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No, I do not think the jockey should be suspended...

He was being paid to ride Eight Belles but
he was not responsible for her care.

If blame is to be placed, it should be on the owners
and perhaps the trainers.
To rush a young horse into productivity
for gain is not acting in the best interest of the animal.
As with any animal, strenght and stamina might seem to be

great, but they have limitations -just as humans .
If pushed beyond their age and ability, one will suffer the consequences.

To push a horse to excel beyond their ability is cruel.
A human child might be expected to walk at one year of age
but noone expects them to run until they are ready.

I will have dissenters who will say horses are not children
but, yes, they are.

They have a rate of growth unique to them
and it can not be forced or hurried
for money.
They are "children" that need to grow and be strong
enough to run the race-so to speak.
Otherwise, they stumble and fall.
Someone has to be accountable,
but I do not feel it is the jockey.

If I am paid to test drive a defective car, would I be at fault?

In that case, I would assume the builder of the car would be at fault.
I would be relying on his word that the car was safe.
Same with Eight Belles.
The jocky rode a horse that the trainer and owner thought was good to go.
How devastated is he?
I do not think it was his fault.
Let us put blame squarely where it belongs.

Young horses are rushed into action before they are ready
in order to recoup money that has been spent.
It is unfair and cruel.

Horse racing is a "sport"
and will always be.
I think that needs to be some restrictions placed
upon owners and trainers
in order to protect the animals.

Horses have always been known to run in the wild
but not on command and with no whips.

The thrill of seeing a horse run is a marvelous sight
but only if they are ready.

Big Brown, the Derby winner. knew his limitations.

He seemed ready to run or not. It was evident that he was in some distress.
The way he kept throwing his head around could be interpreted either way.

Only he knows...

If I had a cracked hoof, would I want to run over a mile.

I think not.

For those that believe animals do not feel pain,
they need to think again.

Again, the jockey of Eight Belles was only doing what he was told to do.
Blame belongs solely to the owner and the trainer.

What a magnificent animal.
A filly cut short in her prime by greed?

It is a shame she will never run wild.
When she chose.

Learn more about this author, Linda Ellis.
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