Monday, August 4th, 2008
I’m not going to get into politics of human social security; politics bore me. But, I think, most Americans can agree that the Social Security System is a mess and it has been since before the first check was sent out in 1937.
Yet, this was the description of a proposed plan for the long term care of Thoroughbred race horses; a “Social Security” program for horses. TB SS was initially proposed a number of years ago to The Jockey Club by the Thoroughbred Charities of America though then scoffed at because of strong resistance to owners along with an inability to distribute funds.
The new TB SS proposal, again by the Thoroughbred Charities of America, suggests adding a $50 “fee” when registering foals that would go towards providing care for the life of that horse. Registering a Thoroughbred with The Jockey Club now costs $200, and the average U.S. Thoroughbred makes 6.3 starts in their career. This means that $50 has to stretch a long way after those measly 6 or so races.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to hear that SOMEONE is proposing SOMETHING to help secure the long term care of these overbred, overused, and underserved athletes. But, I don’t see a Social Security system for the horse with a one time $50 pay-in being the answer.
Thoroughbred racing has become too seedy and way too available for the low(er) income owner, trainer, and breeder. This sport needs to be more elite. I for one never like to oust the poor or even the middle class within equestrian sports, but horse racing isn’t an equestrian sport. TB racing is only a “sport” for those looking to make it rich, get a name, and of course breed, own, or train the next Kentucky Derby winner. It is not a sport that uses logic, forethought, or reality in many cases.
Thoroughbred racing isn’t, generally, for the horse lover looking for a chance to fulfill a dream, create a bond, or hone some hidden talent. It’s a gambling industry where the welfare of the horse, if important, is only important for a very short time. Then the horse becomes disposable AND that is especially true when ANYONE can breed a Thoroughbred.
For the possibility of a TB SS program to work, a larger fee must be assessed. A higher fee should, and would, be designed to CURTAIL LOW-END BREEDING. And YES, this would stop some over-breeding that has contributed to the decline of the Thoroughbred breed; please tell me how would that be bad?
Since I was told once limiting the number of Thoroughbreds bred would be a problem because it’s essentially controlling what someone does with their “property”, I should be able to assume that limiting the number of Thoroughbreds The Jockey Club will register would not encroach on anyone’s rights. However, it would limit the amount of money coming into The Jockey Club, and we know they need all the money they can get!
So, let’s come up with a better solution. NOT horse Social Security (though interesting but already shown to be ineffective, detrimental to the governing body, and detrimental to each contributor).
For a “save the TB” program, there needs to be a registration tax. That doesn’t mean the money goes into The Jockey Clubs pocket, they already have enough.
Instead, the tax could should sustain a reputable outside agency clearly looking at the horses’ best interests to hold onto funds, keep track of horses included, and follow these horses throughout their lives.
There isn’t a quick fix for lifetime Thoroughbred care; a protocol needs to be well planned. But, not only should a solution benefit the Thoroughbred’s long term care; the plan should also call for executing better breeding practices…wait for it…to eventually strengthen the American Thoroughbred breed.
Okay, I know. Now I’m just talking crazy! But, eventually, maybe a year from now, The Bloodhorse or The Thoroughbred Times will come out with a story detailing a need for a program just like that. Luckily, it will be breaking news, with in-depth, never before covered information.
Yet, nothing will actually come of it because the Thoroughbred industry doesn’t want anything to come of it. The Thoroughbred industry likes to sound good, but putting their talk into action is a whole different story.
One we are yet to read.
Tags: tb
Posted in horses | 1 Comment »
Sunday, July 27th, 2008
Today, the Thoroughbred industry reaches new heights of ridiculousness after patting itself on the back for performing an “investigative report” examining “possible” declines in the breed’s soundness over the last 30 - 40 years. Releasing a report titled “Losing the Iron Horse”, TB industry trade magazine Blood Horse claims to be on the forefront of detecting racehorse breeding practice problems by referencing historical Jockey Club records.
This same exact report, detailing the same conclusions for the entire industry, and more, was performed by The Thoroughbred Times in 2001.
Conclusions of old report:
- Thoroughbreds are less sound than 50 years ago.
- Thoroughbred geldings start half as many races now than in 1950.
Conclusions of new report:
- Thoroughbreds start in less races.
- There may be a correlation to TB soundness and poor TB breeding practices.
