Secretariat gives me chills... I feel awful thinking my joy for him, his life and legacy is wrong.
The goofball aged farm horses I learned to ride as a kid on the reservation meant so much to me. We would sleep on them and watch shooting stars.
I usually rode the 20 year old lovey, but riding the young upstart barrel racer - is one of the best memories of my entire life. He ran so fast my eyes watered. It was flat desert, the sun was setting - I just clung to him. He wanted to run and he ran home. We ruined some irrigation pipes because I didn’t know how to stop him.
Seems silly, but every time I see the videos of Secretariat I remember riding Peanut that evening. I hate thinking it’s wrong.
Was it wrong to ride him? Is it wrong because money is involved?
It is inhumane and disgusting, horses get slaughtered whipped and drugged. Since when was any of this alright??!!!
Ban it.
@Morgan You're not educated in the sport. Horses are not slaughtered on the race track. And most are not drugged. Changes do need to be made here in the U.S. I don't know about Australia. Each state has it's own rules and oversight.
Horses love to run that is their nature believe me that tiny whip on that horses huge butt does not hurt the horse. It gets his attention, if you watch jockeys closely most of the time the jockey is flashing the whip in front of the horse's eyes. Sometimes it's just to stear him in the right direction, other times a horse responds by running faster just by seeing the whip. It's a conditioned response.
Horses should never be gelded to race, that is inhumane, the doping is. But it's not as widespread as you may think at least not here in the U.S. Horses are urine is tested before and after the race. There have been trainers and owners banned for life from the sport.
But most owners, Jockey's and trainers love their horses. I would put my horse on the racetrack, but with no doping, and I would never geld him so he could race.
Horse racing has been done for centuries, and I now that they breed mad horses to get the highest speeds. They even have to get horses service horses so that they don't go insane before they start the race horse racing itself is not unethical. It is unethical to breed a horse with the intent that it has mental problems so it will go faster. I know that that's why it's considered that the crazier the horse the better the rider but that's like saying I'm gonna make my child have a mental problem so they do better in athletics. I love horse racing but I would enjoy it more if horses were not bred with the intent of being an unstable freak of nature.
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In my opinion, horse racing is not ethical because it is endangering every horse that steps foot onto those tracks. Also, horses are not objects, they should not be bet on, they are animals. Additionally, if a horse just breaks it leg or has a minor injury, that is no legitimate reason to euthanize it.
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Nope, it is totally NOT ethical.
You know, horse racing is about commercial purpose.
So, using horse in a horse racing is like using sacred organism to a dirty purpose, I think.
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Its just crazy how fast are horses are just wow. But horse riding is dangerous.
Can you image a horse run on the grassland with their family? That definitely will be a wonderful scene. But now they should be taking on the bridles and saddle and try their best to run fastest in the race. If they are careless they may hurt their leg or body. There was a piece of news told people that during a race, a gelding horse called Arms Runners fell and this fell hurt his right front leg. That people finally decided to euthanize him. Do you believe that is true? Just because a race to make people feel happy and he hurt his leg then he has to be euthanized? It is absolutely crazy, cruel and horrendous. When they do the strenuous exercise, this may probably hurt their heart too, that may also cause their death. The horses for racing are among 3-5 years old, they are really young, that means if they get hurt, that wound will follow their whole life. Some people would probably think that they heard some famous horses enjoy their rest life on some farm or someplace, their owner takes really good care of them how can this be not ethical? Actually, only a few horses can have this life. One race only can have one champion, what about the other horses? They are the loser if they lose so much time they are not valuable that their owner may be sold them. Sold to someplace even can be the slaughterhouse. So horse racing is not an ethical thing.
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Horse racing has become a famous sport all over the world and many people love it. There are also many derivatives of horse racing like gambling and underground racing. But does the horse racing really ethical? In my opinion, it’s not. It’s not ethical for both human and for the horse. I used to watch a race on TV and there was an accident happened. The horse felled and broke its leg. It also hurt the rider and both of them went to the hospital later.What’s more, the data shows that approximately 30 racing horses died every year during the race or by accidents. It is clear that horse racing is not ethical for horses and even affected their life. It is also not ethical for human, too. I used to learn horsemanship and it is no surprise to be felled from the horse. The falling is really dangerous and some rider died because of hitting the ground or kicked by a frightened horse. From another viewpoint, Horse racing takes away the freedom of the horse. The racehorses born for the race and they have to accept training since they were really young. Many trainers beat their horses and bully them. This really hurts them and could be count as abusing animal. The horse should be free and running on the grassland instead of the racing track. Although many people love horse racing and it is really a big market, but do the horse loves racing or they have no choice? We may never know for sure but one thing is certain, Horse racing is not ethical and should be prohibited in the future.
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Last weekend I went to my friends birthday party and when I arrived at his house a preliminary race for the Kentucky Derby was on his television. At first I thought that it was kind of cool to watch because of how fast the horses were going but I only thought it was cool when the view was far away and top down. A close-up of the racers showed the horses being whipped repeatedly to make them go faster and I felt sickened.
I think that in theory horse racing could be ethical but that it is unethical as it stands right now. Too much risk is being placed on each horses health and the horses are beating treated much to cruelly. The fact that horse racing is more about betting and money then most sports is the root cause for the dependencies found in maintaining the horses overall health.
The fact that no one cares for these horses outside of their racing ability is shown clearly as thoroughbred "Arms Runner" was euthanized after a leg injury. This was not an injury that would kill the horse and it could have lived a perfectly happy life on some farm but they euthanized him because they had no use for him other then racing.
All of this being said I don't particularly think that people who ride horses are cruel and I bet the wide majority of riders love their horses just as much as we love our pets. The problem is that the horses are exploited in a way that the vast majority of everyone elses pets are not.
