a bit of heresy with your tea
Nov. 4th, 2003 06:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nigeltdeI had a freaky dream last night wherein one of my best friends, Cameron, had his life repeatedly threatened by amongst other things a crashed satellite and insane shopping centre security guards, and I couldn't save him. Eventually he was eaten by a sentient and evil plantlife. Hmm.
I think I've just realised why I dislike horse racing - especially on a major scale although it would I assume be more policed there - so much. It's partly because it seems crueller, what with the constant whipping and everything. It's partly because there just doesn't seem to be the horse/rider bond that is so evident in other sports. It's partly because the horse doesn't seem to enjoy itself as much, although I really have no evidence for this and they certainly are on the whole eager to race.
The problem I have with racing is that it's just not about the horse. It's not about how when horse and rider work together and work hard they can perform incredible physical feats. It's about winning. It's an industry in the truest sense and it's about winning, it's about breeding an animal that will win, it's about money. It's a fashion parade. It's a gambling bonanza. It's so fucking hypocritical. The horse has 'plenty of fans' but only insofar as it's going to win, not because it's an incredibly talented and highly trained athlete.
I know these are generalisations and for a lot of people it *is* about the horse -![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
thanatos666, I'm lookin at you :-) I know the best horses become national icons. In the quiz night I helped out at one of the questions asked which horse won the first two Melbourne Cups and I was surprised at the number of people who knew the answer (Archer, for those interested). And I know it's 'all in a bit of fun' and I'm probably being a huge killjoy. But dammit, racing thoroughbreds - and standardbreds, too - are some of the most beautiful and athletic animals on the planet and they deserve to be revered for what they are, not for what they represent or the money they make people.
I think I've just realised why I dislike horse racing - especially on a major scale although it would I assume be more policed there - so much. It's partly because it seems crueller, what with the constant whipping and everything. It's partly because there just doesn't seem to be the horse/rider bond that is so evident in other sports. It's partly because the horse doesn't seem to enjoy itself as much, although I really have no evidence for this and they certainly are on the whole eager to race.
The problem I have with racing is that it's just not about the horse. It's not about how when horse and rider work together and work hard they can perform incredible physical feats. It's about winning. It's an industry in the truest sense and it's about winning, it's about breeding an animal that will win, it's about money. It's a fashion parade. It's a gambling bonanza. It's so fucking hypocritical. The horse has 'plenty of fans' but only insofar as it's going to win, not because it's an incredibly talented and highly trained athlete.
I know these are generalisations and for a lot of people it *is* about the horse -
thanatos666, I'm lookin at you :-) I know the best horses become national icons. In the quiz night I helped out at one of the questions asked which horse won the first two Melbourne Cups and I was surprised at the number of people who knew the answer (Archer, for those interested). And I know it's 'all in a bit of fun' and I'm probably being a huge killjoy. But dammit, racing thoroughbreds - and standardbreds, too - are some of the most beautiful and athletic animals on the planet and they deserve to be revered for what they are, not for what they represent or the money they make people.
