blue they are bred to run, and yes they DO love it, but they race these horses in high stress environments and the training practices can be extremely outdated.
Buckeye is absolutely correct. I have not been around nearly as long as she has, but I have seen quite a bit in my time lol. And yes, I have volunteered at several horse rescues. Fair to say most of those horses were broken down show horses. Only maybe 1-2 OTTB passed through during my time. Some numbers are exaggerated 😉
I used to have an OTTB mare, she unfortunately passed October last year, but she was amazing. She loved to run and when you let her she was awesome. You can't diss an entire disipline. There is so much good and bad in horse industry as a whole.
Same for the halter stock horses, such terrible breeding practices, they break down if ridden at any age, and never even see a pasture if showingÂ…. Again, all sports have extremes that should be moderated in my opinion
I mean helol the barn I ride at, when they retire show horses they find pleasure homes for them. Sometimes at the barn with someone who wants a pleasure horse or sometimes at retirement places for horses. You cannot always afford to keep them all- a business is a business. Most of the racehorse people I know even keep tabs on the horses they retire/sell.
And 2 yr olds get a used by backyard owners trail riding them all weekend when they are not strong and fit enough. There are good and bad in every discipline. But to diss an entire sport is like saying all of *x* type of people are bad
I'd have less issue with racing if they waited till the horses were older. I'm not a fan at how the horses are practically used and spat out by the time they're 5 or 6. Most times with soundness issues.
Hell I have seen some horses get injured in dressage. They are seriously injury prone. I saw a Saddleseat horse have a heart attack and collapse onto the rider- at a walk.