people not knowing anything about racing...

[Deleted]

Today I overheard a girl who doesn't have anything to do with horses really, might have ridden one on holiday or something but doesn't ride regularly or anything talking about how cruel racing is. Having her opinion on racing is fair enough but she was spitting out lies, I heard:

"the reason they're so skinny is because they're starved"

"every horse that falls is shot because the owners think it is not good enough for racing anymore."

"the whips they use have points on them to make them even more scared so that they go faster"

"the owners are horrible to the horses at home and kill them when they're too old to race"

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, I can see why some might consider the horses being broken in so early/them being whipped cruel or something but at least know what that you are speaking the truth, and learn that not everyone who has anything to do with race horses is cruel to them before expressing an opinion! To be honest, the only race horses I know are treated like royalty, they're fed, exercised, have full turn out and get plenty of attention and all the love that they could possibly have and will DEFINITELY not be shot after finishing their racing career, they'll probably do racehorse to riding horse classes.

It tires me when people assume things about people they don't know just because of their pastimes!

Rant over- sorry to anyone having to read this!

[Philippa]

I've worked in both flat & National hunt yards. Our horses were all extremely well looked after. We had some top class horses, won the stewards cup twice, 4th in the grand National etc etc.

I also tire of people who know nothing about the sport whittling on that it's cruel. Yes there are accidents, yes horses get shot but then planes crash and boats sink don't they?

[fanfarefan]

well im sorry to disagree and im putting petrol on the fire but said girl hasmade 4 points which are not far from the truth IMO

[Deleted]

oh of course fanfarefan, I can totally see from your point of view, I just don't like when people stereotype/assume the worst. Not everybody involved in horseracing is a bad person, obviously there are some horrible people- but not everyone! :-)

[fanfarefan]

unfortunately a few tar the brush for many

[apple123]

My 'show horse' was backed on a pre-training yard this year & I never had one ounce of worry or doubt that he was well looked after & cared for which is more than I can say for other places I've been to. We now seem to be setting a trend on Facebook for getting out on the gallops!
Comments like those come from a lack of education & ignorance.

[aura]

This is such a hate of mine.

I worked in racing for around three years until a hand injury (none racing related) caused me to stop. Prior I went through the British racing school. I worked in Newmarket for William jarvis for a short period but mainly for sir mark Prescot, I also went to a breaking yard for a few weeks whilst working for Prescot.

I feel the views on racing are very out dated, people watch racing on the telly and jump to conclusions- I can hardly go on Facebook on grand national day due to the rediculous comments that are made, especially by those with no background knowledge about the sport. I also think alot of people see neglected ex race horses and blame this cruelty on the sport and belive it stems from the trainers- when in actual fact it's the owner's inability to sell them on.

I would have my horses in at a racing yard without any worries of their welfare- obviously I can not comment on all yards however all bar one I have rode out for treated their horses like royalty, it was a pleasure to be a part off. The trainers come down hard on the riders and stable hands if even the smallest thing goes wrong, these horses are worth alot of money.

[clipper]

On grand national day I put a post up about make up/cosmetics being tested on animals to coincide with the no make up thing that was going on. I also asked these people who were kicking off if the were aware of how animals are killed for eating? Suddenly nobody was kicking off anymore

[fanfarefan]

off course animals are killed for eating thats what they are bred for , or am i missing something here

[switchblade82]

IMO the TB is bred to be the sports horse it is, finely tuned for speed and doing a job.
I would imagine that most racing yards put a lot of risk, time, money and investment into the horses. It is sad but most animals are originally bred for profit, gain and at times sad stories do arise.