Horse racing and cruelty

Katie59 Very well cared for until they stop getting the required results! These horses being shot aren’t in later life. Racehorses are ridden from a young age - far younger than ordinary hacks, and I beg to differ regarding thoroughbreds being fine. Some are but the majority aren’t I can assure you.

tickingbird

Thoroughbreds don’t, on the whole, make good pets. Far too highly strung. They’re a commodity and when they’re no longer needed they are usually destroyed. Tonight’s programme looks at the awful treatment they receive on the way to, and at, the abattoirs.

I shall watch but will then wish I hadn’t as I’m quite involved in animal rights and I know it will upset me. Lots of people believe, because there are laws in place to protect animals, that these laws are observed. They rarely are.

Thoroughbreds are usually fine in later life I they are not “highly strung”. Many go on racing or competing into their teens
The Arab horses are used for flat racing are pretty lively when they are young, females are very often used for breeding, males less so, some are used for meat. In general Arabs are the most valuable and are very well cared for, anyone breaking welfare rules would get expelled from the sport.

Thoroughbreds don’t, on the whole, make good pets. Far too highly strung. They’re a commodity and when they’re no longer needed they are usually destroyed. Tonight’s programme looks at the awful treatment they receive on the way to, and at, the abattoirs.

I shall watch but will then wish I hadn’t as I’m quite involved in animal rights and I know it will upset me. Lots of people believe, because there are laws in place to protect animals, that these laws are observed. They rarely are.

GrannyGravy13

I think that there are certain breeds of horse bred for the table?

Not sure if all horses can go for human consumption, something to do with their annual vaccinations.

No horses in UK bred for meat, elsewhere yes, probably not on a large scale. If you have a steak in Europe it may or may not be beef

Not sure about vaccinations, horses that have had painkillers or antibiotics can’t be used for meat or pet food.

It's all very well wanting to police other's comments but the remit of the original post is as it is because it is a response to a programme based on secret filming by an animal charity.

Apart from those of us with knowledge of the horse world, of which racing is part, what are people supposed to say? Racing is a huge industry, it has its practices like any other. Without knowledge or consideration of the wider field of animal welfare, the response can go no further than 'oh dear, how terrible'. Laws get broken where things are hidden, it happens all the time and as others have said, trainers and breeders know this goes on.

Everyone has a right to comment as they see fit and different perspectives will deepen thought on an issue rather than close it down.

Kali2

JaneJudge

Some of them are eaten aren't they?

Since we are all going to diverge all over the place- I shall try and link that comment to the OP.

I have no objection whatsoever of horses being eaten (although I never have and never will) - but the point of the Panorama programme and OP is that horses discarded by the Racing Industry should NOT be transported vast distances and especially not when injured. That transport should be as short and as humane as possible, in comfort with water, etc- and that slaughter should be done properly and according to our Laws- as humanely as possible and not in sight of each other.

I do agree with you, I don't think my brain is in gear all the time. I don't think I can bear to watch the program either.

JaneJudge

Some of them are eaten aren't they?

Since we are all going to diverge all over the place- I shall try and link that comment to the OP.

I have no objection whatsoever of horses being eaten (although I never have and never will) - but the point of the Panorama programme and OP is that horses discarded by the Racing Industry should NOT be transported vast distances and especially not when injured. That transport should be as short and as humane as possible, in comfort with water, etc- and that slaughter should be done properly and according to our Laws- as humanely as possible and not in sight of each other.

I don't think the scandal is about the destruction of horses in general, we all know people who cripple themselves financially to keep old ponies and horses living a contented and happy retirement. The issue is over breeding in race stables and the subsequent destruction of otherwise healthy, but 'not good enough' horses, sometimes in sight of each other. The usual denials on BBC news at lunchtime from breeders and trainers who claimed they did not know this went on. Yeah right.

I think that there are certain breeds of horse bred for the table?

Not sure if all horses can go for human consumption, something to do with their annual vaccinations.

JaneJudge

Some of them are eaten aren't they?

It is legal to eat horse meat in the UK

Common overseas.

We have owned ponies and horses for 25 years, there have been many ex race horses at our yard. With an experienced rider they can lead a full and happy life.

Whips/crops have strict regulations regarding their usage in all equine activities.

Remember showing happy contented horses turned out in pastures would not make a sensationalist TV programme.

I’m glad that these abhorrent practices are being exposed. There was such an uproar over the trainer who happily sat on a dead horse to use his phone which lead to his being banned. There are extremely cruel practices in horse racing. My neighbour has two unwanted horses (not racehorses) and two unwanted ponies. She must spend a great deal of money on them though she’s by no means well off, and they are certainly very labour intensive. They are a joy to watch, living out their lives peacefully and happily. It pains me that healthy horses end up in pet food. They should certainly never be slaughtered in the sight of one another. Perhaps the abattoir in question will face severe penalties. It wouldn’t be the first. Though I know little about horses I support a number of equine charities which take in unwanted horses and donkeys and also publicise their misuse and seek to educate.

Some of them are eaten aren't they?

I think it was probably me that sent the thread rather in the wrong direction, because I commented on whipping. However, I did say that the original post and the whole thing reported by Animal Aid was shocking.

