Four more horses die in the name of ‘sport’

Good post BlueBelle.

Most people at a race event aren’t the “privileged classes”.

It’s another of those “ideas” that are nothing to do with the reality. But that produce a rallying call.

Like the picture of happy horses in the meadow just living the dream or the waves of philanthropic animal lovers who will gladly support a horse for its life time.

It’s the realists who’ll have to clean up the mess after the idealists have gone on their way to the next crusade🙄

It's not just the 'privileged class' who don't want to see an end to racing - it's probably more driven by the betting industry and the billions which are (literally) at stake.
You just had to see some of the comments on social media after those four horses died at Cheltenham - instead of expressing concern for the animals' welfare, punters were saying how they should be turned into dog food or glue!
And incidentally, I've ridden retired race horses in the past - and I do contribute to equine welfare charities.

It’s a dilemma isn’t it. We don’t want to see race horses dying in races but if there are no races they will become unaffordable and have to be culled. Some races could be banned for starters such as the Grand National that puts horses under immense pressure, less strenuous races could be developed, but it all comes down to money as well as so called sport. Then I am told the horses love racing as it’s what they are bred to do so how do we phase it out? Most of the privileged class don’t want to.

Jaxjacky

There was an Act passed in 2024 MayBee banning movement of live animals for slaughter or fattening, not for entertainment or breeding.

Yes, I meant for slaughter. It’s something that should have happened a long time ago. I don’t understand why there wasn’t more publicity about it though.

As I said right at the beginning I’m not in favour of the over breeding that produces race horses.

Neither am in favour of condemning existing ones to a miserable existence because people think they would be happier turned out into a field by people who think that would just be a bit “less luxurious” for them.

Or who think hundreds of race horses could be accommodated by “true animal lovers”

If this is a serious proposal please take some time to research what it would mean in practical terms rather than campaign for something that would make you feel comfortable and satisfied but that would lead to death and suffering for hundreds of horses.

And then come up with some really practical measures that could be put into practice.

Otherwise it’s just virtue signalling.

keepingquiet

It's all about the money...always was and always will be.

Everything in the world is about money, we all need it to survive…

BlueBelle the use of a whip on race horses is restricted nowadays.

No more than 6 strikes for encouragement according to the racing rules.

I am against cruelty to any animals trainers and owners are governed by strict rules and regulations.

It's all about the money...always was and always will be.

I love horses - keeping ,riding and these days just drawing and painting them .
I'd feel physically sick if I passed a chevaline in France.
I used to enjoy horse racing ,but after several had to be destroyed after a Grand National - my enthusiasm waned.
And now,I feel really anxious and upset each time a horse has to be put down after other races.
I wish that the jumps were far lower and the horses weren't ridden as hard.

Sorry Oreo but banning boxing is just a way of justifying your views Two grown adults CHOOSING to box in very closely monitored conditions is nothing like a comparison
Occasionally a boxer dies but very, very rarely not four at one match night

Race horse stables are luxurious, they are pampered, best veterinarian treatment, high quality food, along with stable lads and lassies who adore them of course they do and then they are whipped, to go faster until they make a mistake and fall, or their heart gives out. I bet they’d rather be chomping the grass with their mates under less luxurious and completely alien conditions

If they weren’t bred there wouldn’t be any to put out to pasture

Horses shouldn’t be made to run to their death by rich pampered people. Nor should bulls be tortured, nor bears made to dance…
Circus animals have been banned, so must race horses

There was an Act passed in 2024 MayBee banning movement of live animals for slaughter or fattening, not for entertainment or breeding.

Am I right in thinking that the government ( or previous one) have stopped the live export of animals? I did read something about it recently but it doesn’t seem to have been publicised?

Difficult issue. Compelling information from all sides on this Thread.
It would have to be a gradual 'fade out', so that the unwanted would not be left to suffer, or be transported for horse meat.

I have been around horses all my life, including owning many.