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Have you ever heard such a contradictory statement? “Yes, we are worried but we are confident that the track is safe.” So you’re worried ....yet also confident? It’s either one or the other. You cannot be both! You are either confident that you’ve made the changes to make it as safe as the other tracks or you’re worried because you clearly haven’t made all and every change. The Santa Anita track owners won’t keep their doors closed long enough to to fix a “deadly” track. Pure greed and selfishness. All the owners/rockets involved should come together and say they refuse to use that track. It’s statistics are shameful. And the fact that owners allow “their” horses on that track shows a general lack of care and commitment to horses from the whole lot of them.
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The question of whether horse racing is ethical or not, is not a simple yes or no. With the increase of fatalities, it looks as though this sport should come to an end, but now, people are actually waking up and doing something about this issue. If the Horse Integrity Act of 2019 were to pass, racing may not be such an issue. Race tracks should take great care in ensuring their footing is safe for the horses. If the footing is not good, there is an increased risk of injury to the horse. It's like driving a car on a rode full of potholes versus driving on a freshly paved road. There must be more laws regulating what horse trainers/owners can and can't do with their horses. All sports are competitive, horse racing is no different. In the large races, there is a large reward for the winning horse. It can drive people to do awful things such as drugging horses. The other thing that is common among all sports is injury. There is always a chance of getting hurt, especially if one is galloping as fast as they possibly can. A slight fault in step could result in a fatal injury. I strongly believe in the love to do something. Some horses love running and racing, some don't. Secretariat and American Pharaoh could not have one the triple crown if they did not love to run. A horse should never be forced to run or jump. I can't say I have an answer to this question of ethics, considering the injuries among other things. All I can say is, if a horse wants to run, let them run.
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@Katja Corbett Very good response. Gives me new things to think about.
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According with the article written by Jeremy Engle titled is Horse Racing Ethical? My opinion is this is a sport that involves living beings that are not able to decide whether or not to participate in this race. Horses are chosen in their capacity of non-thinking and reasonable beings to play a role in this millionaire sport. I understand that this sport violates the laws and rights that protect these animals, however large, strong and beautiful they are, they were created to live in freedom and not enclosed in stables and so that they are neither playing the role of making money to anyone, much less to use them to abuse them to the point that many die in this sport. I understand that it is a sport that has many years of antiquity, but every day society must be maturing and understanding that these living beings were created to be free.
Even though horse racing has been around for a very long time, that doesn't mean its right. I know very little about horses and horse racing but what i do know is that these horses should be used for different purposes then to just be raced and have bets on. Yes I get it that these horses are bred specifically to be raced, but that doesn't mean its right. I can get behind horse riding because that is something that may not harm the horse.
One thing I find very worthless is that when a horse is injured during a race, instead of healing it back to good health and take it out of racing, they choose to euthanize the horse. I get that once its injured, it isn't in racing shape anymore, but that doesn't mean it should get killed, it can still live a life outside of racing. I don't think horse racing should continue unless there is change. Horses who are bred to race but do not seem to want to compete show that horse racing can be unnatural and therefore cruel to the horse. Studies show that some horses live to run and enjoy the spirit of the race but forcing a horse to run and injure themselves is not ethical. A so called sport that poses a danger to the animals involved is definitely unethical and immorally wrong. Why people would find entertainment in watching an animal be pushed to their limits is disturbing. The only gain seems to be with the money people win at the expense of the animal.
@Phoenix Scibetta I understand your concerns, and if all of what you said had validity, I would agree with you. I encourage you to do a little bit of research into horse injuries and why they become euthanized for an injury that may seem minor to you. You might be surprised. There are so many owners, trainers, riders, fans, and animal lovers in the sport of horse racing that would trade their horses health for anything. Horses with non life threatening injuries do go on to be something more and live long lives after their racing careers regardless of skill.
I don’t think there is anything ethical about horse racing. People are basically risking horses’ lives by making them do a race. Horse racing is claiming too many horse lives to even be considered “ethical” anymore. Arms Runner fell during a race, and the gelding had to be killed. Many other horses were killed the same way. All unnecessarily. All unethically. Horse racing is becoming too deadly, and there should be no more horse racing.
Personally i believe that horse racing and any other animal competition are unethical and wrong. Animals arent here for our entertainment. They arent here to be trained and win you trophies. We have no reason to even bother them but humans cant seem to understand that. I believe that it should definitely be stopped
Kathy, a PETA vice president, answers the first question I asked myself after familiarizing myself with this issue, when she commented on how these veterinarians and trainers are not doing all they can to protect the horses. A horse breaks their leg, but it down. But wait, why? That's it. All they can do. We have come so far technologically and we can’t help this suffering animal, ease the pain without ending its entire life. Obviously there is something wrong, not with the horses, it's not that they are not "strong enough", it is us. We are abusing our power and forcing these animals to be in such suffering, for what big hats and capes of flowers.
They aren’t winning, beat it. It is cruel and unnecessary. There comes a point when this whole event, passed just being a horse race. It is now part of the economy, 100% a lifestyle for those who are involved. These horses are strong, beautiful creatures, given to us for, yes our use, but also our admiration.
Horse racing is an unethical and frankly disgusting sport. considering how fragile horses are (if they break a leg, you have to put them down because they can't heal from an injury like that), it is despicable how hard these animals are pushed, all for entertainment and monetary gain. I would also say that other entertainment events events involving animals are just as bad as horse racing.
@Cherry Staubach What is your opinion on animals in circuses? I think as humans we are at the point where animals have become a main form of entertainment and we are too deep to turn back the clock.
