End Cruelty To Horses In Racing And Other Busisnesses
- by: Lucy
- recipient: Head Of Corporation
1. Animals have no voice to tell humans they are in pain or do not like what they are being forced to do. For example, a horse who tries to communicate that they are in pain by bucking, kicking out ect will be punished due to 'Bad Behavior'. this in itself is wrong- you are taking away the animals right to express itself and usually, if the problem is ignored, it can lead to more serious problems which can often end up being fatal. Although it appears in the owner/jockey's best interest to listen to the horse, this is sadly not often the case and horses are still forced to be raced and ridden despite the fact they are in immense pain. It is not uncommon to see a horse in pain being drugged to mask the pain and carry on 'working'. Can nobody see this is wrong?
2. Jockeys are actually required to carry whips, although they are not forced to use them. This of course does not stop them using them excessively, sometimes leaving visible painful wounds which commonly require stitching. Horse racing is the only context where using a whip is allowed and even though jockeys are only allowed to use the whip 7 times per race, they often break this rule and continue to use the whip an unreasonable amount. Some studies have shown that using the whip actually has no real effect other than causing distress and pain to the animal, so is there really need for it at all?
3. Some horse riding schools are passively cruel to their animals. They are worked hard for as much as 4 hours a day, occasionally in extreme cases. Their work often ranges from an hour of walking and trotting to an hour of jumping 90cm courses, frequently higher. Sometimes, they are not given rests in between and its not rare to see a horse take part in an hours jumping lessons and then be used in another lesson straight after. This amount of hard exercise is unnatural to the horse and can cause a variety of problems including straining on the legs and exhaustion. In the time horses are not working, they are often stood around in tack wet from sweat, regularly without a sufficient cool down after working. This can cause rubs from the saddle and muscle spasms. Riding schools often teach stable management lessons alongside riding lessons, so why do they fail in looking after their own animals?
Dear sir or madam,
I am writing to you to discuss my concerns about the horse racing industry, why it needs to change and why. I hope to you take the time to read this and take my points into consideration.
Firstly, the speed of which horses race at and the height of the jumps is unnatural and straining to their legs. The painful effects of this height of jumps can range from a straining of a leg, scratches and open wounds and bruises to the sickening, fatal falls, broken bones and fractured spines. This in itself is bad enough, but it is not uncommon for these horses to be given pain numbing drugs such as bute and to carry on working. Not only do the horses finnish with injuries, but the speed at which they are forced to run can lead them to exhaustion and can put a horse through an extremly agonising death. Do you not see this as wrong? The fences which they have no choice but to jump, are hazardous and, as I'm sure you're aware, can lead to deathly falls and flailing limbs. Why do you find that it is ok to put an innocent creature which is quite literally running its heart out to please its jockey though a turmoil of pain and distress to entertain the public? This is not ok. To lesson the chance of such fatal and arduous injuries, I suggest placing a limit on the speed at which the horses are aloud to race and lowering the fences by at least 30cm.
Secondly, although there is now a seven time per race limit on the riders using a whip, I'm sure you're aware that the majority of riders do not confide to this rule at all. It is completley absurd to use the whip at all in these races as it causes a lot of distress and pain to the horse. Not only is it cruel, it is betraying the horse that you have the privlige of riding by beating it in order to win a race. Some studies have shown that the use of the whip actually has no real affect other than causing wounds and quite frankly- being useless. I find it completly demoralizing that the use of the whip is still accepted in society today. If raising a hand to a child is considered child abuse and raising a hand to a dog is considered animal abuse, why is consistently raising a whip to a horse and beating him while running him through the ground not considered animal abuse? To put an end to this disgusting behavoir, i suggest you put a ban on the use of the whip at all.
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