Should horse racing be banned?

the groutch · 14-04-2012 08:39PM

The welfare/quality of life of 99.999% of racehorses is as good as or better than if they were privately stabled.

Rabidlamb · 14-04-2012 08:40PM

I see the lilly liberal cray loons are out in force in this thread.
Do they not recognise that these beautiful animals wouldn't exist if it wasn't for the horse racing industry.
These are thoroughbred animals that love to run, it's what they've been bred to do.

I often wonder if these kneejerk reactionists were made aware of the 10's of thousands of animals killed daily for meat industry would their head explode.

My name is URL · 14-04-2012 08:41PM

token101 wrote: »

Well, as the informed one, would like to explain us how the two sports are comparable?

I didn't say that they were comparable. I said that I don't understand how people can decry one while defending the needless dangers involved in the other.

44leto · 14-04-2012 08:44PM

I think it could be made safer for the horses, but i wouldn.t ban it. Its a huge international employer it also a massive export here and a lot of it is Irish industry.

Wattle · 14-04-2012 08:44PM

Rabidlamb wrote: »

I see the lilly liberal cray loons are out in force in this thread.
Do they not recognise that these beautiful animals wouldn't exist if it wasn't for the horse racing industry.
These are thoroughbred animals that love to run, it's what they've been bred to do.

I often wonder if these kneejerk reactionists were made aware of the 10's of thousands of animals killed daily for meat industry would their head explode.

Its not the running that kills them it's the huge man made fences

darlett · 14-04-2012 08:46PM

Princess Peach wrote: »

The footballer chose to play the sport knowing risks, the animals aren't given a choice.

Except having a heart attack isn't really a risk of playing football. Go out there, give your all, but don't break a leg...or have a heart attack.

token101 · 14-04-2012 08:48PM

My name is URL wrote: »

I didn't say that they were comparable. I said that I don't understand how people can decry one while defending the needless dangers involved in the other.

Maybe they have a brain and can see they are two entirely different sports?

FloatingVoter · 14-04-2012 08:55PM

Rabidlamb wrote: »

I see the lilly liberal cray loons are out in force in this thread.
Do they not recognise that these beautiful animals wouldn't exist if it wasn't for the horse racing industry.
These are thoroughbred animals that love to run, it's what they've been bred to do.

I often wonder if these kneejerk reactionists were made aware of the 10's of thousands of animals killed daily for meat industry would their head explode.

Just finished my lamb chops. Horses love eating, running and then running some more. They do not by nature - jump over crap they can walk around. I like racing, my Paddy Power a/c will vouch for it. I do not like Beechers Brook. Many before me have expressed the same opinion about that "jump". Two dead, and one who should never have started probably means the last of that stupidity. The GN will continue. People will be hit by buses and meat-eaters won't like horseracing. Thats the world for you.

My name is URL · 14-04-2012 08:55PM

token101 wrote: »

Maybe they have a brain and can see they are two entirely different sports?

Which part of my post are you arguing against exactly? I have already said that the two sports are incomparable. The thrust of my point was about the welfare of the animals involved.. not the sport itself.

Do you not think that some steps could be taken in order to increase the safety of horses in the race?

BOHtox · 14-04-2012 08:56PM

My name is URL wrote: »

Or at least, should they get rid of jump racing?

Two horses died at the Grand National today. I never actually watch or bet on the sport but just happened to see the race today. Loads of other horses fell while going over the fences. It's a wonder that there were only two fatalities.

Is it worth it? Would the sport not be just as enjoyable if there were no fences? Doesn't make any sense to me to risk the lives of both jockeys and horses by having them jump.

What say you?

Horses would be useless without racing. Horses are only used for riding and racing. No racing would mean no horses. Is that what you want? People don't have horses for the laugh!

Even if racing was banned it would still happen, only smaller, in an illegal manner. They would show no respect for the horses' welfare and would be purely in it for the money.

No one talks about football where players tragically die on the pitch saying that should be banned as they push their bodies so hard sometimes it is inevitable that some bodies can't take it any more.

