Why Is Horse Racing Bad? (TOP 5 Tips)

1. Racing is hard on horses’ bodies. Their bones are still growing, and their bodies aren’t ready for the pressure of running at full speed on a hard track, so they can get injured more easily than older horses.

Why is horse racing so dangerous?

• Start Racing Before They Are Ready. Owing to the demand for racing,the horses have to start training as well as racing before they become two years old.
• Successive Racing Leading TO Death Of The Horses. In the USA alone,racing occurs all through the year.
• Injuries Of The Jockey.
• Use OF Drug In Horse Racing.

How is horse racing cruel?

Racing exposes horses to significant risk of injury and sometimes, catastrophic injury and death through trauma (e.g. broken neck) or emergency euthanasia. The odds are stacked against horses in the racing industry.

Are horses killed after racing?

Two-thirds of horses set to slaughter are quarter horses, and many are castoffs from the rodeo or racing industries. The Thoroughbred-racing industry sends an estimated 10,000 horses to slaughter annually, meaning that half of the 20,000 new foals born each year will eventually be killed for their flesh.

Does horse racing hurt the horse?

There is no evidence to suggest that whipping does not hurt. Whips can cause bruising and inflammation, however, horses do have resilient skin. Jockeys aren’t whipping their horses in the last 100m of a race to increase safety or to remind their horse to pay attention.

Is horse racing a good thing?

These competitions may give entertainment and advantages to people; the welfare of these racehorses is crucial to consider. Indeed having fun and enjoyment is important, but so it is to care for the well being of others.

Do horses like to be ridden?

Most horses are okay with being ridden. As far as enjoying being ridden, it’s likely most horses simply tolerate it rather than liking it. However, many people argue that if horses wouldn’t want us to ride them, they could easily throw us off, which is exactly what some horses do.

Is PETA against horseback riding?

A Close Look at the Horse-Human Relationship Many animal rights activists, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), have announced arguments against the use of horses for any and all riding purposes.

Why are race horses dying?

Racehorses are the victims of a multibillion-dollar industry that is rife with drug abuse, injuries, and race fixing, and many horses’ careers end in slaughterhouses. As long as mankind demands that it run at high speeds under stressful conditions, horses will die at racetracks.”

Why can’t horses survive a broken leg?

While humans have some large muscles and a bit of tissue below the knee that helps stabilize a broken bone, along with a cast, a horse has no muscle or any other tissue besides tendons and ligaments below the knee. The lack of muscle and other tissue means, even with a cast, the broken bone has little to support it.

Why do we shoot horses with broken legs?

Horses are euthanized when they break a leg because of the risk of infection, pain tolerance of the animal, and the slim chance of a successful recovery.

Is horse riding cruel?

So, is horse riding cruel? Horse riding is not cruel if it is done or supervised by an experienced rider who puts the horse’s needs first. If we are not careful and pay attention to every detail of our horses’ care, health and behavior, then horse riding can easily become cruel.

Is horse racing illegal?

The parimutuel system is the primary reason betting on horse racing is legal and has flourished. This aspect of parimutuel wagering is also the reason it is legal in many states to bet on a horse race online but not poker or other games which are easily manipulated.

Do horses feel the whip?

Two papes published in journal Animals lend support to a ban on whipping in horse racing. They respectively show that horses feel as much pain as humans would when whipped, and that the whip does not enhance race safety.

Do racehorses enjoy racing?

Yes, horses enjoy racing and are well-looked after animals. Running and jumping comes naturally to horses as you see horses doing this in the wild. It’s also very interesting that when a horse unseats its jockey during a race, it will continue to run and jump with the other racehorses.

Do horses hate racing?

And the quality of those lives is astonishingly high. It’s important to note that if a horse does not want to race, it won’t, and very occasionally we see a horse plant its feet and refuse to move. No horse can be made to race against its will. In the overwhelming majority of cases, horses happily take part in a race.

Is horse racing immoral?

Racing exposes horses to significant risk of injury and sometimes, catastrophic injury and death through trauma (e.g. broken neck) or emergency euthanasia. The odds are stacked against horses in the racing industry.

5 Reasons Why Horse Racing is Cruel

You and your horse will have a more enjoyable lunging session as a result of this. In a safe and responsible manner, your horse will be lunged, resulting in it being suppler, stronger, and more balanced, so becoming optimally equipped to carry his rider!

1. Racing is hard on horses’ bodies.

Horses are frequently entered into racing as young as two years old. That’s far too early. Due to the fact that their bones are still growing and that their bodies are not yet equipped to withstand the pressure of racing at full speed on a hard track, they are more susceptible to injury than older horses.

