The Legendary Sport
Published by GHC • May 6th, 2007 • Category: Junior Bloggers, Showing and Sport, by Madelainaby Madelaina, age 11
Horse racing is highly popular around the world. In Hong Kong, flat-track racing is frequent and they have several racehorses in different suburbs. Steeple-chasing is also an active, fast and blood-hurtling sport where horses sail over high jumps and gallop fast to catch up when there’s flat ground. Both of these sports include many casualties; ambulances and vets are always on standby. Racing is very exciting indeed, but I think it is torture for the horses.
It is true trained horses love to run, and some face serious damage that may cost them their lives, but they boldly race out, oblivious to the consequences. It is unfair those horses have to break their legs and end their lives when they were just recklessly racing other competitive Thoroughbreds. Just one race can harm a beautiful soul.
It is also very harsh to whip them on when they are trying their best or could go no faster. The jockeys care about whether they win or not (though I understand some jockeys aren’t like that) and they tend to push their horses hard.
However, like I mentioned before, some horses love to race, and when they are racing it is the best thing in life for them. It is also a way to earn money, though that isn’t always guaranteed.
Whichever way you may see it, horse racing had been in action for years. When the Greeks first held the Olympics, they used to drive the horses. It is very exciting, breathtaking, nerve-racking, dangerous, and risky, but it is always, always something to do with what we love most; horses.
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Horse racing has a lot of controversy. I think it depends on the point of view of the person. In my oppinion, I don’t think all horses enjoy racing but they do it so willingly because it’s all they know. Yet, there are so many legendary race horses. it makes you think. Would Barbaro still be here is he was an english pleasure horse or a western trail horse?
Nice opinion piece Madelaina — you’re courageous to take a stand for your beliefs. At Girls Horse Club, we think the golden rule (treat others as you would like to be treated) applies equally to animals.
On a positive note, I found Horses First through their ads on our site and was happy to see people dedicated to making a difference in the way racehorses are kept, trained and cared for around the world. Click here to check out Horses First!
I believe in free speaking, too. Horse racing is wonderful, but at the same time terrible. Many people overlook the beauty, convection, hard work, and sense of freedom horse racing can represent, for all they care about is the money. I can’t imagine what it is like to be whipped, and be locked in a tiny starting gate. However some horses are born to run, and love their job. Good point, Madelaina.
Thank you HorsePonyLover and Julia I believe Barbaro would be very confused with a normal saddle and he would charge around at full speed! LeadMare do I sed a better written last sentence through the normal submission forms?
Madelaina: You can send changes through the form or in a comment. We won’t post the comment, but will make the edits.
LeadMare: Ok. Thank you very much.
Thank you GHC for correcting the last sentence.
Has anyone here ever been to a horse race?
I’ve never actually been to see an actual horse race but i do ride ex-racers very often. It really depends on the way you look at it. I mean in a way i think it’s a fun sport, the horses are bred to enjoy the thrill of racing. Sure they may be whipped but it’s just the thought that they keep running, no matter what. Why would a horse run if it didn’t enjoy what it was doing? But in a way i also understand how it’s perceived as a unfair sport.
Me neither. And I understand Monica. But really, we don’t know what the horses think, as all their lives all they ever did were race. They haven’t seen showjumping or dressage or western or anything like that. Racing is what they are familiar wih from the very beginning.
I think they should stop using whips in races. Don’t you?
marisa, I think we should end horse racing altogether including steeple chasing
ya.
I wish there was a way Anna.
I fink that if horse racin stopped, all the racin thouroughbreds would b sent 2 salughter so i fink there shud just b more rules like no whips
ya that’s true em. and why would they whip horses if they r already running as fast as they could. its cruel
em and madeaina : that’s not the way to solve a problem. What we need to do is retire all racehorses to pleasure or something else.
But it is going to be very hard to learn it Anna. All they’ve known to do was run all their lives. And I agree it is best with no whips. Horses love to run, and they tend to be very competitive. At the Horses First website it says they use no whips and give horses natural horsemanship training methods. They seem very nice.
I probably wont be here a lot in June as I am going to Europe. I really hope I see some horses:) I’m kind of interested in the Royal Mews, but I don’t think they have any horses on display.
anna: Not all horses can be retired to something different. Don’t you think it would help if whips were not used, the horses were trained in maybe two disciplines,and all races were hel under a relaxed, controlled environment?
Madelaina: Have a great trip. We were in Europe last year around this time (Ireland and London) — loved it. Hope you’ll write about your adventure for the book club or blog!
Whips must feel painful and horses dont desreve to be whipped if they r running as fast as they can.
They should also stop racing grey hounds.
What is steeple chasing? is that when the horses run really fast and jump over the hurdles?
Wow I hope you had a great trip LeadMare. Even if I don’t see any horses, I will still write a story and spice it up with some fantasy.
Yes Marisa. And I really understand your strong will to stop animal cruelty, and you speak very loud. But sometimes things just have to be. And I have to agree many times I feel very uncomfortable with all the things humans can do.
I was thinking now that the Kentucky Derby has passed, how will we remember Barbaro?
Will he be forever in our minds as the horse who was put down, or will we remember him as the beautiful horse who won the 2006 Kentucky Derby? Hopefully he will be a champion when he is remembered!
guys you have to understand horses are breaking their legs for this sport!!!
It doesn’t make sense. These people race their horses and they get hurt and get put down by their masters just because they can’t race anymore. horses are suposed to be your frends not just “pets” or “money making machines”. It’s not right.
Exactly Marisa. I’ve seen horse racing, people treat them like a vending machine. They don’t care about their welfare.
Exactly
Did anyone see the Preakness Stakes?
I didn’t:( I know that Curlin beat Street Sense, though!
I have to admit that watching the horses race excites me! I do enjoy horse racing.
I just dont like the idea of horses injuring themselves. If it was horse racing was ever stopped, lots of people would get very mad!
I am a great racing fan, but whipping the horses is just plain wrong. I really don’t like steeplechasing because when horses fall over the jump, it doesn’t have a strong chance of living :(.
Ponyprincess: I saw the preakness!! I even wrote a story on it!
Racing is an exciting, yet dangerous sport. If the rules and restrictions of racing were changed it could be much more enjoyable for us and the horse. Actually, I read the whipping doesn’t hurt the horse. It’s just an extra aid to tell the horse to speed up. Some jockeys abuse it though and do hurt the animals. Thats when racing isn’t fun anymore.
Julia: I know it doesn’t hurt but…
Everyone: If racing never started then we wouldn’t have the great medicin to save horses when they are hurt.
Tori, I never thought of it like that. Basically, all horse sports are dangerous. Even showmansip has its dangers. I think we tend to pick out racing as the dangerous sport because of all the accidents that occured during it. If Barbaro was a hunter jumper and had broke his leg because a pole got tangled between them, would we think this way about jumping? Just a thought.
Hmm you do have a point Tori.
Julia: I don’t know. I realy don’t know.
Tori, you are really smart! I could never think like that! :D Good thinking, Tori! :) Keep up the good work.