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Post by wonkeydonkey on Dec 31, 2007 13:59:15 GMT 1
I think racing is like any other competitive equine sport - it's as much a business as it is a sport and sometimes, the horse's welfare (well, the horse's that aren't going to be world champions) isn't always managed as one would wish for in an "ideal" world.
However, I was speaking to an acquainatance who owns a riding school and they themselves admitted that you can no longer run a RS with the sole aim of providing ideal standards in the horse's welfare. It's just not feasible ... which, did sadden me, but it is very, very true. But then, I guess that's just as true for the private horse ownership - I'd love to have the land and facilitites to keep my horse's out 24/7/365 days a year, as I think ideally that lifestyle favours the majority of horses... sadly, I'm not in a position to do that though!
Of course, I don't like seeing broken-down two and three year old's who have an array of man-made mental and physical problems - it breaks my heart, but, not every horse that comes out racing has these problems & at least there are some rehabilitation programmes for some of the horses.
As for the horses that go for meat ... I'm not sure I'm as anti that as I thought I was. I'm a vegetarian and an animal lover through and through, but ... if the horse can't be found a suitable home or second career, I think I'd rather it was put out if its misery, than be unhappy, passed from owner-to-owner completely misunderstood for the rest of it's life.
Of course, it would be even better if these horse's didn't need these rehabilitation programmes or to be put down - but it's not as though, racing is about to stop, so perhaps the answer is to provide a higher number of these rehabilition centres/programmes so that more horse's get a better shot at a second life after racing. Again, that's easier said than done.
I've been to three or four racing yards - and I was suprised at how good three of the trainers were & how much effort they put into the horse. All the horse's got turned-out, they all got a lot of individual time with the grooms & they were trained sympathetically. I'm not naive enough to think that the same can be said for every trainer - but there are good traiers and yards out there.
Organisations such as Horse Racing Betting Levvy Board do an awful lot for the wider equine industry - they are heavily involved in welfare, research and endangered species. Without their support, financial and otherwise, a lot of other organisations (in the non racing equine industry). And of course, this wouldn't exist without racing.
I think ... I'm sat on the fence about horse-racing. I do enjoy watching it, but then there's a lot about it that I don't enjoy or agree with (but I can say the same about any top-level qeuine sport - dressage, showjumping etc) . As the racing industry isn't about to stop, I do think there needs to be more oppurtunities for these racehorses after their racing career has finished, but then I guess that this has improved over time as well (I'm thinking of the rehabilition centres and programmes/competitons such as Retraining Of Racehorses).
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Post by maxim on Dec 31, 2007 13:59:42 GMT 1
Another who loves it...
But a lot of things about it I dont like as well.
I race my own horses in the summer as many of you know who've seen my pics posted on here. But my horses absolutely love it and thrive off it, they get turned out everyday to play socialise and relax, they dont just go on the gallops and come home - they are also schooled and do lots of hacking out/pleasure rides etc and if they dont make the grade then they have a home for life or are rehomed privately to a good home.
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pip
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 3,797
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Post by pip on Dec 31, 2007 14:19:54 GMT 1
"Glory for the owners" - well could start a real long discussion here!
Aren't we all terribly self-satisfied that we look after our horses wonderfully, we have a special relationship with our horse, they gallop over and neigh with pleasure when they see us, they carry us out on exciting rides, they lie down and let us kneel next to us. But do they really care? Wouldn't they be as happy just grazing all day with their mates? So I think all horse owners have a horse for their own pleasure and whether that horse is a racehorse or just a lawn mower it fits in with what the owner wants (hides behind the sofa with tin hat!).
Anyway, off topic a bit.
That was a good point about the money. An awful lot of money comes from betting into the horse world in general. I'm not at all sure about the figures, but there is a lot of veterinary research that is paid for, and I think I am right in that other horse organisations get some financial support from the money obtained from betting.
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Post by Francis Burton on Dec 31, 2007 14:21:45 GMT 1
That's really good to hear, maxim - kudos to you! I wish all racehorses were as lucky as yours. Do you think the racing industry could survive if everyone had the same high welfare standards as you? If the answer is "yes", what should we be doing to achieve that happy goal?
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Post by Francis Burton on Dec 31, 2007 14:28:17 GMT 1
That was a good point about the money. An awful lot of money comes from betting into the horse world in general. I'm not at all sure about the figures, but there is a lot of veterinary research that is paid for, and I think I am right in that other horse organisations get some financial support from the money obtained from betting. Many years ago, before I even got into racing, I did some scientific research that was paid for, at least in part, by money from the Horserace Betting Levy Board. I'm not sure how I would have felt at the time if I had known that none of their money was going to caring for horses whose racing careers were over!
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Post by wonkeydonkey on Dec 31, 2007 14:39:25 GMT 1
I'm afraid I can't say for certain whether any of the money from the HBLB goes into the welfare of off the track TB's (that's a question for my university tutor I feel - as I'm entrigued now) but a lot of that money goes into the welfare of other horse breeds, particularly the endangered species, which without that funding would be in an even more vulneranle position than they are now.