Horse racing is not perfect but is ethical for the most part. Although there has been a considerate spike in horse deaths in this traditional sport, which to say the least is not exactly good. They are working them too much. They are simply animals that shouldn’t be worked like they are. They put them down after harm the people inflict on them. I’ve rode a horse twice but that doesn’t mean I don’t care for them any less. All horses are different so sure most enjoy running but not all. And I’m pretty sure they don’t like getting injured because of it. Making this sport safer can be done with making sure the horses have the proper treatment and safety equipment. Not overworking them. I don’t believe it should be banned, but should insure proper measures to make sure everyone involved is safe.
I know very little about horse racing in general, but from an outsiders perspective on the sport, it seems somewhat unethical to me. I think riding horses for hobby is fine and doesn't seem to break any ethical boundaries, but when that's what the animals were bred for, it seems a little off. I think the selective breeding and competitiveness turns the horses more into objects, solely used for making money.
Does the horse even know its importance at that point? I can't speak for the horses, but how can we know that they enjoy it, or even acknowledge their important role? I'm not really a serious animal rights activist, but I do believe it starts to get unethical when that's the animals sole purpose is profit through entertainment. I think the same could be said about rodeos and bullfighting as well. Everyone knows there is no end to this kind of sport anytime soon, so in the meantime we should favor the animals health over personal entertainment and profit
@Logan Pealer, we can know if the horses enjoy it based off of their body language which often shows that they do enjoy it. Just like humans can give non verbal cues to how they are feeling, horses can do the same.
I agree with Kathy Guillermo when she said "the veterinarians and trainer and tack have not done all they can to protect the horses." The people who run the horse racing need to just stop, I mean it's just outright wrong. Those horses are worked and as soon as a leg breaks it's on to the next horse. The fact the a horse gets killed and the general public feels bad for a while but never really cares enough about these animals.
I feel horses are not meant to be treated like that. They should be used for more simple things that are healthy for the horse. For example taking people that can't walk on a tour around a national park, and with the help of a guide.
I know very little about horse racing in general, but from an outsiders perspective on the sport, it seems somewhat unethical to me. I think riding horses for hobby is fine and doesn't seem to break any ethical boundaries, but when that's what the animals were bred for, it seems a little off. I think the selective breeding and competitiveness turns the horses more into objects, solely used for making money.
Does the horse even know its importance at that point? I can't speak for the horses, but how can we know that they enjoy it, or even acknowledge their important role? I'm not really a serious animal rights activist, but I do believe it starts to get unethical when that's the animals sole purpose is profit through entertainment. I think the same could be said about rodeos and bullfighting as well. Everyone knows there is no end to this kind of sport anytime soon, so in the meantime we should favor the animals health over personal entertainment and profit.
In my opinion, horse racing, rodeos, and bull fighting are all unethical forms of sport and entertainment. No matter which one you choose to talk about, they all make the animal do excessive exercise over and over again. They all make them go through health risks in some form. And even though some people may argue that these animals are doing one of the things they would do even outside the sport, movement, they are still being put in levels of stress and going through risks, such as the race in Santa Anita Park, that they wouldn’t go through outside the sport.
I think Horse-Racing is unethical and just generally inhumane as a practice or as a game or as an entertainment. Day by day people making it more curiously, seriously and for what a lot of people loosing their life, a lot of horses as well. People should find out a new way to treat a horse and Horse-Racer for entertainment. Personally I feel people have less sympathy for horses than pet animals like cats, birds, dogs because horses are used in a way that pets are not. Horse are raised for riding, competing, and working, among other things, even some are for business, how they do as commercial purposes don't know, where human and horse both are in risk of their life in every moment of racing times. Horse-Racing could be testament to the talents of horses, as well as those who train them and ride them. Sadly and badly, abuses of both the animals and the humans involved in racing make the ethics of the industry questionable at best and deplorable at worst. The sport won’t change unless people continue to demand transparency from owners, trainers, and racing associations. While humanist ethics often focus on the empathy and compassion that all human life deserves. It is reasonable for humanists to extend that ethic of care to the horses that are dependent upon human beings. We need to think, practice or exercise some moral standards to our own behavior that we can project to our regional neighbors, societies, countries even in the world, that can be the best for the people.
In my opinion, horse is not racing ethical. The horse game is dangerous and they should have more care with the horses because they have to make the race safer and have horses developed. They have to take care of those horses because when a horse is young they have time to develop. They should have more care with horses because horse racing is dangerous and every animal has its time.
I Have never Watched a horse race, but from what this article talks about and reading more on the subject I feel horse racing is ethical. Arms runner injured his Right from leg and fell. There is nothing that caused this these kinds of things happen. Also about mistreating the horse, Why would a jockey or anybody mistreat their horse that could potentially make them hundreds of thousands of dollars. All this said I can see how some people may feel this way because these horses are getting hurt or dying so maybe there could be more precautions set in play.I Have Have never Watched a horse race, but from one this article talks about and reading more on the subject I feel horse racing is ethical. Arms runner injured his Right from leg and fell. There is nothing that caused this these kinds of things happen. Also about mistreating the horse, Why would a jockey or anybody mistreat their horse that could potentially make them hundreds of thousands of dollars. All this said I can see how some people may feel this way because these horses are getting hurt or dying so maybe there could be more precautions set in play.
Yes horse racing is tradition to some americans, but it comes with problems that overrule the entirety of the sport. First obviously, the horses in the race are severely mistreated. All year they rigorously train. They are sold and forced to breed and create horses condemned to their same fate. If a horse is no longer useful, as in they have gotten too old or too sick to race any future, they will be killed. These horses have a very unhealthy lifestyle and i think it's time for people to see past the glitter of the race and help them out.
Betting is also a big problem of horse races. People bet up to millions of dollars on horses in the race. People can go broke and ruin their whole life they built for themselves without restriction. So no i don't think horse racing is ethical.
I’ve never rode on a horse or even touched one before but I’ve seen multiple before. Whenever I see a horse being rode on during a race, I’ve always felt pathetic for them. Horse have to train for long hours before each race. They are the ones that helped the owners grow publicity and earn prizes. But what do they get? A few pieces of carrots?