2. Horses are often drugged.

A large number of horses are injured as a result of being forced to run at such high speeds. However, rather than allowing them to rest and recuperate from their injuries, many trainers and vets provide medicines to them in order to keep them from feeling the agony and allowing them to continue racing. This has the potential to make their injuries more worse. They may also be given illicit narcotics or other substances that are harmful to their health, such as snakevenom and alcohol, in an attempt to make them run faster, whatever it takes.

3. Around 24 horses dieevery weekon U.S. racetracks.

Some horses are damaged so severely that they are unable to be repaired, such as when their bones crack or shatter, and they must be put down.

4. It’s a lonely business for the horses.

Horses are herd animals, which means that they normally live in big groups, graze together in meadows, and wander freely across the countryside. When they are racing, they can spend up to 23 hours a day in a stall and are constantly being transported around to different racetracks, which means they don’t get to have much freedom or spend time with their fellow horses very often.

5. Losers never “win.”

Those horses that don’t win races or who lose their competitive edge are sometimes flown to Canada, Mexico, or Japan to be slaughtered there, even if they are still very young. Some are murdered while they are just 5 or 6 years old, despite the fact that they may live to be 30 or more years old. *** By abstaining from attending a horse racing, you may help put a stop to this dreadful scenario. Inform your relatives and friends about the pain and suffering associated with horse racing so that they will never attend or wager on a race again.

Horse Racing

Thoroughbred horse racing is a world of injuries, drug abuse, grisly breakdowns, and killing that exists behind the glorified façade of the sport. Meanwhile, the horses are fleeing for their life as the spectators show off their expensive clothing and consume mint juleps.

Forced to Race

Horses employed in racing are made to sprint at such high rates that they regularly experience injuries and even bleeding from the lungs. This is generally done under the threat of whips or even illegal electric shock devices. Whip usage is common practice in the United States, with little more than lip service given to those who violate the law in the majority of states. When jockey Jeremy Rose “engaged in excessive overuse of the whip” during a race in 2008, the horse named Appeal to the City suffered hemorrhaging around her right eye.

1. In 2013, PETA showed that prominent trainers and riders had acknowledged to using unlawful electro-shock devices on horses, according to the organization.
2. Most horses are exposed to a combination of legal and illicit medicines when they are pushed past their limitations, with the goal of masking ailments and artificially improving performance.
3. This ailment is classified as exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH).
4. In what should come as no surprise, an average of 24 horses die at racetracks throughout the country every week, and this figure does not even include the horses who are abandoned by the racing business because they are no longer deemed lucrative.

In the state of New York alone, more than 250 Thoroughbreds were injured or died while competing in races in 2015.

Treated Like Commodities

Horses employed in racing are made to sprint at such high rates that they regularly experience injuries and even bleeding from the lungs. This is generally done under the threat of whips or even illegal electric shock devices. Whip usage is common practice in the United States, with little more than lip service given to those who violate the law in the majority of jurisdictions. When jockey Jeremy Rose “engaged in excessive overuse of the whip” during a race in 2008, a horse named Appeal to the City suffered hemorrhaging around her eye.

• In 2013, PETA discovered that elite trainers and riders have acknowledged to using unlawful electro-shock devices on horses, according to the organization’s documentation.
• In order to disguise injuries and artificially boost performance in horses who have been pushed past their capabilities, a mix of legal and illicit medications is administered.
• Many horses are given a diuretic with performance-enhancing properties, known as Lasix or Salix, in an attempt to reduce the amount of blood lost.
• It is estimated that more than 250 Thoroughbreds were injured or died during races only in New York City in 2015.

The Ugly Truth About Horse Racing

In the world of horse racing, there are three basic sorts of individuals. There are the crooks who dangerously drug or otherwise abuse their horses, or who allow such behavior from their agents, and who then challenge the industry to come after them and apprehend them. Then there are the gullible individuals who believe that the sport is essentially fair and honest in its overall operation. And then there are the majority in the center, who are neither naive nor cheats, but rather decent people who are aware that the business is more corrupt than it should be, but who refuse to do everything they can to correct the situation.

Those in the second category, the innocents, are likewise a tiny number who are more or less hopeless; if they haven’t realized by now that they are being harmed, they are unlikely to do so in the future.

And it is for this reason that exposés on the mistreatment of racehorses, such as the one published last week in The New York Times by Joe Drape, are so vital.

Instead, they appeal directly to the many decent and honest people who work in the horse racing industry and whose consciences are still in play.

And they tell those deserving individuals, in effect, that they are deluding themselves if they believe that the entire world is unaware of and disgusted by the heinous business that is let to go place behind their sport’s walls.

The Clubhouse Turn

In this case, ” PETA Accuses Two Trainers of Cruelty,” a news that broke like a thunderclap was extremely significant for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, the film on which it is based lets viewers to witness for themselves a small portion* of what animal campaigners have long said occurs at the top levels of thoroughbred racing. In this episode, we learn about trainer Steve Asmussen, a controversial conditioner, and his top assistant trainer, Scott Blasi. The photographs depict the care of world-class horses while they are training at two of the most prestigious and recognized racetracks in the United States: Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, and the Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York, respectively.