We should keep it the way it is. How they fell was awful. ATP was tripped and Synchronised got up and kept running with the adrenaline. Horses are meant for racing, they love racing and they are the best looked after animals in the world.

The reason they were killed is to stop them from feeling pain from a irrecoverable injury!

BOHtox · 14-04-2012 08:58PM

Princess Peach wrote: »

I believe it should be banned, along with greyhound racing.

Cruelty to animals for sport and gambling pretty much disgusts me.

Sadly is never going to happen though.

How is it cruel? These animals are among the best looked after animals in the world? They live in great conditions ran by proper trainers. The opposite to this would be making it illegal and then an industry of illegal racing would start. Do you think there'd be such standards in this industry? Not a chance!

Jen Pigs Fly · 14-04-2012 09:00PM

My name is URL wrote: »

Well they're certainly looked after well once they are still turning a profit for the owners. After that though, life is not so easy for them.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12682680

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/06/racehorse-slaughter-animal-welfare

That link from the guardian is horrible inaccurate.

Racehorses revieve vaccinations, therefore are not fit for consumption by any other animal. my own horse has a stamp in her passport saying she is not for human/animal consumption. racehorses will have the same in theirs.

yes they're going to slaughter, but it's due to the fact that there are no homes for them, they are not being slaughtered for 'dog food'

Eire-Dearg · 14-04-2012 09:02PM

My name is URL wrote: »

Or at least, should they get rid of jump racing?

Two horses died at the Grand National today. I never actually watch or bet on the sport but just happened to see the race today. Loads of other horses fell while going over the fences. It's a wonder that there were only two fatalities.

Is it worth it? Would the sport not be just as enjoyable if there were no fences? Doesn't make any sense to me to risk the lives of both jockeys and horses by having them jump.

What say you?

I stopped reading.

Jen Pigs Fly · 14-04-2012 09:04PM

Born to Die wrote: »

Do race horses of this pedigree get buried or are they used as pet food.

(Serious question)

Cannot be used as pet food due to their vaccinations.

token101 · 14-04-2012 09:09PM

My name is URL wrote: »

Which part of my post are you arguing against exactly? I have already said that the two sports are incomparable. The thrust of my point was about the welfare of the animals involved.. not the sport itself.

Do you not think that some steps could be taken in order to increase the safety of horses in the race?

You say they should ban jump racing. You then said you never watch the sport. So you're commenting on something you know sweet FA about. They have been altering the course of the National for years. And probably will continue to do so. Some changes should be made to the course at the National. But banning something entirely just because it isn't totally safe is a f***ing stupid philosophy, one usually fronted people who haven't a clue what they're on about. It's a sport people enjoy. The horses are treated very well. Some die, most don't.

My name is URL · 14-04-2012 09:09PM

BOHtox wrote: »

Horses would be useless without racing. Horses are only used for riding and racing. No racing would mean no horses. Is that what you want? People don't have horses for the laugh!

Even if racing was banned it would still happen, only smaller, in an illegal manner. They would show no respect for the horses' welfare and would be purely in it for the money.

No one talks about football where players tragically die on the pitch saying that should be banned as they push their bodies so hard sometimes it is inevitable that some bodies can't take it any more.

We should keep it the way it is. How they fell was awful. ATP was tripped and Synchronised got up and kept running with the adrenaline. Horses are meant for racing, they love racing and they are the best looked after animals in the world.

The reason they were killed is to stop them from feeling pain from a irrecoverable injury!

I shouldn't have asked about banning it in the thread title. Tbh, that was just to grab peoples attention. I also asked whether hunt racing should just be done away with.

People do talk about footballers and heart attacks. It's impossible to protect against that as you can't predict when it's going to happen. You could make a solid prediction that horses will die at any Grand National though, and my overall question and point was about ways of reducing the likelihood of that happening.

Eire-Dearg wrote: »

I stopped reading.

Okay, well I hope you apply that logic to all other sports too. I've never attended a bare-knuckle fight but would still have an opinion on it.. is that ok?