Each study looked at the exact same Jockey Club data.
Even by their own account, The Thoroughbred Times has been reporting on Thoroughbred undsoundedess since 1995.
Long before Barbaro, long before Eight Belles, long before Congress became involved, and long before the industry became scared people were questioning the ethics of the Thoroughbred racing, the entire racehorse industry has known anecdotally AND cumulatively their breeding and training practices have been hurting equine wellfare.
New research? Just now onto something?
Give us a break.
Legions of Citizen Horsemanship men and women call bullsh!t on the Thoroughbred racing industry.
In the words of one of our favorite equine writers, nice try, asshats.
Tags: tb
Posted in editorial, horse breeds | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008
ride green to get better
No matter how long you have been riding or how many horses you have ridden, a green horse always has something new to teach you. While working with green horses you will inevitably run into some circumstance you have not dealt with before. But, most importantly, never underestimate the influence you have on a green horse’s education, even if you are only riding them one time. This goes for your education as well; what you can learn from one ride on a green horse is more than you can learn from riding a push button horse everyday for a year!
Citizen Horse Manifesto Issue #3: Ride Green to Get Better
It is unfortunate, however, that many riders shy away from a green horse. This goes for purchasing and riding. The average rider, especially in the Hunter/Jumper world, has little to no experience riding a “difficult” or “green” horse. Learning to ride, initially, on a school horse, then moving to a horse of their own that already has miles may help build confidence, but the rider isn’t REALLY learning how to ride. A green horse looks for direction from the rider and for the most part, the rider can’t just sit there.
Of course, you can do a light hack with a green horse, and depending on their balance, response to cues, and overall confidence, you can actually just sit there. But, where is the fun in that? The opportunity to help a horse understand the fundamentals of their job is exciting for the rider and the horse. Why, though, do so many people just want to do the light hack without even trying to RIDE the horse? The uniqueness of horseback riding comes from the enormous vocabulary between horse and rider with using cues from the hand, leg, seat, voice, and often (don’t freak out people, this isn’t meant as a beat-the-crap-out-of-the-horse) the whip. Yet, so many people don’t take advantage of this amazing communication, nor do they try to expand their vocabulary!
The opportunity to help a horse understand their job fundamentals is exciting for both horse and rider.
Unless a rider is a beginner or a very nervous intermediate rider, you don’t have to be a trainer to ride a green horse. Sure, a trainer is essential, depending on your level of riding, for a green horse to reach their potential. But, for a few rides a week, even having an intermediate rider take lessons will help both the horse AND the rider. People are always worried that they will ruin the green horse. Well, if the green horse ONLY ever has professionals ride them, they are going to have a hard time figuring out what it’s like to have an amateur make a bigger mistake. The horse will never understand how sometimes, they have to make decisions.
Green horses come in different “shades” of green. Not every green horse is a good candidate for the amateur rider. It doesn’t have as much to do with their “level” of greenness, more of the green horse’s history, breed, temperament, and personality. Here is a good table referencing the different shades and levels of green:
Army Green:
The horse that loves to work, uncomplicated, always looking for direction from their rider and/or handler. A great horse for any level rider to learn from no matter how long the horse has been under saddle. These are the horses everyone is looking for; totally honest, no baggage, all with a great work ethic.
Bright Green:
The horse that is excitable, but level headed. Lots of energy but not looking to be bad; this horse needs extra guidance and gets bored easily. A plain boring hack will offer too much brain time to come up with ways to expend their energy. A good horse for a rider looking to really focus on their flat work skills; take a lesson first or get some good exercises to work on from the trainer. Then, have fun because you can learn a lot from these green horses.
Camouflage Green:
The horse that isn’t what they seem. Sometimes it’s the horse that looks like a psycho, or acts like a chicken on the ground, but tack ‘em up and you have a true work horse under you. Then there is the stoic, quiet looking horse that just looks like a reasonable, happy-go lucky, uncomplicated, kind horse, then you get on them and they want to fight, they don’t want to listen, they might be spooky (not genuinely spooky) and most importantly, they don’t care who is on their back they are going to do everything in their power to find something OTHER than the rider to pay attention to. Not a horse for the amateur, this is a horse that needs to be pretty close to finishing before the amateur gets on. Even then, these are the horses that can have the talent to be great horses, but need a very good, consistent rider.