• However, it is erroneous to confuse antipathy toward PETA with dismissiveness of the organization’s activities.
• Click here to view the PETA video that was mentioned in the Times article.
• Cruelty towards a horse can be demonstrated by striking it or “buzzing” it with an unlawful device.
• In addition, you can abuse a horse by administering an excessive amount of medicines to it in order to bring it to the races (or to make it race faster).
• Thus, the tale is crystallized even in its most basic title in the Times’ column, and the story connects with people all around the world as a result.
• No one outside of the horse racing industry is bothered by insiders defrauding each other in the sport.
• If the general public feels that racehorses are abused or neglected, horse racing will be doomed from the start of the season.

I have no clue whether Asmussen and Blasi are guilty of anything, and I make no accusations against them here. My argument is that it truly doesn’t make a difference. The entire industry has responsibility for allowing it to reach this point.

The Backstretch

The instant reaction of the sport to the film, as well as the reaction of the whole industry, was divided largely into three categories. There was the camp, which was skeptical of the story’s source and downplayeditor made things worse. There was a side that saw the narrative as vindication of the need for reform, and there was another that did not. Lastly, there was the terrified camp that murmured many hollow platitudes about how concerned they were. However, there are so many members of all of these organizations who are participating in what PETA and the Timesallege that they are unable to say today that they are “Shocked!” to find that racehorses are handled in such a cruel manner.

• The fact is that the vast majority of horse trainers, assistant trainers, jockeys, driving instructors, caretakers, and veterinarians really care about their charges and would never purposefully injure or kill them.
• What is an acceptable number of mistreated horses?
• The main story here isn’t that Steve Asmussen could be an aberration; rather, it’s that he might be a trend.
• Instead than being surprised by the news, the story is that it has taken so long to reach the public.
• It is possible that the alleged conduct has continued decade after decade because the business is unwilling to regulate itself Because state racing authorities are incompetent and because there is no consistency among racing jurisdictions, the sport has suffered.
• Because the individuals who produce performance-enhancing pharmaceuticals are virtually always one step ahead of the people who develop the testing to detect such substances on the market.
• And because there are still too many people in the sport who believe that true reform is synonymous with an acknowledgment of how awful things are, which is bad for marketing.
• It’s true.
• There is no longer a mysterious figure hiding behind a curtain.
• This is due to the fact that PETA did not just broadcast the footage to the world: Its leaders also filed lawsuits in both federal and state courts, which drew the attention of the racing regulators in New York and Kentucky, who had been in a condition of permanent torpor for years.

It will be impossible to separate the tale of thoroughbred racing in 2014 from the story of PETA and the Times. It is up to the business community to turn this into something positive.

The Finish Line

What do you think about telling the truth? It has the potential to liberate this sector once and for all. If the sport does not continue to pretend that there is a problem with animal mistreatment, or if it continues to claim that the situation is under control, the sport may make the courageous move that will be required to go to the other side—the side where animal activists are not picketing racetracks. This will result in more money being allocated to increased drug testing. In order to better control trainers and veterinarians, legislative actions will be undertaken.

1. It will signal the end of the code of silence observed by insiders.
2. Wouldn’t that be beneficial?
3. This type of behavior is common among horsemen who have spent time in shed row or on the backstretch; yet, it may be found in certain barns but not others, by some trainers but not others, and in the shadows of the sporting world.
4. However, this does not rule out the possibility that the narrative is true or that it can be simply disregarded.
5. The publisher of the Thoroughbred Daily News, Barry Weisbord, was absolutely correct in his diatribe over the weekend.

When it comes to horse racing, like in life, there is no such thing as a “nearly honest” horse, a “somewhat crooked” horse, or a “slightly mistreated horse.” * PETA claims to have seven hours of film, which was examined by Joe Drape of the Times and will be released before the Kentucky Derby in early May, according to the organization’s website.

“The video and report demonstrate how grooms and employees administer multiple drugs to racehorses on a daily basis, regardless of whether the horses require them or not, in order for them to pass veterinarians’ visual inspections, make it to the racetrack, or perform at a higher level,” Drape wrote.

Is Horse Racing Good or Bad For Horses?

Any links on this page that direct you to things on Amazon are affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase, I will receive a compensation. Thank you in advance for your assistance — I much appreciate it! People frequently approach me with the question of whether horse racing is beneficial or detrimental to horses. There are many distinct points of view on this subject. For some, it is a sport that brings families together as they nurture, train, and cheer on the animals they adore while they compete in the sport they love.

Horse racing may be a positive or negative experience for a horse depending on the circumstances.

Many horses, on the other hand, are mistreated; these animals are medicated, overworked, and generally mistreated.

