Is horse racing cruel?!


Question: Is horse racing cruel!?
As a vegan and staunch animal rights supporter, I naturally tend to think that any type of "sport" or form of entertainment involving animals is exploitive!. I know that rodeos, circuses, etc!. are not ethical because I have read about what goes on with the "training", etc!. I don't know anything about horse racing, though!.

I read this today http://www!.baltimoresun!.com/sports/horse!.!.!. and felt very sick!. Clearly the racing had weakened the horse to the point that its ankles would just break like that!.

It also just seems kind of silly that people enjoy watching horse racing, but that's just a personal opinion!.

What do you guys think about horse racing!? All opinions are welcome, just please don't be rude!.Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
Horse racing in itself is not cruel!. For a race horse to do well, he has to love to run!. You cannot force a horse to run and exepct him to be a star!. The problem with horse racing is the age at which these horses are started!. In a two-year-old horse new bone is still being laid down in the epiphyses or growth plates near the ends of the bones!. These horses that break their legs during races have been pushed to their breaking point at too young an age!. Many racers never make it to the track because of injuries suffered in training!. I have an issue with even breaking a thorougbred for light riding at the age of 2!. Their bones are just not mature enough to handle the stress of racing at that age!. I have quit watching racing because of this!. Unfortunately, a lot of people who do not know much about horses love racing!. They do not really understand what the young horses are being put through!. Many horses are run injured, they are given bute so they don't hurt and run like they are ok!. That causes many horses to break their legs!. There needs to be reform in the industry!. The age at which these horses race should be raised!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I don't think there should be horse racing anymore!.!.!. there are soooo many other (better) forms of entertainment!. Movies, tv, concerts, theme parks, casinos, clubs, etc!.!.!. why do horse races still exist!? I think we should do away with them, and let the horses live in peace!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

please focus on real animal abuse like test animals ! go to utube and type in and see real animal abuse !
at least these horses are treated well for awhile ! and feed and watered ! there ar eso many out there that are not ! focus on those !Www@FoodAQ@Com

I would think so!. Unfortunately, if we would ask the horse, they probably would say they don't like it, but they have no other choice!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

i kinda do think that horse racing is cruel is because people are forcing these animals to do more thatn they can do by smacking them with whips and its pretty messed up to meWww@FoodAQ@Com

no, the horses get treated like royalty in there!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

i dont think it is cruel, it is what they are bred to do and it is what they like to do!. It is also a great sport!. Horse riders/owners are very fond of horses and race horses are given the best care, the best food, they live good lives!. And the fact that they are willing to euthenize it is good, insead of sending to mexico for slaughter!. They have the animal's best interest in mind, and decided to end its suffering by euthenizing!.

and for i love snowstorms, you abviously havent had experience with horses, so dont talk if you dont know what you are talking about!. the horse couldnt have been saved!.

if you want honest opinions from people that are actually experienced with horses, post this in the horse section!.
Im not vegan, but i am vegetarian and i also care about animal rights!.

EDIT: i just wanted to tell you my opinion!. Horses are not like humans, they are animals!. Yes, even though they deserve respect and humane treatment, they are animals and have differnt needs and wants than humans!. How can you know that horses dont want to race!?
as i said before, it is what they are bred to do, it is in their blood!. What they want is affection, good food, shelter, medical care, you think that comes cheap!?
what else could a horse want!? to become a lawyer, doctor,!.!.!.!?

not trying to offend you, just trying to maybe clear things up for you!?
you are still entitled to your opinion, but these are some things to think about!.

listen to this:
http://www!.kansascity!.com/449/story/6040!.!.!.

does this sound like a selfish, greedy person!?
im pretty sure he loved eight belles and she loved him!. It always stirs up people's emotions when something like this happens, so i understand where you are coming from!.
im really sad about her death, she was the only filly in that race, and she came in 2nd, she would have been destined to be a winner!. RIP eight belles :(Www@FoodAQ@Com

Like I said because this question was already asked, horses injure themselves just running out in the fields!. The only reason you know about this one is because it's the Kentucky Derby and was in the news!. Where was your question when noname horse hurt itself in noname field!?!?

The Kentucky Derby horses are treated like royalty compared to other horses!. There are no domestic horses treated better ANYWHERE, because they are worth MILLIONS of dollars!.

I understand someone hating to see a horse get hurt but think about things a little first eh!?

"Clearly the racing had weakened the horse to the point that its ankles would just break like that!."--clearly you are just assuming yes!? Assumptions make for a poor argument!.

snowstorms---it's not a human!.!.!.!.the injury is much different in a horse comparitively!.!.!.you speak with your heart and not your head!.

Look at it this way, the point of horse racing is to win races, like any racing!. A sick, abused or malnourished horse isn't going to even be on the track!. Do any detractors have the slightest idea what actually goes on in horse racing!?

I'm sorry if my bluntness comes across as condescension!. There is certainly no hostility in my post outside of mistaken inflection you've supplied as the reader!. I'm just posting a non-emotional answer!.

My answer was also not directed at you specifically but to other answerers and readers as well!. I understand your point but please don't take my countering as hostility as that is not my intention!.

You seem nice and I hope I haven't deterred you from posting here in the future :-)Www@FoodAQ@Com

As an animal lover who has spent thousands of dollars in vet bills and finding homes for stray cats and dogs, that lives next door to the winter quarters of 5 circuses and an elephant sanctuary I am concerned that your opinions about animal cruelty are based in what you have read!. If you want to know the truth about how animals are treated you need to see it first hand!. Go to the circus and talk to the trainers some love the animals just like I love my dog!. It is the same with race horses or rodeo animals!. Please, don't believe everything you read!. I have nieces that barrel race in the rodeo and their horses are loved and treated with great respect!. Please don't judge on what you read!. Check it out for yourself!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I think horse racing is a cruel sport!!!!!!!! What is so cool about watching young babies run and run!. It makes me sick!!!! After reading about Barbaro and Eight Bells the idea makes me angry!. They take these young race horses and ask them to run a marathon!. It is like asking an infant to run continuously!. You have a right to not like it!. I am a loving horse owner myself and my boy tries hard to please me but I wouldn't ask him to race his heart out!. All they care about is the money not the horse!. They shouldn't work them to the point where their bones break!. IT IS WRONG AND INHUMANE!!!!Www@FoodAQ@Com

Well, someone else asked a similar question!.

http://answers!.yahoo!.com/question/index;!.!.!.

And to answer your question, I don't think horse racing is inherently cruel if the horses are well trained, but our attitude towards them is!. We should RESPECT them, and not murder them just because their injury is too inconvenient to treat!. It's just a freakin' broken ankle, not advanced cancer! I am very upset that people think it's OK to murder animals with minor injuries like this!. I'm sure vets can cure a friggin broken ankle!

The truth is that the exploitative people who run this industry realize that a horse that cannot run cannot 'pay' for its food and shelter!. So, in true human fashion, they kill it!. So typical!.Www@FoodAQ@Com





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