Emerald Green:
The emerald green horse is another one the amateur should be wary of. Mares are more often seen as the shade of emerald than geldings. Usually very sensitive, defensive, and domineering, they can often be very smart which makes all their downfalls even harder to deal with. But, with the right rider and trainer, their downfalls can often be turned into great assets. These greenies aren’t for the amateur until they are a little further along. Though, they don’t need to be finished, they do need a solid foundation. Once they understand the aids, the more different riders they have the better.
While there are many other shades of green horses, the above four groups are the most common. But, every horse has a different background from which they started their path with human interaction. No matter a horse’s history, their underlying personality and temperament (and often breed) will determine their shade of green.
While some horses, especially ex-racehorses, tend to be the emerald green, that is more inherent of their breed than their baggage from the track. I have met quite a few off the track Thoroughbreds that also fall under the army green color even if they didn’t have a great start on the track.
Surprisingly, I have worked with many horses that had the perfect upbringing. No abuse, no excessive force, started gently with a great amount of handling as youngsters, yet, they would still be unpredictable. I’m talking Warmbloods who had a good upbringing and great ground work but were still are somewhat explosive under saddle. This has more to do with their individual nature and sensitivity.
Fact: riding green horses will improve your riding skills.
No matter what your level of riding is, the green horse can improve your riding skills far beyond any school horse or fine tuned, push button schoolmaster. If you are a hunter, jumper, eventer, or dressage rider and you feel as though you are stagnant in your riding; find a green horse to ride; even if it’s just once a week. Even if you are just a pleasure rider but want to feel a sense of accomplishment and better understand OR appreciate your horse, getting on a green horse will not only help hone your communication skills, it will also make your horse seem like a dream!
How many times have you been frustrated because you couldn’t get your horse to do something? Do you think that was your horses fault? Sure, horses can be difficult and often times they can have selective hearing just like people. But, for the majority of problems involving horses not listening, it is because the person isn’t asking correctly. The question you ask your horse needs to be clear, and once the question is asked clearly, you will get the correct answer or response (of course only if the horse has already learned the answer).
The green horse will teach you effective communication. Especially the green horse that knows the basics and you are just refining those basics. Of course, much of this goes into a trainer’s role, but every time you ride a horse you are doing some level of training.
This is a responsibility as a rider that you must own, respect, and never take for granted. Riding a horse is a privilege and the more informed, educated, and experienced you are the better off each horse is that you ride. Rider errors happen and these errors are great learning tools for both horse and rider. But, the green horse that needs your guidance should keep you aware of every subtle cue you give that horse. The awareness you gain from riding a green horse will only amplify your communication skills and more importantly your awareness of different horse’s responses.
How To Find a Green Horse
Finding a green horse to ride might prove difficult. Your best bet is to get involved with a barn, and more accurately, a trainer. A trainer that has a whole string of either sale horses, or horses in training is always going to be happy to pass a hack off to someone else. Especially if you are looking for a project, one could take lessons on a green horse, the trainer can continually evaluate the horse’s progress from the ground, and the horse can gaining valuable experience by having a non-professional ride them.
You most likely aren’t going to just walk into a barn and tell a trainer you are looking to get some rides in; there is a long list of people looking to ride additional horses. Establish a relationship with a trainer, work with them, and prove you aren’t just some dumb girl “looking to ride horsies”.
Just remember, a green horse is a horse looking for answers. Your job, as the rider, is to provide clear questions and help guide the horse to the correct answer. The more questions you ask and the more guiding you do, the better rider you become.
Tags: green, tb
Posted in horses, training | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, June 17th, 2008
Though the Thoroughbred horse has been a strong force in the sport horse industry for decades, their presence in the Hunter/Jumper ring has given way to the stylish Warmbloods over the past 10 years or so. Outside of Hunter/Jumpers, Thoroughbred horses are also seen less and less in Eventing and lower level Dressage as well (Thoroughbreds never had much of a stronghold on upper level Dressage).
The Thoroughbred horse has changed dramatically in the past 30 years. At one time, most off-the-track Thoroughbreds were guaranteed to make excellent performance horses, as long as their racing career wasn’t ended due to a major injury. Today, Thoroughbreds aren’t bred to withstand the long term effects of racing, let alone Jumping, Eventing, or Dressage. Modern Thoroughbreds are merely built to (hopefully) win a few races and then are considered disposable.