It is seen negatively by some as an exploitative activity, whilst others like the sport and believe it is beneficial to both horses and people. In the following paragraphs, I will look at both sides of the argument.

The effects of horse racing on horses: negatives and positives

Any links on this page that direct you to things on Amazon are affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase, I will receive a compensation from Amazon.com. In advance, thank you very much for your assistance; I appreciate it greatly. People frequently contact me to ask if horse racing is beneficial or detrimental to horses. The subject is a source of many divergent viewpoints. Those that participate in it believe it is a sport that brings families together as they nurture, train, and cheer on the animals that they love while they compete.

If you own a horse, you know that racing may be a positive or negative experience.

A large number of horses, on the other hand, are mistreated; these animals are frequently drugged, overworked, and otherwise harmed.

Others who oppose the sport argue that it is exploitative, while those who support it believe it is beneficial to both horses and people.

How horse racing bad for horses.

Yes, there is a major danger of damage to both the horse and the rider, but data clearly demonstrate that the death rate is extremely low, with around one horse dying in every 1000 horses competing in flat horse races.

Whipping and other forms of pain

The whip is used by jockeys to encourage their horses to go faster. However, most racing rules and regulations explicitly prohibit the use of padded whips, and there are tight limits on the amount of hits a rider can deliver to his or her mount. Second, there are techniques that may be employed to get better control over the mount, such as tongue-tying. This allows the rider to apply pressure on the horse’s back with the reins, resulting in it being more cooperative. When used in conjunction with high-intensity training, tongue-tying has additional benefit: it prevents the horse from chewing its tongue or choking on its own saliva.

Culling of uncompetitive horses

Horses judged unfit to race due to age, injury, or simply being uncompetitive are frequently culled or put down. To be sure, I feel that the horse racing community is dedicated to the welfare of horses, and that culling or euthanizing is only done in the most extreme cases and to relieve the anguish of an injured horse.

Improper housing and confinement

Racehorses are frequently confined in small, cramped quarters, which goes against their natural instincts. They are herd animals that forage and graze on the plains in large groups. A number of racehorses have developed behavioral problems, according to some experts, including crib-biting, weaving, and other undesirable behaviors.

As previously stated, this is not the case, and the majority of racehorses also sleep and play in sunny meadows, resulting in a safer life than their wild counterparts. Now, I’d want to come out in support of horse racing:

How is horse racing good for horses.

When it comes to the horse racing industry, the health and wellbeing of racehorses are extremely crucial. Therefore, most racehorses have pretty happy lives, including resting safely in clean, well-kept quarters and nursing from their well-fed moms while consuming nutritious meals throughout the year, including during off-season/winter/drought conditions.

They are well-protected.

Racehorses are housed in safe pastures and barns where they are protected from predators, illnesses, the environment, and pests, as well as from each other.

They get to socialize.

Contrary to common assumption, racehorses are not continually trained for races and confined to stalls; instead, they are able to graze, sleep, play in sunny fields, and enjoy the benefits of being part of a community.

They get medical/dental health as needed.

Racehorses are extremely properly cared after at this facility. If and when an issue emerges, they are provided with quick medical and dental care.

They have a purpose.

Animals, like humans, require a reason to exist in order to receive mental stimulation. Racing and training assist them burn calories and burn off excess energy while also activating their brain cells and firing up neurons. This keeps children joyful and stops them from feeling bored, anxious, stressed, or lonely.

They develop a close bond with their humans.

When their horses are no longer able to compete, the majority of owners attempt to find them a second profession. Some owners, on the other hand, do euthanize their horses. However, in my experience, euthanizing a horse because it has lost its competitive edge is an uncommon occurrence. It is common for racehorses and their owners to build tight, loving relationships. Racehorses receive affection and caring from their handlers, who use gentle voices, groom them daily, use physical touch, and stroke them.

This obviously demonstrates that not everything is as gloomy and dismal as animal extremists would have you believe!

Do horses like horse racing?

The assumption that horses dislike racing is incorrect and should not be made. Indeed, you will observe a horse galloping about in the woods, leaping, and prancing around. A well-known fact about horses is that they will continue to race even if they become riderless during a race for whatever cause they may have been saddled. Here are some of the reasons why horses are not reluctant to participate in races:

They love the challenge.

As I previously stated, horse racing provides a purpose for horses, which is something that every living thing on this earth need. Equine athletes thrive on the difficulties that racing presents to them.

They love the bonds they form with their jockeys, owners, grooms, and trainers.

Racehorses spend several hours each day in training with humans in order to improve their performance. They adore being touched, stroked, and groomed in this way. They don’t hold back when it comes to signaling to their people that they want to leap and race, and these indications are obvious to everyone who is familiar with or works with horses. Briefly stated, there is no evidence to suggest that racehorses are reluctant participants in races.

There is a reason why there are so many thoroughbred horses.

