Horse Racing
(Letters at the top are the most recent)
Sierra B.
I have a strong opinion about horse racing and reading letters from members like Jessy, Amanda and Callie, has helped me understand their opinions. I also cried when Eight Belles was put down due to her injuries, but this was unavoidable. Churchill Downes' new safety mesasures and The National Thoroughbred Racing Association's new safety standards should make a difference. Some race horse owners and jockeys are very cruel and some are very humane. When Jessy wrote her letter about "family," whipping and cruel treatment, I was in agreement. But I also agree with Amanda that these horses love to run and how horse racing is a source of income for many people. I think that both girls have a strong point but I think Jessy is exaggerating the cruelty.
Sincerely,
Katie H.
Dear Bobbie,
I agree with Amanda S. and Jessie P. My dad is a mechanic and works on the satellite trailers to air the horse races on TV. He takes me with him so I can watch the horses practice. But the last time I was there, I saw that one horse was trying to see what the noise was. The guy walking the horse was on the phone and when the horse jerked, the guy almost dropped his phone, so he hit him very hard and the horse tried to get away. But the worker took the rope and hit him again. It made me very sad to see this. I'm hoping if someone sees this that they will help the horses. I'm not saying there should be no horse racing, I'm saying the worker does not have the right to beat the horses. I look forward to your answer.
Stephanie M.
Dear PONY,
I just read what Amanda wrote about horse racing. I agree with her 100%. If horse racing was banned, many hundreds of people would be without work. And what about the poor horses? The Thoroughbred has been bred for a long time to race. It's in their blood.
I also read Jessy P.'s letter about horse racing and disagree with her. Yes, accidents happen in horse racing with some horses dying. But it's no more inhumane than say, eventing. Why I was just watching a movie on cross country and many horses hit the jumps and fell and some were injured - and show jumping is the same.
Horse racing is a wonderful sport and I want it to keep going for many years to come.
Horse racing fan,
Cheyenne
Dear PONY,
I mostly agree with Callie the Horse Hugger. The only thing that I disagree with is what she said about barrel racing and junior rodeos. Horses that barrel race have terrible hip problems. Horses simply aren't meant to turn that sharply at such high speeds. As for junior rodeos, I think that it isn't right to teach kids that it is okay to treat animals that way.
As for Amanda S.'s point of view, I completely disagree. Most race horses are started at two years old. Their bodies aren't even fully developed yet! After a few years (if the horses survived unlike Eight Belles, Barbaro and countless others), they are either bred for the rest of their lives, taken to a rescue organization, or a few are taken care of. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of rescue places that were created just because so many retired race horses (getting retired at five to ten years old) being ignored and given away to make room for younger horses.
Most family members don't race when they are two. Plus, they have a choice. Horses can't speak English, so they have no choice. All horses love to run, but some, such as Thoroughbreds, are forced to run more than they are meant to. Some may say "they do make the choice - it's in their blood!" But no one can honestly say that, because no one can speak horse. As for blood and breeding, how many people have the same traits, likes and dislikes as their mom, brother or aunt? Sure people in the same family or country may look the same, but that goes back to the saying "Don't judge a book by its cover," that we all learn when we are little.
There are plenty of jobs available at rescue organizations that have many horses because of racing and rodeo.
For the sake of all the poor horses, I'd hope that their owners would still keep them. They took on the responsibility to have them in the first place. It would be horrible if the owners didn't care about the welfare of their horses. I would never msitreat any of the animals on my farm like that. I only wish that race horses and rodeo animals were loved the way that I love all my animals.
Mary E.
Hi Bobbie!
I disagree with what Amanda S. said about horse racing. I think that horse racing is cruel to horses. Horses in the wild are always in a herd, even in domestication. They always have their "best buddies" in their pasture or turn-out place. And the safest place in the herd is the the middle. Horses in races always want to be in the middle, it's their instinct! If you want to be safe, be in the middle. But then the jockey comes out with the crop, and the poor horses think that they are being attacked from the back! Think, would you like to do that for a majority of your life? And most of the horses have to be put down because of injuries. The owners don't even care about the horses, they only want their money...and if the horse doesn't make any, they think it's good for nothing. I totally disagree with racing.
Dkr
Dear PONY,
Horses could easily get us off their backs if they really wanted to. The reason they don't is cause horses recognize humans as dominate herdmates. Horses are social animals, that's why in the wild, they live in herds. And in herds, there's always a leader. Horses are good at figuring out who's in charge. Horses that have been born and raised into the human world don't know any better, so by the time they're grown up, they see that humans are the dominant animals - the leaders of the herd.
As I said before, horses let us ride them, and whatever kind of horse they are, all their life, they're working for us whether they like it or not. Even if it's a show, where the horse and rider are playing together. They work all their lives so by the time they're too old for us to work them, we put them down. Why don't they deserve to live any longer? Should old people who are retired be dead just cause they can't work any longer? Why do they get to live and not horses? Thank you for taking your time to read this.
Jaimie B.
Dear PONY,
I just read Jessy P.'s letter and I have a problem with her saying horse racing is inhumane. It is too bad that Eight Belles broke both ankles. I agree that you wouldn't treat "family" that way, but what if you had a family member that loved to run? Then what? You wouldn't let them run just because they might get hurt? Thoroughbreds were bred to run and race; they love it. Here's another thought: how many people would lose their jobs if horse racing were banned? All the stable hands, track officials, breeds and trainers. Also, how many horses wouldn't have a home anymore? Sorry if I go overboard but I'm a farm girl and I know how fast things can go wrong and I'm sure Eight Belles' jockey wouldn't have made her finish if she had broken her ankles before the race was over, but she broke them just after crossing the finish line.
Amanda S.
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