A Thoroughbred has more heart than any other horse breed.
The average, off-the-track Thoroughbred 20-30 years ago was around 16hh-17+hh average height, came with a refined head, long neck, high withers, short back, good hindquarters, lean body, deep chest, long legs, and ample bone for their size in addition to a very uphill build, a nice long stride at all gaits, and were generally, very athletic.
The average off-the-track Thoroughbred of today is smaller in height, 15hh-16.2hh, has a decent head, is often built downhill with a lean body, narrow chest, average to long back, and very small bone for the build. All in all, the average ex-race horse today is not built for performance of any kind, thus explaining their frequent breakdowns on the track.
Simply put, the Thoroughbred horse has been severely overbred. Thoroughbred breeding is a science, but not the kind of science seen in German Warmbloods. Thoroughbred breeders do not reference generations of successful crosses, nor do they breed with the overall picture and conformation of each individual horse in mind. Thoroughbred horse breeders use theories, from statistical analyses to superstitions and, well voodoo, to determine sire and mare combinations. The average Thoroughbred horse breeder is dreaming of breeding the next Kentucky Derby Winner, and it’s not just the possible financial reward of such a win, they seek the prestige of having their name attached to such a winning horse.
Because of the recent media revolving around Eight Belles tragic injury and subsequent euthanasia, there has been a sudden “interest” in the injury statistics in the Thoroughbred Racing Industry. A new report covering catastrophic horse racing injury research has been made public, but only loopholes and excuses are found in the many articles, research, and surveys available. Without EVERY horse race track reporting injuries and having those injuries tracked and recorded by unbiased participants, the macro statistics on horse racing injuries are questionable at best. The racehorse industry cannot be responsible for accurately reporting their own problems (*more on horse racing injury statistics).
More importantly than faulty injury statistics, the Thoroughbred breed itself needs a serious evaluation. With all the conformational faults contained on the average Thoroughbred racehorse, it’s no wonder they break down so easily. Even non-catastrophic injuries need to be examined.
If a horse breaks down due to soundness issues related to conformation, is it really a good idea to retire that horse to breed? No matter how many races a horse has won, or how lightning fast the horse is, if the horse has soundness issues by and large, and absolutely is not conformationally sound, why are these horses being bred? Bloodlines and heart don’t cut it, and they certainly are not improving the Thoroughbred breed.
Thoroughbreds often get a bad rap because of their temperament. Although Thoroughbreds are definitely sensitive and “hot”, they need a job, they need consistency, and generally, they need confidence. Once a Thoroughbred has an owner or trainer that can provide a clear path to expectations, a Thoroughbred is not only willing, but genuinely wants to please. A Thoroughbred has more heart than any other breed of horse. Tapping the Thoroughbred heart is the key to unlocking their sport horse potential.
The Thoroughbred’s heart can also be it’s downfall in that self preservation often takes a backseat to unquestionable effort (e.g. Eight Belles). Eight Belle’s jockey never asked the horse to run on broken legs, and whether the jockey knew it or not, Eight Belles’ heart wanted to win, and nothing was going to stop her.
Moreover, here is a list of today’s Thoroughbred strengths and weaknesses
Thoroughbred Horse Strong Points:
- Incredible Stamina
- Powerful Speed
- Great Agility
- Often “Pretty”
- Heart for their Job
- Temperament can be perfect for rider and the job at hand
Thoroughbred Horse Weak Points:
- Terrible Feet (small, thin soles and hoof walls)
- Orthopedic Problems (DOD Developmental Orthopedic Disease)
- Weak Legs (stress fractures, bone chips, etc.)
- Temperament too “high” for average horse owner
- Often has vices if off the track (weaving, cribbing)
- Often more susceptible to ulcers (especially if off the track)
- Hard Keepers
There are still, even today, nice looking Thoroughbreds that don’t have all the above problems, but they are getting harder and harder to find. On top of Thoroughbred breeding weaknesses, their look is now even inconsistent. Thoroughbreds have, by and large, lost their once tall, long legged, uphill, and noble stature. There used to be a time one could look at a horse and know if it was a Thoroughbred or not, but now, Quarter Horses look like Thoroughbreds sometimes, and often, Thoroughbreds just look like your average, generic horse.