The fact that the thoroughbred horse breed exists tells us something about the breed’s history.

There are around 500,000 thoroughbred racehorses in existence throughout the world. This breed would most likely have gone out if it hadn’t been for horse racing. Racehorses have a far better quality of life in the sport than they would have in the wild.

A horse will tell you if it does not want to race!

Finally, we must remember that horses will find a method to communicate their dissatisfaction with anything if they don’t like it. All too often, a jockey has witnessed his or her mount’s feet remain firmly planted on the earth, refusing to move at all! So don’t be concerned, no horse enters a race against his or her wishes. Horses are generally content and willing participants in the sport in the vast majority of instances.

Do horses want to win?

Horses may or may not be able to comprehend the concepts of victory and defeat. In the wild, male and female horses may race and leap during sexual pursuits, or two males may race and jump to ‘outdo’ each other in terms of speed and agility. In that way, it’s possible that a wild horse understands what it means to triumph. Human horseracing, on the other hand, is not a natural sport. And it is for this reason that the winning element may be difficult for a horse to comprehend. It is almost certain that a horse understands how its jockey/handler will treat it once the race has concluded.

Experts have even observed variations in the hormone levels of a winning horse, which may imply that it has a basic understanding of what it means to be a winner.

Although a horse does not necessarily build a tight rapport with its jockey throughout training, it does learn to comprehend how significant a race may be to its handler as a result of this bonding.

That is also why some horses continue to run even after their jockey has been thrown from the saddle.

Conclusion –Is horse racing good or bad for horses?

Horse racing, like so many other things in life, has both positive and negative aspects. Even while racehorses are subject to injury hazards, they are also given special care and attention. In addition to living a life of purpose, racehorses receive nutritious meals, regular vet and dental examinations, and the joy of being surrounded by fellow racehorses in a safe environment. During a horse’s training, it builds a tight, loving tie of mutual trust and respect with its jockey. When a horse realizes how important winning a race is to its handler, it may even desire to win.

Why horse racing is so dangerous

Note from the editor: This article was first published on May 17, 2019. It has been revised and updated. Horseracing, despite its widespread appeal, is a risky activity for both horses and jockeys. Five horses have died at Santa Anita Park, a California racetrack, in the first four weeks of the racing season, including three in the span of three days over the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend. According to the Equine Injury Database maintained by the Jockey Club, 493 Thoroughbred racehorses died in the United States in 2018.

1. Injury to a limb accounts for the majority of these deaths, which are followed by problems of the respiratory, digestive, and multiorgan systems.
2. According to Rick Arthur, equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board, the increase in fatalities may be due to the increased level of competition in horse racing.
3. (See how horses are changing to be speedier in this article.) « It is difficult to keep an athlete at the absolute peak of their fitness for the entire year.» says the author.
4. The Horseracing Integrity Act of 2019 is one such example.
5. Currently, the horse racing business is governed by individual state laws.

The law has the support of the Jockey Club, which is dedicated to improving Thoroughbred breeding and racing. According to the group, “it’s past time for us to unite with the rest of the world in putting the finest procedures in place to ensure the health and safety of our equine athletes.”

Deadly injuries

This story was initially published on May 17, 2019, according to the author’s request. A new version of the document has been published. Racehorse racing is a risky activity for both horses and jockeys, despite the fact that it is extremely popular. Five horses have died at Santa Anita Park, a California racetrack, in the first four weeks of the racing season, including three in the span of three days around the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. According to the Equine Injury Database of the Jockey Club, 493 Thoroughbred racehorses died in the United States in 2018.

1. Over 40 of those deaths occurred at Santa Anita Park between December 2018 and late January 2020.
2. It is possible that the deaths are related to the increased competitiveness of horse racing, according to Rick Arthur, equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board.
3. In this article, you’ll learn how horses are changing to become quicker.
4. » The extraordinary number of fatalities at Santa Anita has also refocused attention on the need of safety in the sport of horse racing.
5. politicians presented the Horseracing Integrity Act of 2019, a federal bill in March 2019 that would establish a standardized nationwide standard for drug testing racehorses, among other things.
6. The bill has the backing of the Jockey Club, an organization dedicated to improving Thoroughbred breeding and racing.

The drug controversy

Several animal welfare organizations have accused trainers of exacerbating an already dangerous situation by dosing horses with performance-enhancing chemicals or pain relievers, according to the groups. Horses are able to run faster and more powerfully while under the influence of such medications. For example, according to a March investigation by the Jockey Club, the substance furosemide, which is sold under the trade name Lasix, is a “performance-enhancing drug masquerading as a medicinal treatment.” While it is administered to treat pulmonary hemorrhage, the medicine also causes excessive urine and, as a result, weight loss in the patient.

The legality of any substance differs from state to state.

