Wrong question!!

ErinR76 · Wrong question!!

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18876

It seems to me that the issue of 'should there be a vet on premises at all times to euthanize a horse in the event of necessity' is the wrong issue.

To me, its: 'If training and racing is so dangerous that horses need to be euthanized regularly/frequently, then it shouldn't be done!'

Aaarg.

And about the 'who pays for it' issue, There should either be a flat fee paid yearly per horse (by the owners) to fund these veterinarians, or a 'per use' fee for the racetrack paid by the owners or trainers.

I say if you're using an animal to make money results in harm being done to the animal, make it less profitable! Then maybe it won't be done!!!

thebundychick

Oh, Erin.

I keep the statistics for the Australian "sport" of Jumps Racing.

Its devestating. They have a vet / tractor / and float on hand that follows the horses around the track so they can "deal" with an injured horse as quickly as possible.

No.. they aren't doing it because its humane... the do it that way so less people see.

We lost 11 horses this year. :/ The victorian jumps racing season only had 143 horses in it

6 died in victoria, 5 died in South Australia.

51 fell in both Victoria & South Australia.

I hate sport where the safety of the animal comes second.

Copious_Amour

thebundychick

Accordign to my stats, Yes, steeple chasing is more dangerous than standard "hurdle" racing, which is more dangerous than flat races.

Basically, we figure out, that if flats races were dying at the rate of jumps races hroses, you'd have 2 dead horses PER RACE!!!!!!!!

1 in 6 races ended in a fatality in South Australia
1 in 15 in Victoria.

Victorias fall rate in the steeple this year was over 11%!!!

The fall rate in the hurdle was just under 5%.

Last year, they had to conform to an KPI that said the fall rate had to be under 3%. They failed the KPI last year.

This year they didn't even bother including it.

South AUstralian politicians just refused to pass a bill that would see Jumps Racing classed as Animal Cruelty and banned.

This breaks my heart. Because I also keep statistics on how much these horses win, and how much the trainers make off them. I can honestly HONESTLY say, they would earn more money being on the dole. I truly mean that.

I should be greatful. At least our death rate doesn't accrue the same as those in New Zealand, or GOD forbid, the Grand National in the UK.

thebundychick

I forgot to add, that in Australia, Jumps horses dont' pay acceptance fees into races, (whereas ALL flats runners do) and they also get whats known as a starters subsidy. ie, regardles of whether your horse breaks his leg halfway round the track, you get a prize, a sweetner for entering. Your horse could come dead last, and still get a minimum of $250 for entering.

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They PAY PEOPLE to jumps race. The Racing Fraternity is pouring MILLIONS of dollars into it to keep it afloat, but its just not popular in the eyes of the community.

Sorry Erin for hijacking your thread. This subject is a teensy weensy bit sensitive.

PasoBaby_CarolU

Considering how much money is involved, keeping vets on hand shouldn't even be a question. USEF sends vets to horse shows to do drug testing...lots LESS money there and they do it.

Malcolm

Ban all of it and the horse population plummets. So effective normative genocide. Bear in mind that in the wild, horses were not selected for feelgoodness. . . . .

PasoBaby_CarolU

I have to agree there Malcolm. I've owned a race horse and she LOVED to run. I think it would be pretty cruel to do NOTHING with horses for fear they might be hurt.

I do think that some things could be improved though - move racing up a few years to 4-5 year-olds, make their first winnings THEIR retirement income. Improve racing surfaces - they changed from a dirt to a synthetic track in South Jordan and cut "breaking down" (aka broken legs) from 17 a year to three. I do think jump racing should be made safer too...like having break away jumps.

ErinR76

I wonder what it would take to put those wonderful suggestions into practice? No defeatism allowed...what would it take, realistically? (what would it take realistically.....not: "would it be likely or would it be easy" realistically LOL)

Clarissa

ErinR76

So government is part of the problem. We all know big government needs big money. So perhaps government is one ingredient?

PasoBaby_CarolU

Erin, the government is the cause and the solution of many problems. It is why corporations donate to politicians, to make sure regulations don't get passed that hinder them from making money. The U.S. certainly isn't alone in having 'owned' politicians. It would cost the 'industry' a lot of money to wait until horses turn 3 to start racing. It doesn't cost so much though to change track surfaces and use safer jumps. I think both can be done just by cost analysis to show the racing industry they can save money by not killing expensive horses.

ErinR76

I remember hearing one time that it costs about $500 just to hire somebody. Between the advertising costs, interviewing time, training etc. We all know about how much it costs to feed a horse per year. I wonder how you would quantify how much it would save in the long run to get the extra use out of a horse by not racing it until three?

thebundychick