Additionally, Thoroughbred horse breeders DO NOT take into account conformation, soundness, temperament, or anything else important to breeding sound, solid performance sport horses. The dosage index used in mathematical Thoroughbred horse breeding produces unsound, conformationally poor horses to say the least. Considering horse racing is one of the more physically demanding equestrian sports (for the horse), one would think producing sound, solid performance sport horses would be fundamentally prudent.
As with many aspects of the horse racing industry, their breeding practices alone incite much rage and head-scratching from sport horse equestrians, enthusiasts, and horse activists alike.
Simply put, the Thoroughbred horse has been severely overbred.
After acquiring a sound (or semi-sound) off-the-track Thoroughbred, re-starting an ex-race horse is a science unto itself. A proper “let down” period is necessary before an off-the-track TB can begin moving past his/her life on the track. There are many drugs and high protein feeds that all need to flush from their system so they can begin acting like horses. Turnout is something that many racehorses have never experienced. Since the majority of Thoroughbred owners acquired their TB’s off the track (or at least the TB was once on the track), a good un-training and re-training are, and were, essential to a Thoroughbred’s success in another career.
It’s unfortunate many people are not suited to handle and re-train ex-racehorses for sport horse disciplines. Seeing as the Thoroughbred temperament gets a semi-deserved bad rap, much of their demeanor and temperament is influenced by the environment in which they were raised. Many equestrians do not posses the personality needed to ride off-the-track Thoroughbreds and end up competing with the their “hot” temperament. Too many people have had bad experiences on Thoroughbreds that don’t have anything to do with the horse’s soundness. The Thoroughbred’s flightiness, spookiness, and nervous demeanor has made many a beginner and intermediate rider scared of the breed.
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Despite modern Thoroughbred breeding practice failures, the Thoroughbred horse will always be an important icon to the performance and sport horse industry. Without the Thoroughbred, many equestrians could not have afforded to buy their own horse. Ex-race horses tend to be economical, though their possible health problems might outweigh discounts received in the purchase price.
All in all, I used to be a hardcore Thoroughbred lover. Hooked by their “do anything” for you heart, my loyalty has faded by the mis-handling from their human creators. Sure, there may be a few solid, sound, and great performing Thoroughbred sport horses still remaining, but heart just isn’t enough anymore to overlook the breed’s faults, some of which (bad feet) have always been issues.
Looking back at the Thoroughbred from 20-30 years ago, and then again today, I can say I will probably never own another Thoroughbred.
It pains me to admit that.
And unfortunately for the Thoroughbred horse, the future of the breed is quite dim, to say the least.
Tags: equestrian, tb, thoroughbred, warmblood
Posted in horse breeds | 6 Comments »
Monday, June 9th, 2008
(more…)
Tags: death, eventing, tb
Posted in disciplines | 9 Comments »
Monday, April 28th, 2008
I have been aware of horse slaughter since I was a kid. It was a well known fact Thoroughbred ex-race horses that came through the barn had one shot to make it in the hunter/jumper ring (as riding horses). If a horse didn’t stay at the barn, we knew the horse would end up back at dealers, and dealer returns meant the horse was going to slaughter.
As a child, horse slaughter was simply a fact. Now, it’s almost a necessity. I don’t agree with slaughtering horses, nor do I want any horse to end up at a slaughterhouse, but our society produces far too many unwanted horses.
I receive emails on a weekly basis from several different horse industry and horse welfare news streams. Every time I read one of these legislative “updates”, I wonder: When is horse slaughter legislation going to start with the cause of unwanted horses?
Though anti horse slaughter groups have successfully shut down horse slaughterhouses in America, horse breeding has only increased. If horses at auction don’t wind up at slaughter, where are all the “unwanted” horses going to go? As with the millions of unwanted dogs and cats who are euthanased every year, it would be nice if we could say unwanted horses are “humanely destroyed.” But, horses are just not that easy to put down. Besides being big, difficult to transport, to house, and to feed, horses cost several hundred dollars to put down. For “humane” treatment, horses need not only feed, water, and vaccinations, but also farrier care and often special nutritional, veterinary, and stabling.
When is horse slaughter legislation going to start with the cause of unwanted horses?
Horses end up at auction if they can’t be sold privately, can’t be cared for, or are (simply) unwanted. If a horse owner sends an “unwanted” horse to auction and the horse doesn’t sell, what happens to the horse? If the previous owner can’t or won’t care for the horse, who will?