In order to accomplish this, the proposed horse racing legislation would establish an independent, self-regulatory body—affiliated with the United States Anti-Doping Agency—to regulate racehorse medication, list which substances are and are not permitted, and prohibit the administration of medications within 24 hours of a horse race.

What are the animal welfare issues with Thoroughbred horse racing? – RSPCA Knowledgebase

This article presents a concise overview of the major issues confronting the horse racing business, which must be addressed in order to ensure the welfare of racehorses. Further information on these issues may be found by visiting the websites listed at the conclusion of this article.

1. Oversupply of racehorses

As a starting point, this article outlines the major issues confronting the horse racing business, which must be addressed in order to ensure the wellbeing of racehorses. Please see the links at the end of the article for further information on these subjects.

2. Use of painful devices

This article presents an overview of the major issues confronting the horse racing business, which must be addressed in order to ensure the welfare of racehorses. Please see the links at the end of this page for further information on these issues.

3. Risk of injury and death

During races, training, and trials, racehorses are at danger of injury, with the most common forms of injuries including muscle, bones, tendons, ligaments, and tendons and ligaments. In the case of severe injuries like as fractures and burst ligaments or tendons, which cause pain or discomfort and cannot be cured, euthanasia should be performed immediately. It is also possible for racehorses to die unexpectedly during or after a race. This might be due to heart failure or other reasons, including the disease known as Exercise Induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage (EIPH), which happens when blood clots form in the lungs as a result of exercise.

• According to two recent studies, there are dangers linked with extremely intense training regimens that include running at high speeds and over extended distances.
• According to the findings of the second study, the risk of muscle and bone injuries increases as the total distance of high-speed exercise (training and racing combined) is increased over time.
• These injuries can include fractures that are repairable and ligament/tendon damage that is not repairable.
• Recent research on Australian racing thoroughbreds discovered a relatively high occurrence of bone damage and exhaustion, particularly in older horses with a lengthy history of racing and training under their belts.
• Because the racing industry does not compile information on racehorse injuries and deaths, it is impossible to obtain an accurate estimate of the total number of injuries.

The RSPCA supports the required collecting and dissemination of detailed life cycle and injury statistics for all racehorses, which should be mandatory for all owners and operators.

4. Administration of banned substances (doping)

During races, training, and trials, racehorses are at danger of injury, with the most common forms of injuries including muscle, bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. In the case of serious injuries like as fractures and burst ligaments or tendons, which cause pain or discomfort and cannot be cured, euthanasia should be performed immediately. It is also possible for racehorses to die abruptly during or after a race. This might be due to heart failure or other reasons, including the disease known as Exercise Induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage (EIPH), which happens when blood clots form in the lungs as a result of intense exercise.

• Several recent studies have drawn attention to the dangers of too intense training regimens that include high speeds and extended distances.
• According to the findings of the second study, the risk of muscle and bone injuries rose as the total distance of high-speed exercise (training and racing combined) increased.
• These injuries include include fractures that are repairable and ligament/tendon damage that is irreversible.
• Recent research on Australian racing thoroughbreds discovered a relatively high occurrence of bone damage and weariness, particularly in older horses with a history of racing and training.
• Because the racing industry does not compile statistics on racehorse injuries and deaths, it is impossible to obtain an accurate estimate of the number of horses injured in the sport.

5. Racing immature horses

Horses begin training as one-year-olds in order to compete in races for two-year-olds the following year. Shin soreness is a common cause of lameness in two-year-old racehorses, and quick track training significantly increases the likelihood of damage in these animals. A number of other studies have demonstrated that low-level training of young horses can help condition immature bones, reducing the likelihood of damage. Training techniques, on the other hand, are not specified, and trainers are free to impose plans that may be excessively demanding for certain younger horses.

The RSPCA Australia opposes the racing of young horses (for example, two-year-old races) and advises that an independent veterinary evaluation be performed before training begins to ensure that the horse has developed sufficiently.

6. Jumps racing

Jumps racing is characterized by horses racing at high speeds over long distances (at least 2.8 km) and through a variety of obstacles. Steeplechase races and hurdles races are the two main varieties of jumps racing, with the latter often taking place over longer distances and incorporating higher obstacles than hurdles races. Racing SA has announced that jumps races would no longer be contested in South Australia from 2022, making Victoria and Tasmania the only states that allow jumps racing to take place.

According to industry estimates, the real death toll is greater since industry figures on deaths that occur during training and trials are not made publicly available.

Jumps racing was outlawed in New South Wales in 1997, and the RSPCA is strongly in favor of a similar prohibition in Victoria.

7. Lack of enforceable standards

For racehorses, there are no statutory welfare regulations in place. Therefore, legal protection is confined to the very minimum criteria set forth in state-based animal welfare laws, if any. There are specific animal welfare requirements that must be followed in other sectors where animals are utilized, such as farming and animal research, and these standards must be followed. The RSPCA thinks that the introduction of legislative welfare requirements for racehorses, in order to eradicate activities that cause damage, pain, suffering, or distress, should be a top priority for the federal government.

