Is the Cruelty Undeniable?
Cruelty. Abuse. Exploitation. There are a number of derogatory terms aimed at the Sport of Kings, and with good reason. Even those who are involved in horse racing acknowledge the truth behind many of the claims of animals rights groups such as PeTA. Young horse are started before they are physically mature, already delicate bones are stressed to the breaking point, still soft cartilage in knees is damaged and destroyed. Thousands of horses every year break down at tracks worldwide, and even the few that do survive their racing career rarely come out unscathed.
Start Early, or Miss the Money
The big money in horse racing lies in the two year old races. As a result, there is tremendous pressure on trainers to get babies started as quickly as possible, or risk missing out on that valuable two year old year. Owners are generally more concerned with the almighty dollar than the horse, and few owners have much real horse knowledge. Trainers do care about their charges, but they are also trying to make a living and a name for themselves, and will often neglect to tell the owner when his horse is not fit to run. It's a gamble, and all parties are in to win.
At two years of age, a horse is not physically mature. Most horses mature around four years old, at which time their bones are more developed and their growth plates (in the knees) are closed or closing. A two year old horse's growth plates are still soft cartiliage, and the strain of running with a rider over hard ground is enough to permanently disable many.
As a two year old, horses are not mentally mature either, and they succumb to the stress that being at the track and trailered back and forth brings. They get very limited turnout, and are fed high energy diets. As a result, many are extremely high strung, exciteable, and develop bad habits. Some start cribbing, weaving in the stall, kicking or striking at handlers.
Thousands of young horses break down at the track, be it from shattered ankles, fractured sesamoids, broken knees, or even heart attacks. Only a few of these horses make it public, the way Barbaro and Eight Belles' deaths were publicised. There are many, many more Barbaro's in the racing world, and few get the special care Barbaro did. Had that tragedy not been caught on live television during a major racing event, there would probably not have been the extensive care and coverage of his injury and death.
Bred to Break Down
The Thoroughbred, in particular, as a breed is quite fragile. Consider that the body of the average Thoroughbred weights at least one thousand pounds, plus the weight of equipment and rider- all on 4 stilt-like legs. As a rule, horses in general have very delicate legs. Thoroughbreds have long, fine boned legs and even a misstep can shatter bone or strain muscle. The knees take thousands of pounds of force as a horse gallops down the track, impact jarring bones and joints with each step.No horse's legs were made to run hard on a regular basis. Horses are grazing animals, who in the wild spend the majority of their time eating and slowly meandering across the countryside. They gallop for fun, and to escape predators, but not for long periods of time, nor with a rider on a hard dirt track.
Time is Money
Race horses do receive the best in health care, but most injuries of the legs require lengthy lay ups and time off. These horses sit in stalls eating just as much food and running up bills for their stalls, upkeep, and exercise but are unable to earn anything back. Pain masking drugs are often used on horses who should have rest and rehabilitation, to numb the pain and keep horses running despite their injuries. This does earn more money, but it also further injures the horse and usually results in a permanent lameness. Sometimes more drugs can be used to keep the horses running, and if not, they end up tossed out like refuse.
Disposable Property
Race horses tend to be considered a property, or an investment. Not a family member or pet like those of us who own horses would say of our own animals. A race horse is only as good as the income he is bringing in, and for the vast majority of these horses, once they sustain an injury or can no longer run fast enough to win, there are no green pastures to retire in. Mares (female horses) fare better than geldings do, because even a lame mare can reproduce and therefore has some value as dam to a potential Triple Crown winner.
Thousands of racehorses of all breeds are sent to auction, where they sell for meat price and end up in deplorable conditions before being sent to Canada or Mexico to slaughter. Take a walk through any low end auction house, and you'll find racing tattooed Thoroughbreds, still with racing plates on their feet and often with varying degrees of injury and lameness.
Some racetracks are now watching their trainers to ensure that injured horses are not being sent to auction, but there are not enough doing this, nor are there laws to protect and defend these broken down horses. Owners feel that the horses are worthless, because they cannot bring in purse money if they are on a lay up between injuries, but many off the track Thoroughbreds can be rehabilitated and given new careers as jumpers, dressage horse, and even pleasure mounts.
Good and Bad
Every sport has it dirty secrets, and unless a major change occurs in the racing industry, groups like PeTA will have plenty to criticise. We can only hope that trainers, race officials, and owners will wisen up and clean things up for the sake of the horses, and the spectators, who get such a thrill watching these beautiful horses run.