It’s the same with the overpopulation of dogs and cats. It’s better to have a humane society take an unwanted pet and euthanize it than have a pet return to a home where it isn’t wanted or cannot be cared for. But again, horses are extremely difficult and expensive to care for. Some say re-homing unwanted horses is not a big deal since the total number of American horses slaughtered per year “only” equals about 1% of the total American horse population. Based on current horse populations (about 9 million in the US), 90,000 “homeless” horses is still a lot of horses. With hay prices up, gas prices up, and affordable land becoming more scarce, most horse people in any part of the country will tell you; “you can’t even give ‘em away these days.”
Some anti-slaughter activists like to claim horse “kill buyers” are outbidding nice families in search of a pet. Really? If a “nice family” is only willing to spend $100, maybe a $150 on a horse, will they be willing to spent another $150 on vaccines once the vet comes out? What about hoof care every six weeks? Hay, grain, shavings? Proper fencing? Does the nice family have money set aside for emergency transport and thousands of dollars worth of colic surgery? Kill buyers, yes, may be out bidding families (occasionally), but this does not mean the family has means to care for the long term health of the horse.
To minimize horse slaughter and unwanted horses, we need a better plan.
Currently, there are no horse slaughterhouses operating in the United States. Despite anti-slaughter group efforts, American horse slaughterhouses have been successfully shut down, but now horses are just sent over the border to Mexico and Canada where the treatment and killing of animals is even less humane than under American standards.
In many ways, the U.S. slaughter ban has already hurt horse welfare.
For reference, American slaughterhouses used retractable pneumatic bolts to render horses unconscious (in theory) before slitting their throats. However, in Mexico, it’s common practice to stab horses in the back repeatedly until their spinal cord is severed. Watch this video from the Humane Society of the United States for more info on Mexican horse slaughter.
In many ways, the U.S. horse slaughter ban has already hurt horse welfare. Now, anti-slaughter groups are attempting to ban horses exported for slaughter altogether. Despite the fact this new law could be easily circumvented by horse “kill dealers” simply labeling horses transported across the border as “for riding” instead of “for slaughter”, we need to first think about minimizing the unwanted horse population before tackling the issue of horse slaughter.
Lets look at some facts:
- According to the USDA, 45,000 horses went to slaughter in Mexico in 2007, and another 26,000 went to Canada (total, 71,000+).
- According to the Jockey Club, 56,000 Thoroughbred mares were bred in 2007.
- According to the Thoroughbred Times, Thoroughbred race horses averaged 25 starts per life in 1950; by 1994, the average Thoroughbred ran just 14 races.
What does this mean? More Thoroughbreds running less races equals more waste. Due to over breeding of the Thoroughbred, not only does the Thoroughbred Times conclude Thoroughbred races horses are less sound than 60 years ago , but also, they are less used.
Moreover, why have we not had a Triple Crown winner in Thoroughbred horse racing since Affirmed in 1978? Could it be that the only requirements for breeding a Thoroughbred horse are a papered mare and money for a stud fee?
I imagine, even in 1978, horse breeding and racing wasn’t an incredibly easy or cheap “hobby”. Then, not every backyard horse owner could afford a.) a papered Thoroughbred mare, or b.) a 500 mile haul to the stallion. Today, cheap, seedy racetracks are numerous and vastly outnumber the celebrity packed racing events profiled on T.V. It is perceived as “easy” now for anyone to think they can breed the next Kentucky Derby winner. For $250, someone can pick up a lame and unproven (and possibly even unraced) Thoroughbred mare and breed her to an equally lame or unproven Thoroughbred stallion for as little as $300. Boom! For less than a beater car, you too can own the next derby champ!
Wrong.
Of course, many Thoroughbreds going for meat are actually well bred, expensive horses. Some may have stud fees of $500,000 or more. By and large, racehorses don’t retire to green pasture if they don’t win. They mostly go to auction. Even when trainers try their best to find a new owner and a new job for the horse, Thoroughbreds off-the-track are not just for anyone. Most of them need experienced handlers and trainers.
With the 2008 Kentucky Derby ready to hit the starting gate on May 3rd, what is the average American going to see of the racing industry? Horses worth millions of dollars? Shiny, lucky horses cared for better than most people?