8. Inadequate regulation

The horse racing business, in terms of animal welfare, is primarily self-governing, with state-based racing authorities serving as the primary regulators. When self-regulation occurs, particularly in the lack of acceptable norms, there are questions about the effectiveness of monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. Unfortunately, without independent inspections, serious welfare problems might go unnoticed for long periods of time. Furthermore, incentives such as boosting the prize money for two-year-old races might stimulate more intense training of juvenile horses, which may result in an increase in injuries as a result of the increased competition.

9. Lack of industry transparency

It is critical that the horse racing business collects and makes available important data that has an impact on the welfare of horses. Inadequate information exists concerning the real type and extent of horse injuries and deaths, which has an impact on the rate of “wastage” and the fate of racehorses.

Before such data is accessible, the industry will not be motivated or obligated to take action to enhance welfare in these specific sectors. In the meanwhile,

Reference

AV Morrice-West, PL Hitchens, EA Walmsley, and colleagues (2019) Thoroughbred racehorses in Victoria, Australia, are subjected to a variety of training procedures, including speed and distance. Equine Veterinary Journal, Volume 52, Number 1. (2). Crawford, KL, Ahern, BJ, Perkins, NR, et al. Crawford, KL, Ahern, BJ, et al (2020) A systemic review and meta-analysis of the available literature were conducted to determine the influence of combined training and racing high-speed exercise history on the development of musculoskeletal ailments in Thoroughbred racehorses.

1. 10, no.
2. 2091.
3. Hassan, M.
4. J.
5. The Australian Veterinary Journal, volume 95, pages 362-369.

Why Horse Racing is Cruel and Needs to End

While the death toll at Santa Anita was not unprecedented — the track has averaged 50 dead horses per year since 2007, for example — what was different was the intense media spotlight that was shone on the business. This extraordinary level of attention provided us activists with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make our case. It has been far too long since horse racing was given cover under the banner of sport — indeed, under the moniker “The Sport of Kings” — when, when stripped down to its essentials, it is nothing more than an archaic, largely unprofitable gambling industry that exploits, abuses and kills sentient beings on an ongoing basis.

• Horseracing Mistakes is the source of this information.
• Starting from there, he must grind nonstop on an unformed skeleton in order to earn his keep.
• His life is spent cooped up in a 12×12 stall for over 23 hours a day, commodified (lip tattoos, auctions, “claims races”), regulated (cribbing collars, nose chains, tongue restraints), and cowed by his captors (whips).
• Only since 2014, Horseracing Wrongs has recorded almost 5,000 proven horse racing fatalities on U.S.
• Every year, we estimate that approximately 2,000 horses are murdered while racing or training across the United States.
• Cardiac collapse, pulmonary bleeding, blunt-force head trauma, severed spinal cords, torn ligaments, and broken legs are all examples of what happens when someone is hit by a car.
• However, even if the figure of 2,000 is stunning, it only conveys a portion of the tale.

Horseracing Mistakes is the source of this information.

We have numbers to draw conclusions from, even while the business urgently seeks to downplay the scope of the problem by cunningly flashing its zero-tolerance rules in defense of itself.

territory closed in 2007; now we just export them to Canada and Mexico, which is a catastrophe in itself).

According to a report conducted by the “Wild for Life Foundation,” Thoroughbred horses accounted for nearly one-fifth of all horses slain between 2002 and 2010.

For instance, the Jockey Club’s official registration for young Thoroughbreds, referred to as the “Foal Crop” in a revealing bit of terminology, has had a total of around 21,000 entries in each of the last seven years.

In other words, slaughter has been – and continues to be – the principal means of disposing of racehorses that have reached the end of their careers or are simply no longer needed.

Horse racing, as a spectator sport, is in decline and has been for quite some time.

What is even more significant is that the majority of the racing sector is heavily subsidized, with many tracks relying only on slot machine and other gambling income to keep their doors open.

As a result of industry threats of job loss and “tradition,” politicians continue to send lifeboats, which is not only an affront to our free-market ideals, but also allows for the continuous mistreatment and slaughter of horses in the process.

Sensibilities toward animal exploitation, particularly in the context of entertainment, are fast developing in our society.

Consequently, the issue becomes: why should horse racing be excluded from this rule?

Put an end to the brutality.

Put an end to horse racing.

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Is Horse Racing Cruel?

Despite the fact that horse racing has been around for a long time, horrible incidents in recent years have compelled many of us to take a deeper look at this long-standing practice. We’ve all seen the cheerful people gathered around tracks that appear to be in perfect condition. We are aware of the economic benefits of hosting these big-scale events, and we are also aware that the sport gives a great number of job opportunities. But, even with all of the large expensive hats and mint juleps, it’s hard to ignore the fact that horse racing has a darker side than it appears.