Jen Pigs Fly · 14-04-2012 09:13PM

At the speeds that horses go while racing it's incredibly dangerous to expect them to jump such big fences.

Whenever I did showjumping we were always thought how to 'set up' the horse and to 'give a check' before each and every jump, you cannot expect a horse to jump such a big jump from a flat out gallop they will jump it wide and/or flat and will hurt themselves. When jumping a horse you hold it and keep it steady - 'checking' the horse - racing does not allow for this.

I don't mind racing at all, the industry is employing a lot of people and the horses are treated brilliantly, it's hunt racing and steeplechasing I do not like, horses are not made to jump at those speeds.

Born to Die · 14-04-2012 09:16PM

Would anyone care if they raced pigs over the grand national course and a couple of them got killed?

hypersquirrel · 14-04-2012 09:18PM

I could be wrong about this but if memory serves me correctly they did experiment with lowering the fences and found that it increased the number of fallers because they took the fences faster. The majority of problems in the National occur during the first circuit so it's also not a matter of length.

If it were up to me I would leave the course as is and reduce the number on the field to 25 or 30. That would hopefully weed out the ones that aren't able to travel such distances and prevent the crush you get at the first few fences. Once the pack breaks up the falls become far less common.

BOHtox · 14-04-2012 09:20PM

Green Diesel wrote: »

As a matter of interest, what happens which makes it necessary to destroy them? Broken legs?

xxxJennyxxx wrote: »

At the speeds that horses go while racing it's incredibly dangerous to expect them to jump such big fences.

Whenever I did showjumping we were always thought how to 'set up' the horse and to 'give a check' before each and every jump, you cannot expect a horse to jump such a big jump from a flat out gallop they will jump it wide and/or flat and will hurt themselves. When jumping a horse you hold it and keep it steady - 'checking' the horse - racing does not allow for this.

I don't mind racing at all, the industry is employing a lot of people and the horses are treated brilliantly, it's hunt racing and steeplechasing I do not like, horses are not made to jump at those speeds.

200 mp/h corners in Formula 1. Hugh strides have been made to make it safer while keeping the entertainment in the sport.

Same is happening with horse racing!

Dyr · 14-04-2012 09:23PM

BOHtox wrote: »

How is it cruel? These animals are among the best looked after animals in the world? They live in great conditions ran by proper trainers. The opposite to this would be making it illegal and then an industry of illegal racing would start. Do you think there'd be such standards in this industry? Not a chance!

So do fighting cocks, they live like avian f***in kings until another cock kills them in a fight ...and they absolutely love to fight (oh wait, that's the selective breeding, just like the gee gee's). I reckon we should probably bring cockfighting back as entertainment

And yes, that is the logic of our resident horse racers :cool:

Jen Pigs Fly · 14-04-2012 09:23PM

BOHtox wrote: »

200 mp/h corners in Formula 1. Hugh strides have been made to make it safer while keeping the entertainment in the sport.

Same is happening with horse racing!

You would be surprised just how hard it is to slow an excitable horse when at full gallop. I'd doubt a speed limit would work :rolleyes:

BOHtox · 14-04-2012 09:28PM

Bambi wrote: »

So do fighting cocks, they live like avian f***in kings until another cock kills them in a fight ...and they absolutely love to fight (oh wait, that's the selective breeding, just like the gee gee's). I reckon we should probably bring cockfighting back as entertainment

And yes, that is the logic of our resident horse racers :cool:

No. Breeding two animals to fight is wrong. Breeding animals to kill is wrong. Breeding animals at what they love to do is right. Can you actually see no difference between Cock fighting and Horse racing?

xxxJennyxxx wrote: »

You would be surprised just how hard it is to slow an excitable horse when at full gallop. I'd doubt a speed limit would work :rolleyes:

Well actually it's the laws of physics and not a speed limit.
I mean technology will improve to protect the horse and jockey as has already happened in the last decade and will happen in the next decade

Dyr · 14-04-2012 09:31PM

TimeToShine wrote: »

This comment has me pissed off to no end.