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Post by gem on Dec 31, 2007 14:49:42 GMT 1
My grandfather had a racing yard and he loved his horses, and they loved racing - they werent beaten into it they did what came naturally to them and were good. He wasnt a major yard didnt win many of the bigger races but the horses were bred carefully, bought carefully , extremely well looked after and I would go so far as to say just as well as people on here look after theirs - they were loved, allowed out to graze and the grooms all adored them.
I know there is a bad side to racing, they are started too young and not all owners love their horses but I do hate this dramatic "all racing is bad" nonesence that gets spouted on here at times, grandad had this old grouchy horse on the yard that had been a dreadful racer however he was used as a nanny for the youngsters and stayed at the yard till he died at 20 odd he had a far better life than some of the ponies who are left to rot in fields. Some do break their legs but then so do some eventers, show jumpers dressage horses
Im not saying all racing is good but its certainly not all bad either!
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Post by Francis Burton on Dec 31, 2007 15:07:00 GMT 1
Certainly not all bad - there are some positive and noble aspects to racing. For me, however, they are no longer enough to make me like it overall. But I can understand why someone, like yourself Pip, who has racing "in the blood" would love it, and I respect that.
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Post by suewhitmore on Dec 31, 2007 19:39:36 GMT 1
I think that horse racing is a horrible sport. More horses are killed in horse racing than any other equestrian sport. Can you tell me how you got that figure? As a percentage of all horses competing in all levels, my own money would be on eventing. Followed by private ownership, due to colic and laminitis.
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Post by misty on Dec 31, 2007 19:56:33 GMT 1
Yes, there are things about racing that I don't like. I would sooner they went for meat at the end of their days if other homes couldn't be found for then than shipped abroad to keep on racing. Friends of mine ride in p to p and I just think they are very brave. Yesterday one said she should have been fitter (to get any fitter would would have to be superwoman) to help her horse one more |(she came third) and gave all credit to the horse. I love going to the races and betting and hope to go again soon.
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Post by CTW Equine on Dec 31, 2007 20:58:23 GMT 1
I hate that they're mass produced. I hate that they're pumped full of feed to make them grow. I hate the age at which they're started. I hate the pressure that they're put under at such a young age. I hate the very unnatural lifestyle they lead. I hate the fatality rate. I hate that the ones that aren't fast or good enough get sent to the meat man. I hate that a horse thats won in excess of £70,000 can be reduced to being sold for meat money because it broke down (and he's fine now by the way) Most of the above points could be applied to the European Warmblood/ Sport horse market as well as racing. I agree with alot of what has been said and I'm not 100% for racing.; I recently went on a open day to a local trainers yard and the amount of horses with vices and just plain weird repetitive behavior patterns turned my stomach Most of my issues with racing lie with the stable management of the horses.
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Post by lindaandrascal on Dec 31, 2007 21:25:12 GMT 1
I was bought up watching racing but I'm not sure i like it. The racing part isn't so bad i suppose, but i don't like the way they are kept, or the massive over production or backing them so young. I don't like what happens to them after, they will be very lucky to get an experienced home and be properly re schooled. Ive seen so many skinny ex racers in fields just left to it because the owners bought them cheap and cant cope On the other hand i was (still am!) Red Rums biggest fan
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vics
Intermediate Poster
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Post by vics on Dec 31, 2007 22:47:10 GMT 1
I love thoroubreds as much as any other horse but I hate what they are bred for. They are literally running away as fast as they can, it's tough if they're tired, the whip keeps them going Horrible, hate it.
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vics
Intermediate Poster
Posts: 108
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Post by vics on Dec 31, 2007 22:48:17 GMT 1
I love thoroubreds as much as any other horse but I hate what they are bred for. They are literally running away as fast as they can, it's tough if they're tired, the whip keeps them going Horrible, hate it.
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Post by dunoon12 on Jan 1, 2008 12:10:48 GMT 1
Really people need to know what the racing industry is about yes its money, yes they breed horses to run remember that they breed them for the purpose of racing. Yes there is a high wastage, they do have ulcer problems as does many many leisure horses! Yes they are started young (no different to what we do with our children sending them to gymnastics, running, or other sports form the age of 2 years! although they are looked after better generally). In any event the racing industry do far more for their horses now then they ever did. A lot of trainers put their horses out to graze, they understand nutrition now better than most leisure owners. The horses are looked after like prime athletes and get the best faciltiites when un well or not fit.
Some stallions go on to stud and live a great lifestyle for a horse. So there are good and bad sides to it but there is a lot of wastage and it is mostly male orintated and about money. But it amuses me when people have a go at horse racing and then not think about eventing, jumping and dressage and how those horses are looked after! very questionably in some cases i may add especailly top dressage horses. So dont moan about one area of horse industry and sport without thinking about the other areas which in some cases are really no better and started young and die in the sport that the owner choses for them! and its not just racing!
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