Horse racing is just a cruel sport. Horses also get tired, they are forced to do run as fast wind. If horse racing continues I think the mortality rate of horses are going to be bad. Therefore i support the animal right movement to stop the abuse of animals.
Even though I am a strong believer in animal rights, I think there is nothing wrong with horse racing if it's done ethically. Horses love to run, it's in their blood, and if they didn't love it then i'm sure they wouldn't do it. I don't know much about horse racing but if the horses live a good life with room to roam when they aren't working, get fed properly and are handled carefully and respectfully then there is nothing unethical about getting them out on a track a few times a year to run with their friends. Risk come with every sport so the deaths, while still devastating, really shouldn't be considered when discussing whether the races should continue. Instead people should look more into the conditions the horses are under while alive.
When I was seven years old, I took my first horse riding lesson. I fell in love with the sport right away. EVer since then I've been riding for 8 years, placed fourth in the nation for IEA 2016, In the F and OF. I am a hunter jumper, “we” are “known” as the more classy in the sport. We look down upon many other styles of riding but we don't see anything wrong generally with horse racing. In any style of riding you will have the riders who just abuse there horse, I hate to see it but when you have money you can do anything you want. That's how it is. The equestrian world is full of drama, money, and jail time. The rules are very strict now, even though I've seen first hand of the abuse that goes on in the racing world you cannot do anything. I went to KY to watch a big race and saw the negative and positive. I wish I could see a change and have more positives not only in horse racing but in all the styles.
I've always been uncomfortable with horse racing. But I agree with what another commenter said, that its not just a black and white issue. If we continue forcing horses to race to their extremes, there's no way that's healthy, but I don't see why we could continue the 'sport' if its done with regulation laws in place to prevent abuse or mistreatment. Another commenter said that "Horse racing is just generally inhumane as a practice. Most people agree that dog racing is a terrible thing, why is horse racing any different?" Which I completely agree with. Put the necessary precautions into the races, or ban it. If the deaths continue I would put an end to it all.
If there is one subject that always manages to test the ethical beliefs of people, it has to be anything related to our beloved pets. While it is easy to picture horses forced into a life of nonstop exercise and training, imagine if we raced kittens or puppies. Just because horses are inherently powerful and strong, that does not mean it is ethical to abuse them for our personal entertainment.
We have plenty of highly entertaining human sports that have eradicated any "need" for horse racing that may have been the case in the past. We are essentially robbing these peaceful creatures from a life of peace, just to push them beyond their physical limits. It is truly immoral, and the fact that horses are dying from the sport is proof that we have gone too far.
I think horse racing is about as ethical as dog fighting. It’s cruel to the horses raced and it’s especially unethical to bet on horse races which is a common occurrence in the sport. Often times the horses that participate in the sport are neglected and are only used for sport and are never let out to a pasture to live as they naturally do. I’ve never ridden a horse for sport but I have ridden them along trails with my grandmother. She has a farm up north and has close to eight horses living on the farm currently. When I was younger I spent a lot of time on the farm and I would only ride on rare occasions and with my grandmother but every now and then we would take them on horse trails in a beautiful state park not too far from the farm. However I often cared for the horses and helped feed and brush them. I developed a relationship with most horses that came to the farm while I was there. As for the riders in the sport they should know what they are doing and the risks associated.
Genuinely, i think Horse Racing is not ethical; also, I am not a huge fan racing of horse. I went to the horse racing one time in my life and I felt gloomy and guilt because during the races I’m thinking why we heart those innocent horses, only for our entertainment. Why we have not chosen something else instead of horse racing because we are human being, we should not heart anyone for our happiness. I am not saying nobody can ride horses because riding horses and racing horses is too different thing. Many horses have killed because of horse race. We should prohibit the horse’s race and let them to live their own live.
No. Horse racing is not ethical. You are putting horses through strenuous exercise over and over again for your own benefit. Even though lots of people like horse racing and enjoy watching it, it’s just kind of mean to the horses because they don’t get to choose to do the races they are just forced into it.
Horse racing makes no sense to me. I don't understand the fun in neglecting horses and forcing them to race until they are overworked. I'm extremely glad that the Horse racing Integrity Act was introduced, as this was a long standing issue. In this modern day, theres no need to abuse animals for minimal entertainment.
Now, of course, people are allowed to enjoy what they want and I understand that tradition comes into play as well. However, the horses need to be treated right and that should come BEFORE the people that have entertainment.
I have to believe that horse racing on this level is unethical, though it’s not really a black or white issue. If horses are being put in conditions where they literally die, I think that’s a problem. No animal should suffer through being pushed to its limits for sport and money. While horse racing does provide exercise for the animals, it’s also very much possible to ride the horse in any other manner that doesn’t involve forcing it to run as fast as it possibly can.
I remember when greyhound racing was banned, a huge number of the dogs were simply abandoned. It’s sad to think that owners would only keep animals to make them compete in races for monetary gain, but it does need to be considered as a reason to keep the practice of racing. If it was prohibited, many people would no longer profit from their horses, and so they’d be given up. Shelters catered to horses are less common than those for dogs; and how many horses can they hold?
In addition, I feel like people have less sympathy for horses than pet animals like dogs, because horses are used in a way that pets are not. They’re raised for riding, competing, and working, among other things. We, as humans, have decided that horses can do work, farm animals can be raised for the sole purpose of dying, and pet animals are sacred parts of the family who cannot ever be harmed. Humanity’s code for the treatment of animals is completely irregular, and makes it difficult to discern the ethics of making certain animals work.
