Horse-Racing- Cruel?

[pixie374]

To avoid disrupting Ken's thread, and to allow people to have their say...

My view is no. Because I believe mental health is just as important for animals as it is for people... and I have worked in Racing yards, Polo yards, Riding schools etc...

When you have bred an animal throughout hundreds of years to want to race, is it actually "kind" to wrap them in cotton wool instead forever? I now work with older people, and feel the same. Anything "fun" comes with some risk.

Obviously,there is no justification for cruelty or abuse, no matter what- and I doubt anyone would suggest there is.

So- horseracing? Fair or not?

[woofgang]

so the races for 2 yo's are cruel?

[pixie374]

Of course. Don't you think so? They are nowhere near ready at that age. Even riding horses are usually around 4 by the time they are backed, brought on and ready. Two year old bones are still soft and not steady.

[AuntPollyGrey]

//Google says around 20,000 racehorses in the UK per year. I'll have to regoogle how many die.//
//12. According to Deathwatch.//

According to Deathwatch between :

January 2018 to jan 2019 there were 199 deaths of racehorse whilst racing on a course in the UK
January 2019 to jan 2020 there were 187 deaths of racehorse while racing on a in the UK
January 2020 to present day there were 195 deaths of racehorse while racing on a course in the UK

There are 60 flat races per year for two-year-olds, starting in March

A horse can run in a Juvenile hurdle races at three years old

Racehorses can compete in full Steeplechase races from 4 years old.

A typical riding horse will be backed and commence training in the summer of its fourth year. They are often turned away for the winter and brought back to commence their training in the spring of their fifth year.

[pixie374]

I know, apg. I'm saying 3 is much too young. More importantly (and thanks for coming back), I hope you saw previous thread about pony.

[pixie374]

Ah, ok, you got different stats from Google. But- I agree- i would also like to see how many thrived as well. You won't get one without the other.

[pixie374]

//oh yes well two poodles died today at Crufts but hey ho there were 2000 competitors -not bad going eh?!//
Are you saying the same if 2 die, but the other 1800 are literally only alive and happy for the same reason?

[woofgang]

Pixie "Of course. Don't you think so? They are nowhere near ready at that age. Even riding horses are usually around 4 by the time they are backed, brought on and ready. Two year old bones are still soft and not steady."

and is that not enough institutional cruelty for you?

[AuntPollyGrey]

// Ah, ok, you got different stats from Google//

No -I got the stats from Deathwatch, the same place you quoted from.

A point I was trying to make re 2-year-olds were that you said it wasn't 'the norm' for some racehorses to be broken at 18 months when it clearly is, as there are many, many races for just turned 2 year olds, and they can hurdle from 3. If this side of racing was stopped, and a minimum age of 5 brought in things would be a lot less cruel and I believe less accidents would happen. This will never happen as it would be too expensive to keep horses 5 years before they could race. There are other equine sports that this should apply to to but thats for another thread.

I've enjoyed discussing this Pixie, its very important to bring this sort of thing to the public eye whichever side of the fence you sit on.

I did read your mention about your pony -can you remind me what was the problem and my suggestion? Whatever it was I'm glad it worked.

[pixie374]

I don't believe it's necessary or desirable to race them from so young. A minimum age would cause more expense, yes,but I don't think we should avoid changing laws or rules for health, welfare, safety due to expense. Even one more year older for each race, would make a difference on the youngster's races, plus they would quite possibly be able to race for more years. Plenty do that, so I don't see any genuine reason (except money) to start them too early. Risks should be minimised as much as possible. Unlike fighting, baiting, hunting, coursing etc... which "are" cruel in my view, the whole point to them is to attempt to cause harm and pain. I don't think acknowledging risks is the same thing... and I would rather get some of the rules changed, than a total ban.

Apg, it was more the horse really. When the pony died, you (and Margie) suggested putting him into the pony's stable- and it really did seem to settle him- so thank you for that x

Anyway, thanks everyone x