Four more horses die in the name of ‘sport’

There was news coverage on the TV about it and newspapers did not confine it to the sports pages.

I would not like to see racing banned. Despite what many may think, horses love to be ‘worked’ providing they are well cared for and have the appropriate training.
No doubt there will be enquiries to hopefully rule out any mistreatment of the horses that died.

Where did these four horses die? I have not seen anything about it in the press, but I do not read the Sports pages.

Oreo

They wouldn’t be wanted so would have to be put down.

They would undoubtedly be pts.

Horse charities are struggling in all areas, are as the RSPCA, many more horses suffer in private ownership than horse racing, people take on horses with no clue about how to look after them and vets bills, and deliberate and ignorant neglect is sadly widespread. Horses are relatively inexpensive to purchase and hugely expensive to keep.

Rules around horse racing, particularly jump racing, have been tightened up, sizes of jumps and how many horses can compete in one race, clearly more needs to be done.

All horses are independently vet checked before any race, but owners can go against most advice, trainers and jockeys will have little say.

It’s an interesting conundrum about horses, should we “outlaw” all riding, including trooping of the colour, police horses, eventing and show jumping, as well all horse racing. I was an avid horse rider in my youth and would be very sad to see all the aforementioned completed banned.

More checks and better safety I would welcome.

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 think boxing is awful and pointless BUT humans here at least have the choice to take part in the sport or not.

This is so upsetting. Personally I can't watch any of it on tv, and certainly wouldn't enjoy going to the races.

Aveline

Could the rules for racing be tightened up a lot? eg if a horse dies during or immediately after a race could that trainer be banned from entering a horse in the next 10 races? That would force more genuine care of these poor creatures. If it means less races and thus less betting then so be it.

Ultimately it’s the owners who have the final word in whether a horse races or not.

Many owners nowadays are individuals who have made their wealth in other areas or corporate owners, neither of whom have much understanding of horses and have been known to go against trainer and medical advice, just to see their horse run at a time convenient for them. As a social event.

This is where reform is needed if that is to be an alternative to a ban,

Cheltenham has the worst reputation for horse fatalities. There were nine in 2006. This is totally unacceptable but unfortunately the last petition ( I am not sure of its wording) only produced about twelve hundred signatures not nearly adequate to merit governmental discussion. Sadly it is too lucrative an “industry” to be thwarted. More evidence of man’s lack and concern for the animal world.

BoggledMind

It's tragic and very wrong.

Imagine the outcry if four sprinters died during an athletics tournament.

That would be entirely their choice though.

I’m so sad these four horses died, it’s awful!

Sadly, I do enjoy racing and show jumping events, but not when this happens. I feel so sad.

Many stables do treat their race horses very well indeed, but I’m aware that there are still some who do t.

Maybe time to re think jump courses and only have flat racing?

I know many would rather have all horse racing and events completely banned, and I do see their side of this argument too.

Oreo an old Dr I knew, when he was doing national service, refused to pass any of the men in his regiment fit to box in a tournament. He said that no human is fit to hit another on the face or head. A man of principle. He didn't care how unpopular it made him. Good old Dr Mercer.

Could the rules for racing be tightened up a lot? eg if a horse dies during or immediately after a race could that trainer be banned from entering a horse in the next 10 races? That would force more genuine care of these poor creatures. If it means less races and thus less betting then so be it.

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.

Lathyrus3 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

ViceVersa

We don't 'need' horses? Really? What about police horses, for instance? You could argue that there are many things which we don't 'need', but the world would be a very bleak place without horses - which bring so much joy and pleasure to so many people (Riding for the Disabled, to cite just one example). Not to mention the many equine-related jobs which would be lost.

You’re preaching to the converted as far as horses and donkeys are concerned. My life would have been poorer without them.

But you are still talking about horses for human pleasure and purpose, which is what race horses are.

So where is the line? At what point do we say’But this is a different pleasure or purpose”.

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.

I think that’s a bit starry-eyed Aveline. It costs thousands a year to keep a horse in pasture, feed and medical expenses, especially thoroughbreds.

Equine charities can’t always support those they have now.

They certainly couldn’t deal with an influx from racing.

We don't 'need' horses? Really? What about police horses, for instance? You could argue that there are many things which we don't 'need', but the world would be a very bleak place without horses - which bring so much joy and pleasure to so many people (Riding for the Disabled, to cite just one example). Not to mention the many equine-related jobs which would be lost.

Aveline

There would be no need to breed horses for racing.

I do think race horses are an example of over-breeding for a purpose. Much like show dogs.

I can’t help wondering where we draw the line though. I mean, if we stop breeding horses for that purpose, do we stop breeding horses altogether?

We don’t actually need them for anything. They are all kept for human pleasure and purpose.

Do we just have a small body of “wild” ones? But that would be for our pleasure too.

A philosophical musing but where does it take us if we follow it through to its conclusion.

Oreo

They’re race horses, it’s what they do, and they have pretty nice lives and are well taken care of.
If a race horses breaks a leg they are put to sleep usually and sometimes either after or during a race a horse drops dead unexpectedly, a bit like happens to often young people, playing football.Heart problems undiagnosed.
So what would posters like, steeplechase to be banned or flat racing or all? What would happen to all the thousands of race horses?

Yes, race horses are well looked after - but have you actually seen the footage from Cheltenham? Envoi Allen was pushed way past the point of exhaustion, so much so that he collapsed and died.
This was not some undiagnosed heart problem - this was a horse pushed way beyond his limits, for absolutely no reason. As I say, if four jockeys had died instead of four horses, there would be national outrage. You just need to read the comments on the likes of X (Twitter) from punters outraged at their bets being lost because of these horses to see that they are seen as just a commodity.

Really?!

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.

Aveline

Oh no. So very sorry to hear this. Poor animals shouldn't die in the name of 'sport'.

In the name of money, more like.

I watched the Gold Cup and the horse that collapsed and died after the race clearly wasn’t up to it.

They wouldn’t be wanted so would have to be put down.

But what about the thousands already alive and active?

There would be no need to breed horses for racing.

They’re race horses, it’s what they do, and they have pretty nice lives and are well taken care of.
If a race horses breaks a leg they are put to sleep usually and sometimes either after or during a race a horse drops dead unexpectedly, a bit like happens to often young people, playing football.Heart problems undiagnosed.
So what would posters like, steeplechase to be banned or flat racing or all? What would happen to all the thousands of race horses?