A lot of people enjoy horse racing, and I'm glad it won't ever be banned. your comment is the equivalent of vegetarians moaning about cruelty to animals for the purposes of food when other "less cruel" food is available. if you actually believe that race horses and greyhounds aren't treated better than 97% of animals you're just clueless.

I could probably write a more articulate and detailed post but i'm actually too irritated, can't believe there's people out there this stupid.

You wont write it because your argument is cock eyed. Any animal that's being used for profit, will be treated in a manner that maximises the profit. If treating the animal like a king means you're making a packet, then you'll do that. If putting the animals life at risk means you'll maximise your profit you'll do that. If letting the animal starve to death or blowing its head off means you'll maximise your profit then that's what is done.

My problem is the moral whatabouttery that goes on when its your entertainment dollar that's driving this yet you haven't the honesty to admit that you couldnt care less what the industry inflicting on the dumb beasts that are being used to entertain yiz.

Eire-Dearg · 14-04-2012 09:31PM

My name is URL wrote: »

Okay, well I hope you apply that logic to all other sports too. I've never attended a bare-knuckle fight but would still have an opinion on it.. is that ok?

Yes, because bare-knuckle fighting is a sport televised to millions of people around the world! :rolleyes:

"Loads of horses" fall across racecourses all over Britain & Ireland every day, unfortunately the biggest jump racing event of the year pushes some to their limit and accidents happen. If you actually watched the sport you'd know this. Even accidents happen in flat racing without hurdles, it's an unfortunate negative to the game.

But jumping to such an hilarious thought that horse racing should be banned or jump racing done away with while also revealing you never watch the sport and are thus incredibly ill-formed, I was never going to read on.

The real debate is what moves should be made to make this race safer, be it lowering the number of runners or shortening the fences and altering the track.

Jen Pigs Fly · 14-04-2012 09:32PM

BOHtox wrote: »

Well actually it's the laws of physics and not a speed limit.
I mean technology will improve to protect the horse and jockey as has already happened in the last decade and will happen in the next decade

Again, excitable horse had a mind of it's own, no amount of technology could stop an excitable horse.
my own mare has almost ran herself into a bit of trouble, she got so excited during a race that she just did not want to stop, even though I knew she was going way too fast and at a pace she can't handle for long. It took me a good 5 mins just to steady her never mind trying to slow her down.

This mare was comfy, happy and rearing to go, which is why she got so excited! technology of any sort couldn't have stopped her at the point she got to! And she got to that point very quickly too

While measure can be added to make sure of horse and rider safety, we still must remember these are flight animals who are designed to run away from something scary/run with the herd, we can never 100% predict a horse and it's movements.

Born to Die · 14-04-2012 09:34PM

Would anyone care if they raced zebras over the grand national course and a couple of them got killed?

Jen Pigs Fly · 14-04-2012 09:36PM

Born to Die wrote: »

Would anyone care if they raced zebras over the grand national course and a couple of them got killed?

If they raced zebras in the grand national there would be outroar not because of the race but because zebra are not made to jump the heights expected of the grand national. There would be outcry about the unfairness of it, not because they were zebra.

Born to Die · 14-04-2012 09:38PM

xxxJennyxxx wrote: »

If they raced zebras in the grand national there would be outroar not because of the race but because zebra are not made to jump the heights expected of the grand national. There would be outcry about the unfairness of it, not because they were zebra.

Giraffes?

Can Giraffes jump, the fences wouldn't be an issue if they can.
Would it be unfair to change the animal used to a more suitable animal, I just can't think of one that is suitable!!

gsxr1 · 14-04-2012 09:39PM

love racing . As does the horses and riders by the look today. Horses could not wait to get away and run. Its what they want.

But why do the horses get put to sleep with a broken leg??

I broke my leg 2 years ago. Im well again now.

Im sure the vet has the best interest of the animal in question, but surly with a bit of time and effort , the horse could at least be let heal and live out its life. Especially after the contribution synchronised made in the past?

Should horse racing be banned?

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