Horse racing is just generally inhumane as a practice. Most people agree that dog racing is a terrible thing, why is horse racing any different? The horses are shot full of steroids and medicines from the minute they’re born. These animals are bred to run for human amusement from the beginning. They’re trained to run and it’s their only purpose. Also, if a horse is injured they are euthanized quickly. Oftentimes, when a horse is not extremely successful, after their sub-par career is over, they will end up being euthanized anyway even if they’re perfectly healthy. Overall, the sport of horse racing needs to do a much better job promoting the safety of its athletes.
Although there has been a recent increase in the death toll of thoroughbred horses in horse racing, I maintain the belief that the sport is ethical, as it crosses no ethical boundaries. Despite the deaths that do, sadly, occur in the sport, the majority of these race horses survive and are pampered by owners. For example, race horses have their hooves manicured almost every day as well as receiving frequent baths and meals, something horses on barns don’t receive. Additionally, it’s important to note that despite deaths and injuries in sports humans participate in, such as football, officials seek to modify the sport rather than to completely ban it. For example, in the NFL, CTE has been a major problems for former NFL athletes, which is a brain condition that results from repeated blows to the head and can result in the eventual onset of dementia. However, in recents year, the NFL has sought to help prevent these repeated blows to the head with the creation of more safety rules, such as in 2017 the protection of defenseless wide receivers was produced to help prevent concussions. If horse racing were to be banned, tens of thousands of people would be put out of a job, and when taking a utilitarian approach to this debate, it becomes clear that, although the death of these race horses is unfortunate, it makes more sense to keep the sport running and seek solutions to the current problems plaguing the sport.
Growing up, I visited my Great-Grandmothers farm regularly where we had dozens of horses. My cousins barrel raced them, so I never really had an opinion on if it was ethical or not. Now that I am older, I sympasize for the animals because so many are being euthanized and hurt. With that being said, I also enjoy watching horse racing and even have friends that have horses race in the Kentucky Derby.
Although my opinion will probably differ from majority of other peoples, I do not think that horse racing is unethical if it is done properly. Meaning, the horses are trained, not overworked and given the care and treatment needed to maintain this lifestyle. It all comes down to the owner, rider and caretakers.
Horses are animals. Animals like to move and run. Racing allows horses to be showcased doing just that, but with a rider guiding them in the right direction. They are large animals and the whip helps them pay attention to what the rider is instructing them to do.
I know as much about horse racing as most people probably do, that is to say next to nothing. I’ve never owned or cared for a horse, but I have ridden them before, and I can tell they’re intelligent animals. It’s tragic that horses are getting injured and euthanized so much, especially at Santa Anita Park, but I don’t think it needs to result in the end of all horse racing. I think the track should definitely be closed until they can find out what the problem is, but horse racing itself doesn’t seem to be inherently bad. Like Lord Teddy Grimthorpe said, many horses love to run, and horse racing is just a controlled extension of that.
Is horse racing the best or most ethical thing we could be doing with horses? No, but it does give them a life that’s arguably better than one on a farm, and it’s nowhere near as bad as other things that are done with animals. A clear example is bullfighting, which is positively barbaric, but it’s still legal in certain areas because it’s an important part of their culture. Horse racing isn’t a sport revolving around killing horses, but it is a big part of the American identity, so while I don’t think it’s a shining beacon of ethics, I see no reason for it to end.
In my opinion, I believe that horse racing is ethical as it allows the horse to perform one of its basic desires: movement. Horses long for the ability to move around, as it fulfills one of their basic instincts. Taking that enjoyment away would be detrimental for not only the horses but also the humans who ride them. Horse racing has existed in one form or another for many thousands of years, and not taking the cultural aspect of the sport into account when making a decision could prove to be disastrous for the many people involved. Sure, horses do get mismanaged and end up hurt or dead (especially in recent months), but the overall positive effect that these horse-human relationships have on both participants significantly outweigh the negatives.
In point of fact, I do not think horse racing is ethical because it risks for horses. Horse racing is excellent sports and it’s enjoyable for our entertainment but it’s not good and enjoyable for horses, we cannot assume them what they have been felt in the race. I used to like watch horses race in TV but as well as I fell desperate for horses because it really malevolent for animals health. Racing is overwhelm for horses to extend race in the play and it can killing themselves. So, my opinion is based on animals we should take care of animals and stop playing with their life.
In my opinion,Electing to euthanize is a difficult part of horse ownership, and the hard decisions don’t stop there.They wouldn't treat an animal like this." It's the common cry of supporters of voluntary euthanasia, appalled that while we are willing to put animals out of their misery without their consent, we won't do the same for humans at their own request. Euthanasia is defined as a merciful release from life in order to end suffering.The primary purpose of euthanasia is to relieve suffering. The decision to follow this option will be based on an assessment of many factors. These may include the extent and nature of the disease or injuries, other treatment options, the prognosis and potential quality of life after treatment, the availability and likelihood of success of treatment, the animal’s age and/or other disease/health status and the ability of the owner to pay for private treatment.Euthanasia can be seen necessary evil when the pet is in too much pain to live a normal life. But the destruction of animals becomes a much more controversial issue when it is used as a way of controlling population sizes.
In the article teaches us that many people take like horse racing ethical but they should regard that horse should not be exposes to situation so bad because they are a living being that they feel everything. I think that should not exit horses racing like entertainment, this is not good because the owners of the horses take advantage while they put in risk the health of the horses, and suffer a lot of, and that is not fair. Every horse need be safe and protected by their owner and we should not submit to risky sport.
In my opinion I think that every animal need to have their own space to interact with their species, while it is true that some animals are used in games I do not consider that it is good because while the owner of the animal win money , the animal suffer a lot. In some cases the animal get than hurt that it could not run again and the owner only replace it. That is why consider that all the animal need their own space and that no animal has to suffer only for fame or money, horses race only bring benefit for their owner not of the animal that is why also I think that no animal should be used for fun of the human being.
