Against Horse Racing
Grace Jackson
Have you ever been to a horse race? Seeing the riders give their horses a pat and an apple after the race, people cheering for their horse as it runs rapidly to the finish line? Seems like a great time. But what happens to those horses after they are done their race. What happens to the people who gambled their family’s lives savings. All horse racing should be shut down due to the well being of the horses, the effects of gambling, and the lack of interest.
Just as the well being of humans, horses have a right to the same care and respect. We cannot just use them as entertainment. But as you will see, sadly, that is not the case. Approximately 12,000 foals are bread for specifically horse racing each year in England and Ireland. And normally only 50% are acceptable for racing. The rest of the horses are either sent to slaughterhouses, shot, or lead in a life of abuse. *(see down below) Many a cases show horse meat being sold as "beef" or "pork". Many fast food restaurants buy the horse meat because it is a lot cheaper, and consumers can hardly tell the difference between the two. It is illegal to sell horse meat as another type of meat. So it is not just awful, but illegal. Have you ever had horse meat? You could have in your “beef” or “pork” (because they sell horse meat as those in Canada) but let’s hope not, because it is poisonous to humans. The meat we eat day to day could be horse meat, and poisoning our bodies. Moreover, years of inbreeding cause the horses legs to be small and flimsy. Their ankles are the same sizes as humans, and their full bodies weigh more than 1,000 pounds. If they can hardly hold their own weight, how should they be able to hold the weight of their riders? Also,...
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...or years the companies have told the public that their hair and skin are thick enough that it doesn’t hurt them, and the public believed them. But now the public knows the truth, and people know not to support that kind of abuse. If no one likes horse racing anymore, what’s the point?
Day to day horses are abused, people start a long downward spiral into horse racing gambling addiction, and less and less people are watching horse racing. But we can stop it all, by one simple step. Shutting down all horse racing. You can get involved by telling more and more people about this, or with “Horse Racing Week” and let’s stop all the horses that are born and have nowhere to go but the slaughterhouse. All the people’s families who are worried sick all the time. Let’s help. We cannot let one more horse die while running a race for the greedy, selfish horse racing industry.
citizens have different ways they see horses. Citizens see horses as worker; food; pet and companions. Activist believe horse slaughter is barbaric; and believe congress's actions will lead to the reopening of slaughter houses in the U.S. (“Horse Slaughter May Return”). Many equestrians and breeders are against horse slaughter, but what happens if the people against slaughter actually caused the problem.
The American horse racing industry has been admired by generations upon generations. Although it is a very cherished sport, like any other sport, there are many issues involved. The major issue that I find is that many owners make the decision to breed when there are other solutions. The Jockey Club, also known as the head council for the American Horse Racing Industry, should be addressing the major issue of overbreeding in the American horse racing industry.
Grand champion! I was riding Fancy, a paint horse, at the Dallas County Fair in the Horsemanship class. In this class, I had to complete a pattern and it was judged on how well each horse and rider completed the pattern. The judge felt that Fancy and I performed best and awarded me with a big purple ribbon and a trophy with a horse on top. At the end of the fair, all of the grand champions were announced before the races. That was the final reward for successfully showing a horse in competitions.
There is a very important distinction when dealing with animal welfare and animal rights. After learning to tell the difference between the two, it is easier to distinguish the organization that wants to help animals and the people who wish to end the use of animals. Even though there are different groups that support different agendas for the sport, both should have the same goal. Animal rights are organizations that seek to end the ownership and use of animals. The largest of those groups are The Humane Society and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. There is a ‘Pro-Rodeo’ organization under the guise ‘Friends of Rodeo.’ They claim to be the only organization solely devoted to protecting and promoting the sport of rodeo, all of rodeo regardless of association affiliation. “What rodeo proponents fail to acknowledge is that rodeos harm animals that are forced to perform in a competition that is essentially a display of human domination over other species” (The Rodeo 1).
"Number 278 Your Honor!!!” This is what I hear as I ride my horse, Ranger, along the perimeter of the huge ring that holds all my fears, worries, hopes, dreams, and accomplishments. As the announcer yells into the loud speaker “Riders the judges say ride on at a Running Walk!” I pick up speed flying past my competition, so many World Champions and World Grand Champions on one fair ground, it can be over whelming at times. As the riders sit in the ring patiently anticipating the results all I can think is how lucky I am to be part of such an amazing breed of horse, and to feel blessed that the Tennessee Walking Horse Association was so great. But after I leave the ring collecting my 1st place ribbon, there is a commotion by the inspection table, someone just got a ticket for scars on their horse’s ankles, and now they don’t get to show their “injured” horse. The problem with this? There is nothing wrong with their horse, yes he had scars on his ankles but he was not in pain. You see this particular horse was not well taken care of in his previous home, he was abused. Then his current trainer saved him from that bad place, and now because of his past he is not able to show. I and many others personally know this trainer and she would never do anything to hurt her horse, he is her prized possession. Abuse to the Tennessee Walking horse was a huge problem in the past, but not so much anymore.
