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Q: Horse racing is cruel, isn’t it?
- Horses are herd animals and galloping alongside one another is the most natural thing they can do. (Watch how often horses continue to race and jump after horse & rider have parted company.)
- Furthermore, Thoroughbred horses are bred and trained specifically for racing.
- In all likelihood, both parents of a racehorse will have raced themselves, as would all their previous generations. The horses which are most regularly bred from are those which excelled at racing and had enthusiasm for the sport.
- Man can only ask a horse to participate, he cannot make it race if it does not want to. Some horses, despite being bred and trained to race, are clearly not suitable, in which case another use is found for them.
Q: What does happen to horses when they stop racing?
- There are many options open to ex-racehorses, some are sold to continue racing abroad in less competitive racing countries, some go point to pointing and some retire for breeding purposes. Others are re-trained for use in other equine disciplines and enjoy life in a different sphere. (i.e hunting, exercising, eventing, polo, dressage, showjumping, endurance riding etc.)
- An extensive study was carried out to try and establish if ex-racehorses were subject to neglect after leaving the sport. The findings showed that such cases were few and far between. Even so, we have introduced systems to make sure that horses are well cared for after their racing careers are over. Every registered foal now has a microchip implanted under its skin to make it readily identifiable. Over 100,000 horses foaled in Britain and Ireland can now be identified this way, so it is much easier to find out the history of a horse found in need of care and attention.
- In 2000, the racing industry set up the charity ‘Retraining of Racehorses’. Funding for Retraining of Racehorses comes directly from the racing industry through licence and registration fees and it also receives voluntary donations. The charity has also benefited from a generous donation from the estate of the late Paul Mellon. In addition, we are working to raise the profile of ex-racehorses within the wider equestrian world to advertise their adaptability to other occupations. Extra emergency funding, provided by current racehorse owners through the Racehorse Owners Association, is available if former racehorses are found neglected or abandoned.
Q: Why are so many horses put down after injury. Why can’t they be treated, after all one does not shoot a human being or even a dog if they break a leg?
- Vets take every opportunity to repair fractures where it is possible.
- Some fractures are successfully treated. Danoli and Moorcroft Boy are just two examples of horses which have returned to racing after serious injury.
- Several limb fractures can actually be treated, however, there are many problems which subsequently arise during the recovery period. For example, horses cannot be “put to bed” or have their leg put in a sling. When you or I break a leg there will be a significant period of time following surgery when no weight whatsoever can be put on the fracture, and we only weigh a matter of stones. Most fractures are simply unable to bear the weight of half a ton of horse immediately after treatment.
- In addition, the risks of infection following a fall on turf and soil are very high indeed and sometimes no amount of anti-biotics can prevent infection spreading and causing irreparable damage. Furthermore, when there is a fracture there is often significant soft tissue damage as well and this can also complicate the repairing of an injury.
- Many horses, and racehorses in particular, do not adapt well to sustained period of inactivity during convalescence.
- When we talk about a horse’s welfare we are talking about the quality of life for a horse. In the event of a horse incurring a bad fracture the vet responsible usually has two options, he can either try and treat the injury, which will, at best, result in a protracted and painful recovery period with no guarantee of a return to a useful activity or, by the administration of a quick injection an end can be brought to any pain and suffering.
Q: How can you justify killing horses for sport?
- We do not kill horses for sport. Fatal injuries in racing are relatively uncommon but, as in any sport, there is an element of risk for the participants. The British Horseracing Authority seeks to minimise that risk wherever it is possible. However accidents do still happen and, sadly, horses do sometimes get injured.
- But by stopping competitive racing you would not actually stop horses incurring injuries. Horses are like any athlete, they can pick up injuries whilst relaxing, whilst training and whilst competing. Horses incur fatal injuries grazing at grass in the field and they incur fatal injuries while going for a steady canter on exercise.
- Furthermore, while any horse dying or having to be put down is extremely regrettable, don’t forget that at any one time there are in excess of about 13,000 horses in training in this country, the vast majority of which receive care and devotion far beyond that given to most domestic pets in this nation of animal lovers. Individual attention from a loving lad or lass, all the food, drink, clothing, bedding they require, regular exercise on custom made training grounds and expert veterinary care and monitoring. They even get an annual rest or holiday.
- The quality of life enjoyed by racehorses is better than virtually any other animal in Britain. And that is why those people who work in racing and love their horses get frustrated by allegations of cruelty.
- We have a good working relationship with both the RSPCA and ILPH. With their expert knowledge and understanding of the issues, both organisations support racing and are aware of far more pressing and genuine areas of concern with regards to horse and animal welfare.
Q: Racing is all about money, no one really cares about the horses.
- There is indeed a considerable amount of money and turnover within racing, but that can be misleading as the largest sums involved are usually related to the betting industry. In reality people get involved in horse racing for the love of the horse rather than the lure of money.
- For the vast majority of owners the price of running a racehorse far exceeds the returns. On average an owner can only expect to re-coup about 23% of his outlay, hardly figures to entice the greedy. While most trainers also struggle to make the figures match up.
- Jockeys and stable staff only come into the sport to work with horses, any financial rewards are a bonus. Their love of working with horses brings them into racing, and if a horse does get injured no one feels it more than the lad or lass who looks after it.
Q: You say racing isn’t cruel, so why do you allow jockeys to beat horses with the whip?
- To quote directly from the Instruction on use of the whip: “The Stewards will not tolerate abuse of the horse and consider its welfare, and the safety of the rider to be paramount. The whip should be used for safety, correction and encouragement only…”
- If used correctly and in the right place the whip can be used to encourage a horse to produce its best. If it is used incorrectly then disciplinary action is taken against the rider.
- Our veterinary officers check the horses as they return off the course, if a horse is found to show any sign of misuse of the whip the jockey will face an enquiry and may be suspended.
- Britain leads the way internationally with our restrictions on the use of the whip, and there is no doubt that progress has been made in recent years and that the standard of riding is higher than ever.
- In addition, the British Horseracing Authority has introduced a series of educational initiatives aimed at improving the standard of riding at all levels and encouraging sensible use of the whip from the very beginning of a rider’s career.
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