In my opinion, the horses are creatures that like others must be respect and not taken in order to benefit the human with the purpose of the death of the horse, for this reason I think it is not appropriate to do this type of races, because it does not bring any benefit to the horse. I also think that they need their space to be able to interact with their own species. Finally we know that this type of racing does not benefit the horse at all rather make it a problem because with the passage of time the horse gets tired and can have injuries that leave him unable to move which would make the horse practically useless and cannot wear your energies running and die.
My opinion is that horse is not racing ethical because horses need protection as safety. All the horses have been killed by the people just to do entertainment and we need to find another method. If we kill all animals, we should regret again so let protect them and I don’t say that we should stop race completely but we need to consider a horse can get tired even they can run and people shouldn’t just advantages on its because it increase their economy. Horses also kill people during the races.
I think horse racing is not ethical. I am a faithful believer that all living beings deserve respect. Most horses that are exposed to this sport are mistreated. I believe that the morality of being human is reflected in their actions and I do not believe that teaching the world to enjoy the mistreatment of defenseless animals shows these requirements. I think we should respect all living beings because they are part of our world and in the law of God we all deserve to live a good life without fear.
Horse racing it’s not ethical at all. Horse racing should be banned entirely,
I see this as something inhuman for horses, they are being forced to long hours of training, to use drugs to improve their performance and if they suffer any fall they run the risk of being sent to sleep. The nature of horses is to run to escape predators and live free, not run to earn money for a human. No animal should be put in this situation, we should not choose for them and less force them consecutively to do something that could lead them to die. The ambition of humans destroy animals, animals are not to be extinguished, we need them and they are part of our environment because for a reason they were created. People should just let the animals be animals .
My opinion is the racing ethical is correct because run is the essence of the horse. The horse our really be more suited to be free in the wild or on a farm, but if they decide to continue I think they should be confident that the track is safe. I agree with the sport but they need to check the rules and the veterinarian and trainers need protect the animals too.
Riding implies involvement and deprivation of liberty. In order for an animal other than our species to accept the back of a human being, a dressage process is compulsory; Although we only want to take a walk through the countryside and not participate in the shows or the races. From a biological point of view, it is not normal or expected that one species obeys another. Horse racing is another form of animal exploitation that is used as a spectacle; that is, the animal is forced to perform work and physical effort that it does not want to do to entertain people and for profit. It does not seem good to me that there are people who even exploit the animals because they receive hard workouts that produce exhaustion and very high levels of stress and they are subjected to excessive speeds and loaded with the weight of a human on their back.
I know very little about this type of sport, if it could be called sport to "sacrifice an animal" I do not think it is fair to use animals just to run and that the owner gets rich, I think they does not have ethics, he does not have moral, to see an animal suffer with the simple purpose of running and running, to train him to put him in shape for that simple purpose. just for the animal for any animal, whether rodeos, bull fighting or horse racing, these races for me is unethical.
I am not someone who is a huge fan of horse racing. The only time I watch horse racing is in May for the Kentucky Derby. I actually do find it quite fun to watch. Saying all of that, I think the question that should be asked is, "Is the way Horse Racing is done ethical?" which in that case my answer to that question would be no.
Imagine a soccer player getting a concussion playing, concussions to a player can cost a team a lot of money to deal with. Instead of the team helping the player recovery, they just kill him/her to save the stress. That is exactly what goes on with horse racing. Horses are put under extreme work conditions to get in shape to be performers, which is not even safe for the horse. Once the horse's body gives in the trainers instantly give up on the horse and put it down. While comparing horses to humans is a stretch, we are both living creatures that deserve the right to live.
In the article it talks about a bill named The Horse racing Integrity Act of 2019. The bill is essentially about what steps would change too take care of horse races more and to prevent putting them down unless it was an extreme necessity. I am glad to see people in charge in our country are taking the necessary steps to help stop these abuses.
Our society as a whole is changing to be more aware of what is going around in our surroundings, even to more then just the human world and to what we want. To see steps being made to help these horses is extremely encouraging.
Horses like every creature are special and have a specific purpose, yet having them race each other is unethical as the horse could fall and injure a leg from which it can't really heal properly. The purpose that humans have given horses which partially suits them when they are given proper treatment is to move humans and to haul items. It is not to move a human around in a circle where you aren't rewarded but rather are pressured to move faster. Racehorses really end up dying from injuries while racing and are really quite useless as they don't benefit anyone besides the owner getting rich from race money if they win. The horse would really be more suited to be free in the wild or on a farm where it can have a real purpose and live and contribute to the wellbeing of its owners and impact lives. My particular relationship to horses is quite literally nothing besides seeing people riding horses in the local wooded park along trails. Yet having an experience with a horse or not it can be safe to say that many can reach the conclusion of horseracing being unethical. Lord Grimthorpe's statement makes sense in one regard, a horse needs to move and can't be idle. Yet with taking this in regard it doesn't really show that the horse enjoys being a racehorse rather than the horse wants to move.
When someone mentions horse racing, I usually think of Seabiscuit and what a heartwarming story it turned out to be. Like life in general, it’s a lot darker behind the veil of Hollywood and media. Horses die largely from pushing themselves too hard. With the rider urging them and the adrenaline rushing, no one really knows what is too far until it’s on the ground with broken legs.
Each year, hundreds of horses will die. If not from the shattering of their legs, the mighty beasts perish because they can’t recover. To a high level, professional racer, what good is a horse that can’t walk? It’s rare for a horse to recover, let alone race again. The treatment of them is abhorred.
The definition of ethical is morally good and correct. Is pushing horses past their limit, to death, morally good? The riders interviewed in the article said they knew the risks, but they hoped the track was safe. A few hundred years ago, that sounds like a humane caring thing, but with all that we know, I don’t see horse racing as ethical, so long as horses die.
