Four more horses die in the name of ‘sport’

foxie48

I probably should have mentioned the whip was designed in conjunction with the RSPCA.

We always had to carry a whip when riding our Arab mare on the road as she had a tendency to side step with her rear towards the cars.

Maremia

Unfortunately, fox hunting still happens in the UK, despite the ban. It is disguised as 'trail hunting'.

There were 23 confirmed kills in the 2022-2023 trail hunting season.

Compare that to the estimated 15,000 sheep and farm animals killed by out of control dogs in 2025 estimated to cost farmers £1.95 million.

I probably should have mentioned the whip was designed in conjunction with the RSPCA.

Unfortunately, fox hunting still happens in the UK, despite the ban. It is disguised as 'trail hunting'.

www.britishhorseracing.com/regulation/the-whip-2-2-2/

Anyone who doesn't understand the use of the racing whip, should read the above link.

First it needs the breeding of race horses to STOP that can happen immediately and not effect any race horses already here.

Whilst I concur with some of your sentiments re cruelty, it’s simplistic to say it wouldn’t affect any race horses here.
Revenue from breeding horses in stables that raise race horses helps to pay for the upkeep of horses in existence.

BlueBelle

I think it’s being a bit of a cop out to say it’s ‘puffed up words’

Let me understand you are you saying we have to carry on racing these animals because there’s nothing else can be done they can’t lead a normal life so we have to carry on …

I don’t think anyone it’s expecting an overnight ban ….all racing must stop all race horses slaughtered of course not…. it would need phasing out over a number of years, planned properly.
First it needs the breeding of race horses to STOP that can happen immediately and not effect any race horses already here.
Second it needs much tighter control over the whip and the height and difficulty of jumps etc etc while this winding down process takes place.
It would take some years to stop completely but they can start by removing and banning the Grand National and then gradually removing the more (exciting to some) dangerous races bit by bit. People would not be interested in the more mundane, none dangerous races so it would automatically die a death
Dog racing could stop over night most retired greyhounds fit in well to family life.
Fox hunting should be banned immediately not this half hearted government intervention
Bird shooting should also be banned immediately
Ok that’s my thoughts, now you can shoot them down

The use of the whip changed some time ago and so did the height of the fences.
Fox hunting was stopped also some years ago.

Lathyrus3

That’s not my argument. I’ve said from the start that I’m not in favour of breeding horses for racing.

What I’m asking for is honesty in accepting what a ban on horse racing will entail.

For posters, who think that the horses can be turned out to pasture to live simple horse lives, to accept that won’t be possible, both in terms of resources needed and in terms of what a horse needs to live a healthy life. That to do that would be another form of animal cruelty. Perhaps just to say Oh I didn’t know. I thought that was what we could do.

To acknowledge that a ban will inevitably mean death for many horses, but that they would still go forward with a ban because they believe the long term gains would be worth that. To take that responsibility.

For them not to wilfully deceive themselves because the consequences do not fit their comfortable vision of horses set free.

I’d also like to think that those who present themselves as champions of horses and are so concerned about their welfare would make a donation to an equine charity right here, right now.

Otherwise it’s just puffed up words really isn’t it?

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Iam64

Agree ViceVersa, the idea of these obese tourists expecting donkeys to carry them up steps because they’re too unfit to make the climb themselves makes me so angry

That really makes me angry 🤬🤬🤬

Agree ViceVersa, the idea of these obese tourists expecting donkeys to carry them up steps because they’re too unfit to make the climb themselves makes me so angry

foxie48

Actually a bigger problem generally is that too many horses are overfed and under worked, hence there's a huge welfare problem because horses and ponies are obese. Obesity in horses causes laminitis and equine metabolic syndrome as well as causing issues with lameness. Add to that the number of riders who are obese and far too heavy for their riders and it's easy to see the problem, often literally!

That last part is a real bugbear of mine. I would love to be able to carry on riding, but I gave it up several years ago because of my weight. I frequently see horses with riders who are far too heavy for them - especially abroad, which often makes it worse because of the heat.

Going off at a tangent here but didn’t want to start a thread about it, but has anyone been following Endo the Blind on Facebook over the years? I still well up every time I think about him and can’t believe that he’s no longer with us. I hope someone writes a book about him one day as he and his owner were so inspirational. I’ve never known such a worldwide outpouring of grief over a horse before. He was so beautiful and brave .

Not to mention the donkeys at our local open farm whose job is to carry small children
And their cousin on Blackpool beach

And when did you last see a working donkey in the UK?

I think the donkeys at Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight, demonstrating how to draw water from a well by working a treadmill, might be a bit put out by that comment. 😂😂

Even with the new Highway Code rules regarding horses on the road there are still many accidents with horses and motorists. Some horses got onto the motorway near me after escaping from their field and were killed. It must have been horrific. Nobody still knows the cause of grass sickness, even though a lot of money has been ploughed into research. A horse on our field died from it.

Actually a bigger problem generally is that too many horses are overfed and under worked, hence there's a huge welfare problem because horses and ponies are obese. Obesity in horses causes laminitis and equine metabolic syndrome as well as causing issues with lameness. Add to that the number of riders who are obese and far too heavy for their riders and it's easy to see the problem, often literally!

That is probably truer, Mollygo

MaizieD

^Horses and donkeys are trained to work until they drop---men profit from their suffering.^

Not something that could be generally applied to the UK; not even to horse racing. There might be some individual cases but over all horses are very well treated. And when did you last see a working donkey in the UK?

Nowadays, so are some people!

Horses and donkeys are trained to work until they drop---men profit from their suffering.

Not something that could be generally applied to the UK; not even to horse racing. There might be some individual cases but over all horses are very well treated. And when did you last see a working donkey in the UK?

TheWeirdoAgain60

I've been online petitioning for years, several times a year, to try to get it banned, but the scumbags won't, as they only care about themselves and the money. They don't give a hoot about all the gorgeous horses they torture and murder.

The same with I'm a Celebrity, and others similar, I've been doing the same to try to get those vile things banned too.

Good for you Weirdo! I did so too in my more active days, even a one-woman protest outside a gambling shop on Grand National day.

Horses and donkeys are trained to work until they drop---men profit from their suffering.

GrannyGravy13

Allira

So read the next two posts by Elothan after yours Allira she’s much more informed than me who is talking with my heart.

We can all Google.

Or those who have owned and been around horses all their lives (myself included) can speak from their ^life experiences^

Yes and those posre are very informative and interesting, thank you.
As well as chatting to a family member who spends much of her time around horses.

The Grand National is now just like a glorified hurdle race as it has been modified greatly in recent years. It is now won by top class graded horses and the smaller stables with slower long distance horses don’t stand a chance.

Allira

^So read the next two posts by Elothan after yours Allira she’s much more informed than me who is talking with my heart.^

We can all Google.

Or those who have owned and been around horses all their lives (myself included) can speak from their life experiences

So read the next two posts by Elothan after yours Allira she’s much more informed than me who is talking with my heart.

We can all Google.

Lowering the height of fences just makes the race faster leading to an increased number of falls and fatalities.