Horses Die at Cheltenham - Again

by Bernie Wright - Alliance for Animal Rights [AFAR] Sat Mar 31, 2012 23:57

Petition against horse racing.
http://www.change.org/petitions/end-horse-racing-in-ire...57744

ANIMAL rights activists in AFAR are calling for an outright ban on horseracing
following the deaths of five horses at this year's Leopardstown festival.2012

Irish animal rights group calls for ban on horse racing. SIGN PLEASE to help AFAR end horseracing

by ellen breathnach - protestor Sun Mar 25, 2012 22:34

I'm so upset about those lovely animals_ everyone can help by donating to animal sanctuaries as I don't see many protests. Think about it PLEASE

by More Dead Thu Mar 15, 2012 18:37

The list has now risen to 5

"Featherbed Lane and Abergavenny became the fourth and fifth casualties of the Cheltenham Festival after sustaining leg injuries in the Coral Cup"

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/story_get.cgi?S...D=465

by Horse Thu Mar 15, 2012 16:13

"FAILED racehorses and other unwanted animals are being butchered and fed to lions and tigers at Dublin Zoo."

http://tribune.maithu.com/archive/article/2009/feb/15/s...-zoo/

I guess we should trust the people who race the horses and send them to the lions that they are happy!!

by late1983 Thu Mar 15, 2012 14:08

Horse riding is hugely popular outside racing, people do it as a leisurely hobby.

Again you are all commenting on things you know nothing about, maybe you should visit a yard or something and see what really happens outside the "oh that horse fell over....shoot the jockey"

Horse racing will never go away despite your daft protests, and magnificent beautiful creatures like 'Kauto Star' will continue to shine

by late1983 Thu Mar 15, 2012 14:08

Horse riding is hugely popular outside racing, people do it as a leisurely hobby.

Again you are all commenting on things you know nothing about, maybe you should visit a yard or something and see what really happens outside the "oh that horse fell over....shoot the jockey"

Horse racing will never go away despite your daft protests, and magnificent beautiful creatures like 'Kauto Star' will continue to shine

by cloudy78 Thu Mar 15, 2012 13:18

"After Racing they will breed or they will be sent to graze for their latter years."

Really? Can you provide sources for this? This is a common misconception, but its just that--a misconception. Horses can live upwards of 30 years, but the majority of racehorses do not make it anywhere near that mark; many are killed by age 5.

The links in my above post give clear reference to the fact that most racehorses do NOT end up being "used for breeding" or "retired on pasture." The majority end up in slaughterhouses. There is no way the racing industry and stud/racing farms etc could possibly support, the number of horses they breed, for the natural duration of those horses lives. No way. It's not economically feasible.

Someone here has blinders on but its not me.

by late83 Thu Mar 15, 2012 12:11

Facts need to be known before people open their mouths/keyboards.
You are all very much like the horses and wearing blinkers, just because the SPORT is not your cup of tea you like to create and fabricate issues.
If you knew anything about horses then you'd know their body language...ears pricked means they are happy.
Its not bulls fighting its horses happy, running, doing what they love, jockey on board or not.
If anyone beleives that ridiculous news article you are very gullible, Racehorses are treated like royalty and have the finest vets the country can provide. After Racing they will breed or they will be sent to graze for their latter years.
You guys should be concentrating on animals being actually neglected across the land rather than well looked after majestic happy healthy and fit horses.

Wild Horses.....RUNNING!!!!!

by cloudy78 Thu Mar 15, 2012 11:42

Sure, and the ones that wont run, where do they end up? Often "discarded" in some way, shape or form, including slaughter.

Even the ones that DO run often end up at slaughter. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/oct/01/horseracing.sport http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12682680

And I doubt they "love the limelight" at the festivals built around them. Its doubtful they even know or care. More likely they would prefer to be out to pasture. Sure, they love to run, but not getting hit by a stick, etc. Also, pasture running at will rarely results in broken legs and other casualties and fatalities, unlike horse races, particularly those with jumps involved.

by tina vegananarchist Thu Mar 15, 2012 11:34

This is a typical view held about the exploitation of nonhumans for entertainment - that they obviously enjoy it , otherwise they could somhow refuse to partisipate .this is very conveniant for all those of us who want to continue to support these disgusting practises - we can carry on paying for the slave dealers who make a living from them to race horses to death for our amusement with a clear consience .
sadly for those of us who prefer to remain ignorant ,the truth is that these animals are brutally forced to partisipate in this vile so called sport .they suffer from exhaustion an hideous injuries ,an all too often lose there lives . using other sentient beings as objects to entertain us an make money for us is completly morally unacc eptable under any circumstanses .
presumably the horses who die on the track also enjoy the whole experiense ?

by Amazona Thu Mar 15, 2012 11:30

Poor creatures

Animals are not ours to exploit, torture or entertain us. People get a life an leave animals alone

by RoS Thu Mar 15, 2012 11:20

Late83. Horses love running - ok, I'll buy that. However, let's see them get together and volunteer to run around a track and over the jumps, and with a small human on their backs - armed with a WHIP.

We *have* a life, thanks, we are just concerned when others lose theirs, which is a normal human reaction to unnecessary death and killing.

by Late83 Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:13

Clueless folks on here, If a horse does not want to run it WONT! A horse refused to run at the start of last years grand national. These horses love to run and they love the limelight on them at these big festivals. Are you gonna be calling for it to be banned to throw a ball for your dog to fetch?? after all your forcing them to get the ball?!?!?! Horses love running, its in their genes. get a life guys

by What About Wed Mar 14, 2012 23:34

Don't know. Irish media just doesn't report it. Maybe it's because there are interests here such as advertisments, involvement in the horse racing etc. Horse racing is funded by the state, receives tax breaks (I think this is still there) and it gets alot of positive air time. Galway races, Punchestown etc. are protrayed as something to be proud about. I don't think we should be

Btw another horse killed in Clonmel on 08th of March

by Matthews Wed Mar 14, 2012 23:23

Those Irish deaths in Kilkenny do not seem to have made the headlines. Was there a cover-up?

by cloudy78 Wed Mar 14, 2012 23:22

I agree--why is life treated so cheaply? We are talking about a so-called "sport" here, which often has known casualties/fatalities for the horses, horses who essentially have no choice in the matter. Races are, at the bottom line, about money and selfishness. What do the horses ever gain from racing? The disregard that racing has for horses lives and well-being is mindblowing; the casualties of steeplechasing are well-known, as well as of racing in general, and yet even additional known dangers such as gullies are allowed to remain on tracks (example: Dingle races), to provide extra "challenge" (read: casualties), for the race, despite the fact that this will result in casualties and fatalities. Even the flat-racing itself, apart from any jumping or additional "challenges" provides its share of casualties. I wish that we human beings would take other beings into consideration rather than pressing them all into our own use--even to death-- for our own entertainment.

by What About Wed Mar 14, 2012 23:18

Two horses were killed in Gowran Park in Kilkenny on the 10th of March.
Lovely sport.

by tina vegananarchist Wed Mar 14, 2012 23:18

this is disgusting - an inexcusable . it is incredible how anyone can enjoy the spectacle of other sentient beings enslaved an tormented for our amusement.
these innocent creatures died because ,in a society built completly on speciesist prejudise , there lives were worht nothing but the sum of the profit there suffering could make for humans .

by Matthews Wed Mar 14, 2012 23:09

Shame on the racing world. Reports said that the ground was too hard but I suppose profits are more important.