Like most huge events that happen in this day and age, if horse racing is to become illegal it will take a long time and it will meet a lot of resistance. Though, the accomplishments of Secretariat and his fellow thorobreds, and the riders should not be forgotten.
Horse racing isn't ethical in any sense or perspective. If you really think about what it is, its very cruel. Your pretty much enslaving a horse and forcing it to race for you. Grimthorpe said that his horse liked to run and race. What evidence does he have to back up his statement. Unless he has scientific evidence that his horse enjoys racing, I would be very doubtful about his statement. The horses that are usually used in horse racing are called thoroughbreds. These thoroughbreds re meant to be fast and agile. Wouldn't this mean being slimmer and weighing less. Could being slimmer mean the horses are more susceptible to injury? I don't really watch horse racing but I've heard how cruel it could be. Shooting an animal dead on a race track is one of the most demoralizing things a person can witness.
Horse racing has always raised red flags for me. I barely know anything about the sport, but the thought of a horse dying and the people just carrying it off of the track like nothing really resonates with me in a bad way. I know a lot of people who go to horse races and always bet on one horse, but I’ve never had any interest in going to a race. In my opinion, horse racing is not ethical. The horses are drugged and forced to run faster than their bodies can handle. Also, the horse breeders use selective breeding by breeding only the fastest horses. This gives the horses skinny legs and thighs so they can run faster. However this takes a toll on the horses’ physical health because their bones are thin and brittle. This is the reason horses fall and break their legs so often. Although I’ve only ridden a horse one time, horses are my favorite animal. To me, they are so beautiful and strong and they do not deserve to be pushed too far. I am aware that horses love to run and they need to do that. However, I do not think that humans should be making money from a wild animal’s desire to practice their birthright.
Honestly, no, I don’t think horse racing is ethical. So many horses have been killed because of horse racing, and really all horse racing is good for is our own entertainment. I think we can give up something we find so entertaining, so we can save the lives of some of these horses. I’m not saying nobody should ever ride a horse ever again, but I do think horse racing should be banned. I’ve never ridden a horse before, but I would like to learn. I think there’s nothing wrong with riding a horse, I just think they shouldn’t be used like some piece of sports equipment, like how a hockey stick or a football would be used.
Horse racing is not ethical. Taking an animal, not giving it any choice, pushing it to the very limit, and then killing it when you're done with it or it can't do what you want anymore is just cruel. That is not ethical at all. We shouldn't be doing this. It is all to easy for a horse to break a bone when it's running as fast as it can, with a heavy weight on it's back (the rider), and they're bred to have lighter (which means more fragile) bones. It is so easy for a horse to break a bone, and this will result in the horse getting put down. This is not fair to the horse, because they never wanted the life of racing. If a horse really likes to be out of the stable and running, then they could let the horse run around in a field. The horses don't get a choice, and are forced to race, and this is not okay.
In no way is horse racing ethical. Forcing other animals to do things that hurt them for human enjoyment and greed is horrible and disgusting. Also, if people still keep horse racing, so much money is given to the horse racing industry that they shouldn’t make the excuse that it is too expensive to heal the horses. This is just greedy and wrong. Anyone who values having a lot of money more than any life, even that of “just an animal”, is terrible and has zero moral compass.
I agree with part of Teddy Grimthorpe’s statement that horses are natural runners and do not like being kept in a stable all the time, but there is a huge difference between allowing them to run on their own free will and using their own judgement than to controlling them and forcing them to do what their rider wants them to do. Also, how does he know that his horse likes to race? Has he ever given his horse the choice?
These race horses are also bred to the complete benefit of humans. They are bred to have strong, tight muscles and light, nearly hollow bones that are very fragile. I don’t know how long it will take, but sooner or later humans need to realize that not everything on this planet was just magically put here for our benefit and profit. If we don’t, it wouldn't be long before we completely destroy our home and that of every other living being on Earth.
Horse racing was once ethical, but now it is not. I believe that the sport used to be an innocent one, similar to racing against a friend. As of now, people are using selective breeding to make the horses faster. Thoroughbreds are the most common breed on the racetrack, due to their speed and stamina, and when interbred, their bones get lighter and fragile. Due to this, when the horses fall and break their bones, they get shot on the spot. There are many other ways to gamble without animals, and plus, think of how traumatizing it would be for a kid, to watch a horse run, fall, and get shot!
I always have loved horses. I’ve researched them and always wanted one as a pet, though the reality is, is there is only a 5% chance I will get one. Based on my knowledge, it depends on the horses and the reasoning to answer whether or not horse racing is bad or not. If it is just for fun with no gambling or betting, it is fine. In that case, any injuries are purely by accident. The horses also have to be strong and not fragile, unlike the Thoroughbreds.
Racing horses that are fast and have strong bones would be safer in the sport. It would lessen the casualties, and just better, at least in my opinion. The use of animals in rodeos and bullfighting is unethical because it can hurt the animal, cause casualties to the people, and in some instances, they have to kill the animals. Once again, it would be traumatizing for a kid to watch.
A lot of the problems with animals these days is selective breeding. These horses get injuries so often because they are selectively bred to have light bones. Of course a light-boned horse will get severe injuries when it falls. These horses aren’t dying. We’re hurting them so badly that the only humane thing to do is to kill them. People have to be more humane than that. Thoroughbred racehorses die every day in the USA. Say what you want about the USA sports industries, but at least they don’t have an athlete die on the field every day.
Humans selectively breed animals for their pleasure all the time, no matter how terribly they are hurting the animals. For example, pugs are bred to have flat noses. That is why all pugs have BAOS, which makes it difficult for them to breathe. The Chinese Shar-Pei is bred to have loose skin but because of that they have chronic skin infections. Humans should stop selectively breeding animals, or at the very least stop selectively breeding traits that can cause health issues. Animals aren’t toys. Humans should stop breeding animals to fit their desires, and just leave them alone. Humans should stop treating animals like business assets. Sports these days are just about money, and sports executives don’t care about who gets hurt in the process.
