a bit of heresy with your tea

[nigeltde]

I 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 - 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.

Comments

[lydia-petze.livejournal.com]

Um, horsies are gorgeous, I just know stuff-all about them. And I know about as much about the form guide as my cat does, so I pick the prettiest, or the coolest name, and forget about it. Sometimes I even win.

[nigeltde]

Ooops, sorry, I hope I didn't offend you. I've actually no problem with the average punter, especially on MCup Day because it's a special occasion, and it really *is* all in a bit of fun. I just resent the fact these incredible animals are just another means to an end to a lot of people.

the coolest name
Heehee, a good strategy it seems :-D

[lydia-petze.livejournal.com]

No, you didn't offend me, and I do see your point. I sometimes feel a bit uncomfortable about the whole thing myself. I did wonder a few years ago when Three Crowns snapped its leg - did the owners actually *care* that the animal had to be destroyed, or were they pissed about the money, or worse, were they happy cause they were gonna clean up on the insurance?

[nigeltde]

Ouch, yeah. When a couple of horses had to be be destroyed due to injury during the Cross Country over here at the Horse Trials, it was a tragedy and you got the feeling the horses were really deeply mourned. With racing, it seems different. Do you read any Dick Francis? Makes you paranoid as hell about horses when money is involved...

And you've got to wonder, if everything is so kosher and humane, do they need to be hauling on the whip 3/4 of the time? If you need to put the fear of God into a horse in order to win I doubt it's having very much fun.

Yeah

[thanatos666.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, don't get me started :)

There are some trainers/owners out there that really love their horses. Like, really. But seriously, there are some that just dont give a damn. A lot of them are dragged into it by the romanticism and big bucks i think, rather than a love of horses, but the romanticism soon wears off and the big bucks, well, they don't always come.

Try telling me that horses are all treated fairly and loved as much as say, they're eventing/pony clubbing counterparts while we watch a lame racehorse dragged out of a claiming race and put into a auction yard with a "meat only" sign around his neck.

As for standardbreds - man, don't get me started! Nige has seen the videos that i showed her and GROSS. It's like tail docking. I want to enjoy horses for the beauty that they are, not beat them into some stupid human idea of beauty.

*gazes wistfully at the horse trials* damn studying.

Re: Yeah

[thanatos666.livejournal.com]

*smacks head* standardbreds. Not saddlebreds.

Yes, standardbreds - the same deal. Not saying they're all bad though.

Stables like Sackatoga Stable (owner of Kentucky Derby winner FUNNY CIDE - the underdog who captured the hearts of horse lovers, race goers and pretty much everyone else in the world) just LOVE their horses. Love em. But eh. grrrr!

I heart Funny Cide.

Re: Yeah

[nigeltde]

Try telling me that horses are all treated fairly and loved as much as say, they're eventing/pony clubbing counterparts
Preeeee-cisely. You know, abuse happens at all levels of the game but really, how can the eventer/rider bond really compare with the racer/jockey bond? Or the racer/owner bond? Really, only grooms would work with a racer every day. In racing, the owners aren't the trainers aren't the grooms aren't the riders. In other sports, one person may be all four - if they're not something, it'd be the groom. I may be wrong but in racing I never see that bond between horse and person that makes riding so magical, and makes top-level equestrian sports so amazing to watch. Except of course in The Black Stallion. Let's all pause a moment to bask in the glory of that movie.

Of course I don't deny the existance of stables such as, as you point out, Sackatoga. Who sound fantastic *g*

[corvus-coronis.livejournal.com]

There was a documentary on SBS a couple of years ago (I forget its exact name) - bit it was about the racing industry (mostly focusing on the British one) & how its basically like a money-driven horse factory. Therewas a quick run-down on the various fates that awaited a racehorse after it was too old/untalented for the track & it was not an easy watch - they had slaughterhouse scenes etc. Even a lot of the ones who did well didnt go on to the best of fates, there was the story about a Grand national/triple crown winner who was found neglected in a field. Going more locally, I've been told that the trotters virtually feed the greyhounds.

ps

[corvus-coronis.livejournal.com]

Remember that recent bit of controversy re' Mummify's jockey - about him facing a charge of "failing to use sufficient vigour" on the horse (i.e not belting M hard "enough" with the whip because he suspected the horse wasnt well) - I wonder how those charges have gone so far?

Re: ps

[thanatos666.livejournal.com]

Yeah, failing to care that the horse was sick! grrrr

Yes, and we know of the fates of such horses as Exceller and Ferdinand. Disgusting.

[nigeltde]

Was that "They Eat Horses, Don't They?"? God, that is a depressing documentary.

I've been told that the trotters virtually feed the greyhounds.
Oh man, that sucks. I mean, maybe it's practical or whatever justification they use but it's hardly respectful. Use and abuse - humans are so fucking shitty to animals :-(