tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367127003525577065.post2916763380372847901..comments2024-03-07T06:23:14.333-05:00Comments on Grey Horse Matters: In the NewsGrey Horse Mattershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837575441967937196noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367127003525577065.post-73375544352533238162012-03-30T19:09:16.747-04:002012-03-30T19:09:16.747-04:00There are all sorts of reasons-including just plai...There are all sorts of reasons-including just plain accidents-to account for injuries sustained in horse racing injuries. The fact that these horses are raced prior to their growth plates closing, their diet, the surfaces on which they are raced, the frequency of racing, the way they are trained, the possibility/probability of their racing with hairline stress fractures, racing with masking pain medications, and then you have combinations thereof. I suspect it is in the combinations that the true answers lie-but who is going to believe what? <br /><br />As my dear FIL used to say, that's about as rich as three feet up a male bovine's rear end. It's not that I'm against horse racing-I'm not. I'm against racing horses that are not fit to run under conditions that are not suitable-too muddy, too crowded, too hard (such as during prolonged droughts), etc. These are not machines-they are animals that deserve better from us. <br /><br />As far as British steeplechasing is concerned-yes, some of those drops do indeed look formidable. However, they are no worse than a Grand Prix show jumping course and they're a darn sight LESS than the eventing courses in the Olympics. The horses can do them-the problem isn't the obstacles-it's the speed and the crowding. The horses forget to watch their take-offs and mis-judge the leap. The riders cannot do everything!<br /><br />As far as CYA is concerned-of course, there will always be some of that. You bet. There's too much money involved.Ellen T. Wrightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367127003525577065.post-73231767468356383532012-03-18T09:53:41.109-04:002012-03-18T09:53:41.109-04:00I agree with Lori that many of these horses are tr...I agree with Lori that many of these horses are treated like race cars. They are not machines. I see it in the barrel world as well. Those steeplechase races in England go above and beyond what an animal should be forced to do. It's very cruel.<br /><br />One of my pet peeves is people who compete on horses that are not conditioned properly. That's a large part of these type of accidents. And in racing, the animals are too young. It's very sad.Greener Pastures--A City Girl Goes Countryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05448845964131250749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367127003525577065.post-14989750595575443162012-03-16T09:07:46.782-04:002012-03-16T09:07:46.782-04:00I have often wondered if the advances in nutrition...I have often wondered if the advances in nutrition and training programs are actually detrimental to these horses. I'm also a believer that racing 2 y.o. is insane--their joints aren't fully developed. <br /><br />Just because they are tall doesn't mean they are strong. <br /><br />In the case of assigning blame in the race deaths or on the "Luck" show, everyone is going to circle the wagons.<br /><br />It's just very sad.TBDancerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03889066602819359591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367127003525577065.post-56409782572331385552012-03-15T23:26:36.275-04:002012-03-15T23:26:36.275-04:00It's always upsetting when horses are fatally ...It's always upsetting when horses are fatally injured. I never quite know if it's just some kind of freaky fate when it happens in multiples like that or if the physical conditions of the ground and challenge are just too much.Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10029423500476995817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367127003525577065.post-88724411440719452852012-03-15T18:56:04.007-04:002012-03-15T18:56:04.007-04:00I was watching the racing at Cheltenham Tues and W...I was watching the racing at Cheltenham Tues and Wed. If you have access to TVG channel you can watch the final day of racing if for not other reason, but to understand what those races are like. They are insane - some of the races have had up to 28 starters. I can't imagine trying to jump huge fences in a pack of horses at a racing gallop. The novice horses jump hurdles that are extremely forgiving - the entire panel will fall flat on the ground if it's hit hard enough. The two horses that died in the race Monday were two of the oldest horses in the field - the turf was listed as firm, and I think the trainers should have scratched the horses. I'm in a quandry - I love watching it, but I hate feeling like I'm supporting an amusement that abuses horses.Connie Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02112114619677672252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367127003525577065.post-28575640232166641132012-03-15T18:40:03.049-04:002012-03-15T18:40:03.049-04:00Did you ever watch some of the steeplechase races ...Did you ever watch some of the steeplechase races in England? The drops are in humane...as is the sport.<br /><br />Too many times horses are treated the way you would treat a race car...I guess it doesn't matter if they live and breath. They lose their lives for human egos. Sick!Lori Skooghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03458010787337492501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367127003525577065.post-48257252287595391962012-03-15T16:44:08.333-04:002012-03-15T16:44:08.333-04:00The amount of money put in horse racing is phenome...The amount of money put in horse racing is phenomenal, everybody involved has their own agenda, trainers are often under pressure from owners to enter horses in races leading to unfit and poorly prepared horses paying the ultimate price. I agree with jme, a lot of horse sports are conducted irresponsibly today, and it doesn't only apply to racing. The "Luck" story is shocking!Sandrahttp://twohorses.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367127003525577065.post-43530606720978271392012-03-15T15:13:13.992-04:002012-03-15T15:13:13.992-04:00This is awful. I am glad that the show has been c...This is awful. I am glad that the show has been canceled. I have to wonder though, where the American Humane Society was in all of this. I thought they were responsible for making sure that animals used were not in harms way before filming and during. Doing an enquiry with the safety team after the fact doesn't sit right with me. "....noted that all safety precautions were in place."... Could someone be covering their butts?? The number of accidents leads me to believe that someone wasn't doing their job.....Wolfiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04743943656869294788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367127003525577065.post-20939627515819874322012-03-15T14:56:45.139-04:002012-03-15T14:56:45.139-04:00I really don't know why these accidents seem t...I really don't know why these accidents seem to be happening with such frequency lately, but I have noticed that equine sports as well as all other sporting competitions seem to be continually pushing the extremes of what human and animal bodies can experience without severe consequences...C-ingspotshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367127003525577065.post-32327906065606330412012-03-15T13:45:43.053-04:002012-03-15T13:45:43.053-04:00I posted a link to the "Luck" story on m...I posted a link to the "Luck" story on my Facebook page with the comment "Insanity." Which just about covers my thoughts on that AND on your report of the 5 horses in 2 days thing. I know freak accidents can occur but it sure seems insane to keep going when more than 1 horse suffers the consequences of either a show/event OR a TV show/movie.billiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367127003525577065.post-36132303491612349582012-03-15T13:27:48.855-04:002012-03-15T13:27:48.855-04:00so much of horse sport is conducted irresponsibly ...so much of horse sport is conducted irresponsibly today. unfortunately, where money is involved, you're also not very likely to get a straight story from anyone... :-(jmehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04295140724737185132noreply@blogger.com