DD competed into her 20’s.

It is always upsetting when any beautiful animal dies.

Those who know horses realise that you cannot get them to do anything that they do not want to, regardless of whether you are cruel or kind.

There are too many abandoned ponies and horses purchased for spoilt children by parents with money and no idea. They are not shod regularly, shut in stables with not enough exercise. Ridden badly, etc.

Race horse stables are luxurious, they are pampered, best veterinarian treatment, high quality food, along with stable lads and lassies who adore them.

Yes thoroughbred race horses would be miserable “put out to grass” as suggested. They are not hardy animals.

I’m afraid it’s an example of a well meaning, but unrealistic vision of freed horses running across the meadow with their manes flying in the wind.

🙄😂

The sport of kings?
The late Queen loved watching her horses race didn’t she? She was at home in that world and her delight if one of her horses won was palpable.

A whole industry evolves around horse racing. It’s never going to stop.

There are far more incidences of cruelty and neglect to horses in the countryside than in any well run racing yard.

Over/under grazing, overgrown hooves, worms, mange, injuries from barbed wire fencing and inadequate shelter to name but a few.

Only this morning I read a plea for advice on Facebook from a local woman trying to get help for two ponies stuck in mud up to their knees. She had tried in vain to locate their owners.
No response from the RSPCA!!
Fortunately she has been able to get support from a couple of farmers.

Ask a thoroughbred if it would prefer this kind of life.

Getting cross with me for pointing out the practicalities of your idealistic vision won’t solve anything, not even today’s problems that equine charities face.

I’d have+more respect for your vision if you were prepared to tell me how you would manage it.

Incidentally how much do you donate to equine charities in either time or money.

I suspect when it actually comes down to how many horses we’ve helped between us, I would be well ahead of you.

Perhaps Im the one that actually cares.

Fine. They just be happy letting those poor creatures be run to death to make money for greedy gambling bastards. No apology for language used.

Iam64

Aveline

Yes it's all about money. Current horses could be put out to grass. Lots of genuine animal lovers out there who would happily help financially and physically to look after these horses into a dignified and kind old age.

Yes really

Well, if you know of anybody with a couple of acres of pasture land going spare, who’s prepared to commit to around £10,000 annually on an indefinite basis, Id be really glad to hear from them.

I know of more than one equine charity that could put it to use immediately, never mind when there’s an influx of hundreds of race horses to “put out to pasture”.

Poor loves, they’d be seriously miserable if that’s what you did with them all year round 🙄

Oreo

The only sport I would like to see banned is boxing, both for men and women.Two people intentionally trying to cause injuries to each other, often very serious.

I can’t stand it either but at least the participants have a choice.

Thank you Vice Versa.
So four horses died during the Race meeting at Cheltenham.
Pretty poor, I would say.

Aveline

Yes it's all about money. Current horses could be put out to grass. Lots of genuine animal lovers out there who would happily help financially and physically to look after these horses into a dignified and kind old age.

Not really.
The owners couldn’t afford to keep them if they weren’t earning their keep.

It’s a nice idea but in my experience, there aren’t enough genuine animal lovers to look after retired race horses now, never mind if horse racing was banned starting tomorrow and they all needed homes.

Keeping a horse is an expensive business, even more expensive than keeping a dog.
You need land, feed, shelter, and money for vet bills just for starters.

It’s still very upsetting when horses collapse, are injured or die whether they’re being used for racing, riding or even as we still see up here, for pulling carts or sulkies.
It’s also upsetting when a retired horse that you’ve cared for over several years dies overnight from natural causes and you weren’t there with them.

If racing were banned the financial ramifications would reach far and wide.
Loss of livelihoods - not just in racing and bloodstock themselves but associated industries like hospitality, tourism, fashion (yes, really) landscaping and many small businesses that make their money during race meetings.
It will be interesting to see if the war in the Middle East will have any effect or whether it will be business as usual for the Maktoums.