I wish happenings at an average American Thoroughbred Racetrack were televised. Horses running at tracks not called Churchill Downs, Belmont Park, or Pimlico don’t have the luxury of being considered anything but expendable or replaceable. And besides, with reality TV all the rage, is there anything more cut throat [pun intended] than watching broke down horses running in races that are paying out $500 with the losers highly unlike to get another chance?
The large majority of horses who will not see the glamorous camera lenses pointed at them (beside closed circuit monitoring) are only bred to be good for a year or two. These “modern” Thoroughbreds, the ones at your average, dirty, shady, tracks, aren’t bred to run the Kentucky Derby; they are bred to MAYBE, MAYBE win their owners and investors a couple thousand dollars. The main purpose of the average Thoroughbred is to honor the owner with the distinction of owning a racehorse. Thoroughbreds, by their nature, are bred to be hot, a trait which does not to serve them well outside of running. They are no longer bred with long lines, or big strides even. They are bred to run and move flat, fast, and that’s it. Outside of the few races they MIGHT run, Thoroughbred racehorses serve limited purpose.
Interestingly enough, even Kentucky Derby winners aren’t safe from slaughter. With the 2002 slaying of 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand at a Japanese slaughterhouse, the horse racing industry has proven time and time again it does not even value it’s most prize assets.
Thusly, even well bred but only “medium” caliber racehorses, such as those bought and sold at the Keeneland Auction for an average of $100K, may not ever win, even at a small racetrack. With the hopes of “cleaning up” at the ghetto tracks, these “Kentucky” bred horses still are without value unless the winnings come in early and frequently.
The main purpose of today’s “modern” Thoroughbred is to honor the owner with the distinction of owning a racehorse.
Luckily, there is a good chance a Kentucky bred Thoroughbred horse could posses some very nice athletic attributes that could result in a nice hunter/jumper, dressage, or eventing home. Still, the original breeders, owners, and trainers of racehorses are generally unconcerned with where the horses end up. The racing industry wipes their hands clean of losers without regard for the welfare of the horses. Slaughter, new career, loving home - who cares! Whatever gets them off the training and boarding bill, its fine by the racehorse owner.
As an American horse community, we need to start looking at a way to fund “unwanted” horses that are considered “garbage” with either euthanasia, or when applicable, retraining programs. Or more importantly, let’s limit racehorse breeding to owners and trainers who only commit their funds to providing for a horse throughout the duration of its life, regardless of its winnings. If the racing community had to fork over money for the lifetime care of its horses, the unwanted horse population would dry up.
The horse industry needs a plan, a good plan, to help lower unwanted horse numbers. Stopping horse slaughter is only going to be beneficial once we stop having too many horses. In order to stop horse slaughter, the Humane Society of the United States should do one of two things:
1.) Provide the shelters and means necessary to retrain or humanely euthanize unwanted, unadaptable horses
2.) Take giant steps forward to limit the breeding of all horses, not just racing Thoroughbreds
In addition, the HSUS should go after the racing community for some money to start covering the humane destruction or lifetime care of the horses it produces. Now that the Kentucky Derby is underway, why don’t some of these trainers, owners, breeders, and jockeys making BIG money in horse racing industry give some money back, to the horses themselves?
If the racing community had to fork over money for the lifetime care of its horses, the unwanted horse population would dry up.
Let’s stop breeding low quality Thoroughbreds, shut down the seedy racetracks, and start a rehab and retraining humane society that can help with these unwanted horses either through re-homing (realistically), or humane euthanasia.
And frankly, lets stop breeding low quality horses of any kind. The Thoroughbred racing industry is not solely to blame for horse slaughter or unwanted horses altogether. However, Thoroughbred horse racing is the highest grossing and highest profile entity of the horse world. For naysayers of horse slaughter, Thoroughbred racing is an easy target because of its money, power, and fan base, but there is no better time than to call out an institution on it’s dirty little secrets than when shone national media spotlight (rest assured, if Premarin horses ended up with global coverage on the Oxygen network, we’d be all over that too).
Please, lets organize a cause with a better, more logical, long-term answer for unwanted horses than taking on American horse slaughter. Though the last three horse slaughter plants were shut down in 2007, bottom of the market horse welfare has not increased. Once we gain control over the source of the unwanted horses, only then will we produce effective measures against combating horse slaughter.
Tags: horseracing, kentucky, kentucky derby, politics, slaughter, tb, thoroughbred
Posted in breeding | 16 Comments »