There are two sides to every discussion, and this one is no exception.

The Economic Advantages

Horse tracks, as well as the horse racing business in general, have a significant economic impact when viewed just from a financial perspective. According to data provided by the American Horse Council Foundation in 2017, racing is the largest economically stimulating area of the horse business (together with recreation, racing, competition, and working horses), and it also generates the greatest number of employment. Race tracks attract tourists to their tiny settlements, and in some cases, the training and breeding of race horses is the primary source of income.

With legal gambling, both offline and online betting are popular at horse racing events, and they also present opportunity for individuals to benefit from their investments.

Does Money Matter?

When you look at the figures, it appears that the horse racing industry is a profitable and advantageous endeavor. It is customary for racing enthusiasts to bring up money as the first issue in their defense of the sport. And while money will always be a factor, it does not factor into the most crucial question: Is horse racing cruel to the horses? Horse racing has a significant impact on the economy, that is undeniable. However, it is the horses themselves that bear the brunt of the damage. In discussing the possibility of animal cruelty in sports, we should keep it as our primary point of reference.

How Horses Are Treated

It’s hard to make a blanket statement about how every single racing horse is treated since every single horse is different. Every player, from small-town rookies to the most well-known personalities in the sport, will have a mix of good and terrible moments. According to horse breeder and trainer Larry Smith, “racehorses often enjoy pleasant lives,” which he argues in justification of horseracing. He even goes so far as to claim that their lives are “idyllic,” thanks to the presence of people who care about them, well-balanced meals, and physical activity that they like.

We all know how much horse enthusiasts care for their horses, yet greed is a strong feeling.

Race horses are sometimes regarded as money-making machines rather than live beings deserving of sympathy and respect.

Several of them begin racing when they are just two years old, while their bones are still developing. When they reach the point of complete exhaustion, they are pushed beyond the boundaries of what is considered compassionate treatment of animals.

The Use of Drugs in the Horse Racing Industry

When debating whether or not horse racing is cruel, the topic of drugs has always been a major point of contention. It is routine practice for trainers and vets to inject medicines into horses in order to keep them on the track. Lasix is the name of one of the most often prescribed medications. During severe exertion, this diuretic is intended to prevent pulmonary bleeding in the lungs from occurring. Because of this, the horse is able to continue running even when their body is practically shutting down.

1. However, the fact that this type of medication is required is a testament to how stressed racing horses are in reality.
2. Lasix is only one of the several medications that are commonly administered into racehorses.
3. In order to control and police the usage of some performance-enhancing medications, the industry has taken efforts to do so.
4. However, there is a lack of enforcement, as well as reports of authorities receiving payments in order to cover up illicit activities that endanger horses.

Training Methods

Even before they reach the age of two years, horses must undergo a tough training regimen. A typical occurrence is horse injury, and many horses do not even make it to their first race. Nonetheless, just like with horse therapy, training will always be dependent on the individual doing the training. Some training methods are regarded appropriate and compassionate, while others are thought to be on the verge of being abusive and harsh. There is a widespread problem with cruel horse training, and it is not limited to the horse racing business.

To make matters worse, the line between abuse and successful training is often fuzzy at best.

However, there are certain practices that have been in use for centuries that are just now being recognized as abusive by the public.

It’s difficult to determine if a horse galloped quickly because he wanted to, or because he was frightened he wouldn’t be able to if he didn’t.

The Euthanizations

We can’t have a meaningful discussion about whether or not horse racing is cruel without taking into consideration the number of horses who die. It was reported in the New York Times that roughly ten racing horses died per week at American racetracks in the year 2018. That number has always been far greater than what any horse enthusiast would consider acceptable. And, as a result of the recent spike in fatalities at the world-renowned Santa Anita racecourse, the rest of the globe is taking note.

Despite the fact that it prompted an inquiry, it was not enough to put a permanent end to the races.

Horses trip and fall during races, which is an undesirable yet typical event. In the majority of these fatal events, a privacy screen is rolled onto the track and the horse is euthanized where it was struck by the privacy screen.

A Racehorse’s Future

The horse racing business is responsible for a number of deaths, not only those occurring on the track. Every year, thousands of thoroughbred horses are shipped to slaughterhouses for meat. According to Forbes, more than 10,000 racehorses are exported out of the nation each year, where they are slaughtered and sold for meat. These include yearlings that are deemed too sluggish to continue training, competitors who do not earn enough money in the form of prize money, and even retired victors. It has been reported by BloodHorse that even Kentucky Derby winners are not exempt from the slaughterhouse.

It’s important to note that not every racehorse’s career ends in slaughter.

Others are able to have comfortable retirements even after they have been employed as breeding stock.

Is horse racing cruel to the horses?

Should racing be outlawed completely, or do stricter restrictions just need to be implemented?