In the latest years, greyhound racing has gained negative media attention, whereas in 2015 the abc four corners revealed that several owners and trainers were using live baits as a training form for the dog to gain a competitive advantage (Hanna, & Clark, 2015). Another issue concerning the sustainability of the industry is the mass greyhound killings because they were considered too slow (Hanrahan, 2016). Due to all the issues concerning the industry, New South Wales were set to ban Greyhound racing in 2016. Nevertheless, the ban got overturned due to political populism and the economic benefits and the numerous livings the sport provides for. The government now searches for other solutions to make the industry more sustainable. Still, frustrated
... suggests additional research by investigating medication guidelines, while the veterinarians regulating them could confuse the discussion, reveals unity among the industry to operate with the same drug rules by one national advisory group. However, by applying this analysis to restore people 's idea of speculation is interesting in order to restore America’s hobby as the essential component of respectable character, because leaders should psychologically and politically try to regain confidence in fans and participants from the sport by changing the way horse racing appears in the society. Even if racinos consume and complicate racing by taking the focus away from the greatest extent of fascination such as the race, tracks could resemble amusement areas to invite families and modern generations to compete which possibly argues a nobler atmosphere to sponsor a horse.
As has been observed, thoroughbred racing fans come to Santa Anita Park in Arcadia in groups. Three-fourth of the fans is middle age or older. Furthermore, they are neat, smart, and machine savvy. Racing fans come to Santa Anita Park to socialize and to be part of the euphoria of watching a horse race. Moreover, the racing fans hone their analytic skills to pick the winning horse. Also, by staking money on a race, the fans become participants as if they are the jockey riding the favored horse to the finish line. Consequently, by winning on the race, the fans experience that exhilarating winning feeling driven by adrenaline rush. This feeling of being a winner is addictive and for this reason, thoroughbred racing fans come back regularly to Santa Anita Park.
This destroyed the image set by Americans, a great strong champion reduced to a pile of steaks, or put into dog food. Where is freedom and liberty in that? But, though they excel at it, horses are not just made to run, some horses are used as guides for the blind. Horses contribute so much to society and all that potential is wasted in each horse sent to slaughter. Another cultural reference is the mustang, a strong free animal that roams the range. Mustangs were formerly protected from slaughter until recently in 2005 when a bill killed a 1971 law that prevented feral horses from being sold to slaughterhouses. Now any horse older than ten years old, or any young horse that has not been to three auctions and been sold is to be sent to slaughter. These horses have bloodlines of nearly pure Spanish stock and are an essential part of America’s living history. Congress needs to understand that the American’s perspective of a horse has shifted from being livestock to being a companion animal. For example, in a US survey by the Huffington Post, only thirteen percent of Americans sa...
The driver has the legal right to hit the horse for motivation in order to win a position. Network television is broadcasting the acceptance of whipping by showcasing to the viewers how the drivers are permitted to hit the horses. Whipping should be banned in horse racing. In fact, the amendment to rule 1734, involving whipping, was filed with the Secretary of State on October 13, 2016 and will be effective January 1, 2017. According to the California Horse Racing Board, “The Board proposes to amend Rule 1734 to clarify what is acceptable use of a whip by a driver . . . no driver shall use unreasonable force in whipping a horse, nor whip any horse causing welts or breaks in the skin. The proper use of a whip is meant to encourage a horse; the force it takes to cause welts or breaks in the skin is beyond the limit necessary to receive a positive response from the horse and may even produce a negative reaction” (Rules, Regulatiln & Law). This new amendment going into place is confirming the fact that there are issues with whipping. In essence, gambling and whipping are two different controversial issues that are found to be legal in horse
As tourists wander the trails of Mesa Verde National Park they might see wild horse and elk competing for the same water source. Wild horses from the nearby Ute Mountain Ute Reserve wander into Mesa Verde on a daily basis. The horses have been around since the opening of the park in 1906, but with recent water shortages from drought, there is not enough water to fulfill the needs of all the animals in the park. Since the horses are considered trespassing, the National Park Service and The Bureau of Land Management are trying to find a way to keep the horses away from the park. The wild horses of Mesa Verde National Park deserve to live in the park even though the horses have caused some complications within Mesa Verde, and the National Park Service needs to provide better management services for the horses.
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Jockeys and Workers: Examining On-Track Injury Insurance and Other Health and Welfare Issues : Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session, October 18, 2005. Washington: U.S. G.P.O, 2005. Print.
A lot of people do not understand the hard work and time it takes to train a horse, as well as compete in competitions or shows. I personally know a lot about horseback riding because I grew up riding horses. It really makes me mad when someone comments “that is not a sport”. Well, yes they can state their opinion but I don’t have to agree with them and vice versa.
Many people know that juvenile delinquency is a problem, but they may not know that those problems could carry on through adulthood. Sports can keep children out of trouble, entertained, motivated, and healthy. Sports alone will not solve the entire problem, but it can help to reduce it. If parents start children in sports at a young age, their children may find that they enjoy them and will carry on throughout their middle and high school careers. Teenagers that are involved in extracurricular activities such as sports will be less likely to cause problems, get better grades, and live healthier lives compared to those who don’t participate.
Animals are beautiful exquisite creatures that should be loved and cared for. They bring laughter and companionship to millions of people around the world. The more people that are aware of animal cruelty the faster making a change in today’s society can be addressed, sparing the lives of animals everywhere. For those people who are still in the dark about animal cruelty “steps should be taken to promote disclosure so as to fortify market process and to promote democratic discussion of the treatment of animals” to help those people achieve a better understanding of the situation (Leslie J). Animal cruelty must be stopped weather it is in factories or cages, beauty or just for sport treating animals the way they are getting treated today must be put to an end. As Frey the author of “Animals Rights” said “what’s fundamentally wrong with the way animals are treated isn’t the details that vary from case to case it’s the whole system itself” (Frey