I cannot see that it matters; as usual we have someone telling other people what to do ( Kali2 ); subjects are being discussed, which people feel passionate about. That is important (not to you maybe) but to others.

Also I see we have one poster, always the same one, who seems to know everything about everything. The whip used be it a "wide bladed" whip (never heard of that one in all my 70+ years) is used to make the horse go faster. A horse is the most obliging animal there is and will always do it's best for the rider and whipping is cruel and not needed and not allowed in other horse disciplines.

Of course you can Kali2.
Has anyone else been given the same message ?.

It's not just about horses that are unable to continue for whatever reason to race, it is about an industry that overbreeds and has to do something about the excess along with those not fast enough to win prize money. The betting industry has a lot to answer for too. There is a problem with ex-racehorses which is that they are hard to rehome because they are highly strung and unsuitable for an average rider.

This is not a new issue. It's been known about for years by anyone remotely connected with the horse world. I haven't got time to look up the statistics but they are out there. One minute, the horse is a yearling (they race them at two you know before they are mature!!), worth £250k upwards, the next they are worth their meat value.

As regards travel to slaughter, there are fewer abattoirs than there were in the UK so that fact plus economics means they have to travel to be slaughtered. It costs a fortune to have a vet out to put a horse down humanely and then there is a problem disposing of the body, you can't just bury it. Hunts often collect the bodies for the hounds but there is a limit!

Daisymae

I just wondered who would take in an elderly horse with all the associated costs? Btw the slaughter that took place in Animal Aids video didn't seem to involve a vet.

You would be amazed how many mostly women keep a horse as a pet. Usually don’t ride them, just care for their horse, they get pleasure from that and exercise too, my partners daughter runs a DIY stable. There is one young woman there has dedicated her life to 4 horses and spends most of her wages looking after them.
Horse owners I know put the horse first, they will starve themselves and their children, leave their partner but the horse gets looked after.

Daisymae

I just wondered who would take in an elderly horse with all the associated costs? Btw the slaughter that took place in Animal Aids video didn't seem to involve a vet.

Are you talking about horses in general or just the racehorses?

Because if it's just the race horses very few of them will be 'elderly' at all as their racing career could well end by the time they are 4 (that's the age at which a decent owner puts their young horse into light work), though some might go on for a few years as hurdlers (jumping). 'Rescue' racehorses in the right hands, providing they are sound, can be excellent pleasure rides and compete in all the other disciplines. Thoroughbreds are great horses.

In fact while we are on the subject what happens to horses in general when they are no longer needed? The ponies that children outgrow

I would keep away from that aspect if I were you. Individual horse and pony ownership is vastly different from what goes on in the racing world.
Most horse owners adore their horses and would die themselves rather than do anything to harm them. Most 'retired' horses and ponies live out a serene old age in company with others and ore PTS humanely when their time comes.

I have loathed horse racing for many years because of what happens to the 'excess' horses that are bred every year, and the cruelty of putting them into work before their skeletons are fully formed.

Unlike most other horse related sports, a huge number of the punters are just there for the betting and the excitement, not because they have any love or respect for the horses. That sickens me a bit, too.

I am not bothered about the 'whipping' because I'd defy anyone to hurt anything at all with a modern wide bladed whip (which are mandatory, nothing else allowed)

I actually doubt if the horses are particularly aware of the jockey because to get the very last inch of pace from the horse the jockey has to be in perfect balance with the horse and not interfere with its paces at all. As if the jockey weren't even there...

Daisymae

I find it impossible to believe that anyone deeply involved in the horse racing world doesn't know what happens to horses that are surplus to requirements. In fact while we are on the subject what happens to horses in general when they are no longer needed? The ponies that children outgrow? Nearby a horse owner got rid of their elderly horse to redevelop the land. I knew him for 10 years. Where did he end up?There doesn't seem to be a lot of loyalty to me.

I do know, ponies are handed on to other families when outgrown and live a full lifespan, very few pick up injuries in fact the biggest death rate is caused by unknowlegable owners over feeding them, Laminitis or Colic being the result.
Owners who don’t know how to care for their animals is a problem for all pets

I just wondered who would take in an elderly horse with all the associated costs? Btw the slaughter that took place in Animal Aids video didn't seem to involve a vet.

Many are rescued and go to other owners for retirement, that happens to racing greyhounds too, they do make very good pets. Although young racehorses are highly strung, as they get older and “fat” they are quite manageable, most are not injured they are just too slow.

However, too many do end up in a slaughterhouse outside the UK, that should be stopped, in the UK they are supervised by vets so there should not be problems.

I find it impossible to believe that anyone deeply involved in the horse racing world doesn't know what happens to horses that are surplus to requirements. In fact while we are on the subject what happens to horses in general when they are no longer needed? The ponies that children outgrow? Nearby a horse owner got rid of their elderly horse to redevelop the land. I knew him for 10 years. Where did he end up?There doesn't seem to be a lot of loyalty to me.

Just googled it, Panorama tonight, reading the Guardian article I'm not sure I have the stomach for the cruelty it will be showing.

So sorry to read this. I don't agree with animals being used in any way for human entertainment and hope there is some form of protest about this cruelty.