop". It must meet certain design characteristics and its use is strictly limited by the racing authorities. "Jockeys are forbidden to hit a horse on the head or flank and cannot use the whip during the post parade or after a race, except to control the horse. Also, whipping is penalized if it causes welts or breaks in the skin, and cannot be used when a horse is "clearly out of the race or has obtained its maximum placing." The rule defines correct use of the whip as showing the horse the whip before hitting him, using the whip in rhythm with the horse's stride and using the whip as an aid to keep a horse running straight..." (Source: The New York Times, May, 2009).
The crop is designed to produce a snapping sound when used and this is the primary motivator to the horse.

I can't speak, obviously, the the art of fox hunting from horseback. We hunt foxes here (mainly in the southern states), with especially bred fox hounds...

[trt]

Come to Newmarket and say that in the high street, you would be dead in 10 minutes :-)

[Answerprancer]

Is horseracing animal abuse ? I believe so.
I went to a race in Sussex a few years ago and I found it totally obscene.
Loads of rich pseudo-toffs (with plebby accents) waving wads of money while these beautiful beasties were being ridden to their limits.
The 'jewel in the crown' moment was when one horse fell hard, the track was cleared and a large screen drawn around the fallen horse as the vets came on the scene with a gun. A deathly hush fell over the crowd, I think we were all waiting for that BANG.
Everyone was relieved when it didn't happen and everyone cheered as the horse got up and the screen was removed.
I'll never go to an event like this again and I never put money on the Grand National.
Revolting IMO.

[woofgang]

when you consider what happens to all the horses who are produced by the "bloodstock industry" and don't make it to race or fail during their career and aren't suitable for breeding, then yes I think that racing is cruel. Even people who say they love horses will tell you that the reason that they race is because they are flight animals and the jockey arouses and channels the urge to run away from danger. While they are worth money, they have a protected life, although maybe not the one they would choose, once they are no longer worth anything, then most of them are sold off without a thought for their welfare.
not just in the UK either...google racehorse rescue and see what comes up.

[chrissa1]

That was very interesting clanad. I agree that the riding crop is designed to make more of a noise than to cause pain to the horse. The horse is a natural "flight" animal and so no, I don't think it is cruel at all.

[saxy_jag]

Sit on a horse at the edge of a field, next to someone else sitting on a horse, put the horses both into a canter and see what they do. If you're lucky, when they reach the hedge at the other end, they'll stop, but I wouldn't guarantee it. Best hold on tight. For that reason, it's wise never to start a horse without knowing where the brakes are.

The whip/crop is used just behind the girth (that's the belly-band to the layman), which is where the leg (accelerator) would be used in a normal, non-racing, riding position. It's not used as hard as it looks and jockeys are penalised if they're seen to be over-using it. Since the leg is also normally used to stop the horse from moving out sideways, the whip serves that purpose too - obstruction is a serious offence to the Jockey Club.

The whip *is* often used by riders of all kinds to discipline bad behaviour, typically immediately after a horse has kicked or bitten another. It's probably the sound that has the effect as much as the sting on the (very thick-skinned) rump. I've cracked a whip on the side of my own boot before now (because some horses will buck you off if you slap their bums with it), and the cracking sound has been quite sufficient to bring them into line.

And as for the attention and the grooming - some horses thrive on it.

[mollykins]

yes.

[woofgang]

And in the US there seems to be two sides to the story...http://www.capwiz.com/madeleinepicken
s/issues/alert/?alertid=14468161&type=TA

http://www.mustangs4us.com/index.htm

I have to say I don't know the rights and wrongs of it though

[B00]

Without a doubt, yes.

http://www.thefirstpo...ns-to-unwanted-horses

[sandyRoe]

The people who would invest thousands in a horse in the hope it will be a winner don't care much about the horses that don't make the grade. Every year thousands are sold to be butchered and used as pet food.

[madmaggot]

As you said Micky, you are a cityboy and as such know nothing of the countryside or the animals therein. It's your bad luck that you were raised in such terrible surroundings but it is all that you know and therefore you accept it as 'natural'.
My personal opinion is that it is bordering on cruelty to force a boy to grow up in the city, breathing fumes continually and having to walk on terrible hard pavements, unable to go outside without running the gauntlet of road traffic.
IMO all children should be rescued from these conditions forthwith.

[oranger]

Horse racing is strictly controlled these days, with close monitoring by the R S P C A.,cruelty is frowned upon, only recently a trainer was warned off for abuse.Most horses live in far better conditions than the lads and lasses who look after them.Whip misuse will result in the jockey being fined and banned.

[mightyWBA]

No it isn't.
Racehorses are pampered more than many humans.
My father owned racehorses.I know what I'm talking about.
If they don't want to run they won't. Check out a video of a top racehorse Sariska in her 2 latest "runs".

[Dris]

No !!!
Horses live and breathe for this.Their ears prick up -the jockeys have to hold them back as they are so eager during races-they are thoroughbreds -bred for racing -its in their blood.