Horses can die in any equestrian sport, a horse can die in a stall, a horse can die in a pasture, yes some people in racing are abusive but that's a small amount and you only hear about those. Horses aren't dying every race. There's always a chance of a fatality, even in human sports.
I've looked at more than a few TB rescues. Largely because, at the time, step-dad did jumping and was looking for a potential horse. Nearly every one of the horses had soundness issues. My own OTQH had soundness issues, along with numerous scars from steroid injections where she'd been doped
Honestly the seeing the horse as an item is an issues across ALL horse communities. I used to be involved with rodeo- it was there I am now involved with English and western pleasure- it is there. Halter horses? Holy hell is it there too.
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yes they DO love it, but they race these horses in high stress environments and the training practices can be extremely outdated.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
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