I do not believe that horse racing is completely ethical. They are putting these horses lives at risk for their own pleasure. I have seen in races that when a horse gets injured they put it down on the spot. This means that they kill the horse there on the field with a gun. As recent data shows, there has been an huge increase in horses deaths from racing recently. These horses are having the weight of a human on their back and having to race as fast as they can. If a horse breaks its ankle, it is over for them. There is such a slim chance for them to survive you could say that saving them is impossible. Even if they are healed, they still won't be able to walk correctly, which is even worse.
I have ridden a horse before when I was in Cairo, Egypt. But, this would not affect my opinion of whether or not I think this is cruel. I believe that no matter if you have a relationship with horses or not, you will find this a cruel sport.
I do believe that some horses love to run in the fields and not be locked up in a stable. But, how can Grimthorpe no this for a fact. When horses start talking maybe I will believe his statement, but from what I know, I do not think they can.
I do want this sport to go on, but I cannot imagine how it could become safer. As for what I think about rodeos and bull fighting. It is the same exact thing I said earlier. Some animals enjoy it while others feel like they are forced.
Sure I don't know a lot about horse racing but i have always hated it. I hate how we take these majestic animals from their natural habitats and hold them in a place they don't know. These animals are supposed to be free and roam around in the wilderness. Some of these horses used for racing go into a tight stable come out to train and then go back in. I do know that there are horses that live on a big ranch or some place were the second they are done the race they can go back to roaming and eating. Why can't all horses have this life, some of the horses used for serious racing are shot dead if they have the slightest leg injury and are not any use anymore. These animals are killed for some injuries a vet could fix because they are worried they won't win anymore. Some horses, if they don't win they are sold to be butchered. I just feel it isn't fair that this happens to these animals when they should be free. Biotechnology, specifically genetic engineering is being used to make horses bone more hollow so they can run quicker. These horses get injured more easily and then later are killed. We shouldn't be so worried on winning that we will change an organism so much that in the end it dies.
I don't think that horse racing is entirely ethical. No animal should be forced in a sport that may result in their death. However, the majority of farm animals are produced only to be slaughtered for a profit, so the alternative isn't much better. I have only ever ridden a horse twice, but those experiences still make me have a connection with the animal. You can feel the horse's muscles throbbing, you hear it breathing, and you see when it gets scared. They are such beautiful creatures, and I wish that none of them would have to die. However, I think that Lord Grimthorpe does have a point in his statement. Some animals just become accustomed to the work that they do and begin to enjoy it. It is similar to how dogs work with their owners, however, their jobs are not as hard. These racehorses have no other life outside of racing. I also think that sport should be made safer. These horses are being bred to be very light which is making their bones weak. We need to stop such heavy practices of selective breeding and make it so the bones of these racehorses' are not so fragile. I do not think that racing for horses should be banned.
Horse racing is a sport that is imbedded into our American Culture. Just look at the Kentucky Derby. Almost everyone’s heard about it. It not about the horse racing industry, it's about how they treat their horses. Most horses in the racing industry have very light bones to run very fast. Because of this, when a horse falls and breaks a leg, the owners ust euthanize it to ease its suffering. The reason why these racehorse have such thin bones is because of selective breeding. Selective breeding is when people breed two organisms of the same species with desirable traits to improve the trait and so it show more in the next generation. Now because of this, we are killing a lot of racehorses. I personally think that horse racing is ethical since during all the training, the horse and its rider bond closely like a dog and its owner. So I believe horse racing is ethical but we need to figure out a way to get have racehorse’s bones to be able to withstand more.
When horses are in the middle of a race, they're likely viewing it as being part of a herd of horses in motion and it's in their natural instinct to run, whether it's on a racetrack or just when they're let out into pasture. That's the thing about horses they do read people's body's language.
Horse racing is an undeniably exciting sport that has etched itself into American culture over the course of the last century. Events such as the Kentucky Derby are a national spectacles that immortalize their winners in perfect moments of victory. The sport has a worldwide following and deeper history than perhaps any other pastime.
However, these facts cannot hide the looming ethical issues that fact the sport of horse racing. Drugging, injuries, and even fatalities of horses have become alarmingly regular sights at tracks across the nation, bringing the morality and even the future of the sport into question.
In its current state, horse racing is an unethical sport. As helpless animals are driven to the ragged edge, and often far past that by abusive jockeys and trainers who are driven singularly by their financial concerns, there is no question of that assertion.
If horse racing is to continue, widespread reform is an absolute necessity. If drug and safety restrictions are aggressively tightened, and more importantly, if the competing horses are viewed as living beings, not investments, the sport can be saved. There is hope for these reforms, coming in the shape of the Horseracing Integrity Act of 2019, which would establish an independent authority to govern horse racing, which would hopefully implement these proposed changes. If these steps are taken, we can stop fretting over ethical issues and enjoy the majesty and grandeur of horse racing once again.
Horse Racing is the greatest sport in the world. We should only be looking at ways to make it better. The horses are loved dearly and taken care of. Like any sport it has risks (see the recent gymnast who broke both legs). As long as there are protocols and diligence it should be promoted, not vilified as a great sport.
@Emd4me Last time I checked, the gymnast you mentioned is still alive. Anyway....
I grew up ignoring the horses that died on the track. Whenever "that blue tarp" was seen, I didn't have to ask what was happening....on the other side. Funny, as I get older, it seems to affect me with greater intensity.
Is there truly a need for horse racing? I don't think so.
Gambling options abound. Have to make a bet? The Masters starts on Thursday; you still have time.
Even the Kentucky Derby, a wonderful piece of Americana, would shine in a brighter light if these horses went home as pets.