Four more horses die in the name of ‘sport’

Oreo

You go girl!🤭

lol

How does the information show that it is barbaric?

barbaric behaviour that is extremely cruel, violent, uncivilized, or primitive

How does your information, SORES, show that horse racing isn't barbaric?
You have given us some interesting detail, thanks, but you haven't clinched the argument.

You go girl!🤭

See, now I have the bit between my teeth !

BlueBelle

So another four horses have been killed, put down, lost their lives in the name of sport
I know we ve talked about this on here before, but will it ever change
When will this barbaric practice stop, it’s not sport it’s just horrible.

BlueBelle, it isn’t ‘barbaric’ at all, such hyperbole!

Horse racing is the ‘Sport of Kings’ according to Charles ll
who founded Newmarket and improved the bloodstock.

Perhaps if you write to King Charles III with your views he
may take them on board; he has made a start by selling off
14 of the Queen’s horses, including two winners, one of them his, winding down the breeding programme (did you know this).
John Warren always remarked that Charles’s interest was at
arm’s length, that Camilla was the racing fan.

* nappy

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?

Yes, Maisie, for your information, a docile well -trained horse will not rebel. There is a word for ponies that decide to do their own thing.

Regarding the use of donkeys, Not all of us are as insular as you appear to be.

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.

These retired racers could be 4 year olds, turned out to grass for another 10 years possibly 20? not sold on for riding? this
is unrealistic.
Horses need care and attention, grooming, worming, hooves,
exercise, fields need to be kept clear of manure and ragwort, vets bills, dreaded colic, shelter and security. These horses are warmbloods, not native shaggy ponies to turn out in all weather.

Racing is speed stamina endurance courage.

Consider the knock on effect which isn’t ONLY about the money - these horses are not only well looked after but
pampered, they have a wonderful life.

Anyone observing race horses in training, on sand
or turf, would see how excited they are to be running,
exercised by Working Grooms who have a relationship
with their charge.

Banning racing would affect a dedicated industry of employees, owners, trainers, grooms, stablehands,
drivers, blacksmiths, equine vets,
equine drug manufacturers,
saddlers, manufacturers, suppliers of bandages,
blankets, rugs, linaments,

clothing manufacturers of jockeys silks,
boots, caps,
the weighing room, those scales would go

before we move to stabling,
stabling and loose box manufacturers, suppliers, builders
bedding /straw /hay suppliers,
lighting and alarm fitters,
feed suppliers,
tack room fitters, all cleaning/polishing equipment,
brushes, buckets, soaps, tools,
boot room, ditto
Horse box /trailer manufacturers, HGV drivers,

before we consider the racecourses themselves,
the revenue from which is considerable, now
sold for housing, roads named after prominent breeders,
from Goodwood to Dubai Furlongs.

caterers, stewards, carpenters, painters, bar staff,
security staff, car park attendants, greenkeepers,
grass cutting equipment manufacturers/suppliers/
maintenance/repairers, printers, badge suppliers,
cup and trophy suppliers, PA system suppliers,
photographers, milliners, bookies, coach companies
field glasses/binoculars suppliers, all racing
aficionardo accoutrements, advertising revenue,
on and on, the ripples widen.

This is a UK viewpoint.

To ban horse racing altogether, I believe you would
first need to advise Sheikh Maktoum.

Perhaps racing is cruel and dangerous, for horses
and riders.

However
horses love to run, sometimes hard to hold back,
in their eagerness, then released with a whoop!
whether
flat out on the beach at the tideline,
an open fallow field after plodding through
woodland or bridle path,
up on the gallops which they seem to know
instinctively
is where they can rush, unfettered,
sheer joy and exhilaration unmatched.

BlueBelle

‘How would you suggest they could be accommodated?’

MaizieD I don’t think anyone is imagining horse racing would stop over night. It would have to be phased out over a number of years until it was gone and the race horses, if not being bred would automatically decline. It doesn’t mean no one could own a horse, or have stables or children have riding lessons etc. just the awful racing …..and…. after seeing that woman whip her horse in dressage training, that should go as well.
Horses should be wild, or domesticated and living in stables, or on farms, or in private ownership but not being USED and ABUSED

Well said!

Does anyone remember the horses electrocuted in the
parade ring at Newbury?
Sadly, two collapsed and died, one raced, one was taken
out of the ring.
Steel shoes, loose underground electricity cable, awful.

The horse that holds the record for the greatest number of Grand National fences jumped, living happily in retirement at the ago of 17, has just died of colic. If there is a God that created things he must have said to horses I’ll make you the most beautiful creature on the planet, strong and fast. But there will be a sting in the tail as you will be prone to colic. Anywhere, any age, any time. The very word makes my heart sink and my stomach turn.

"The use of the whip ….after seeing that video of the woman whipping her dressage horse I would have absolutely no believe that the RSPCA have made any difference to the rules at all."

Different sport, different whip and the woman was banned for a year. the RSPCA was not in any way involved with the design of that whip. If you want to argue a case it really is worth knowing the facts. fwiw every horse owner I know wants horses treated with kindness and care. As someone who has ridden for a number of years, I know how to use a lunge whip, a schooling whip and a jumping whip, all different with different purposes, none are supposed to be used to punish, injure or hurt the horse. Sadly there's an awful lot of rubbish written by people who have never sat on a horse and have absolutely no idea what the various pieces of tack are for. Sadly there's also a lot of poorly trained riders who don't know either so my concern for horse welfare is focused on them because in the main, if there is abuse, it's one of ignorance not intention.

So very very sad and about time they rethought the whole thing. Shorter races with no hurdles maybe? Not sure of the answer but they poor animals get no choice. Money, money, money!

Oreo if you believe fox hunting has ceased you are less knowledgable than I thought. That happened in name only and fox hunting under a new name is still happening , the dogs are often treated badly as well as the poor fox.
The use of the whip ….after seeing that video of the woman whipping her dressage horse I would have absolutely no believe that the RSPCA have made any difference to the rules at all.

Meant to say thank you Iam64, for your information about the rescue donkey.

Sorry Maizie, it was a response to GG13.
The subject came up when we were discussing fox hunting upthread.

Maremia

Sheep worrying is a huge issue.

I've never known them to be worried by horses...the ones that get into my fields seem perfectly unbothered...

( are you on the right thread?)

Totally agree MaizieD

People signing up for trekking holidays should have to declare their weight beforehand and undergo a riding test before taking part.

Sheep worrying is a huge issue.

merlotgran

^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. 😂😂

I doubt that they are 'worked to death'

I don't suppose seaside donkeys (if any still exist) would be pleased, either...

But mostly donkeys are kept as pets or horse companions.

The members of the equine race I feel really sorry for are trekking ponies. Plodding around with non-rider holiday making lumps on their backs, hanging onto their mouths when they trot and wobbling all over the place...

I don't think non riders and horses should mix, except in a proper riding school where they will learn how to ride properly

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.