Sadly its Melbourne Cup time of year again.
That time of year where it is hard to continue being an ostrich and pretending that a lot of horses are NOT being mis-treated, raced to death, or subjected to pain and fear for human enjoyment.
There are a lot of things wrong with this industry.
The industry itself has outgrown its family connections, and spilled over from being a life or vocation - into the world of money. Big sport. A world of high stakes, prestige and gambling.
This means decisions are often not made for the animal anymore, but for the machine. There are so many facets of racing nowthat are detrimental to the horses wellbeing.
Over the next few weeks I will mention a few of these issues – Some being
Deaths in racing –
* 175 deaths recorded at race meetings for the 2025 year
https://horseracingkills.com/issues/deathwatch/
Wastage – ie numbers bred that don’t stay in the industry
Whipping horses so humans can win more money
Racing babies / breakdowns
Incorrect housing and feeding – ulcers / Behavioural problems / stereotypies
To anyone who would like to spout the “treated like kings” fallacy – Before you do I will briefly mention ulcers.
Ulcers are generally attributed to stress and incorrect feed regimes. High carbohydrates, and lack of roughage. Feed that is not available 24/7. Just because the feed product is expensive and designed for racing, doesn’t mean it is right. (It is akin to feeding a dog chocolates and wine)
Equine Vet J Suppl. 1999 Apr:(29):34-9.doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb05166.x.
Cross-sectional study of gastric ulcers of the squamous mucosa in thoroughbred racehorses
N J Vatistas 1, J R Snyder, G Carlson, B Johnson, R M Arthur, M Thurmond, H Zhou, K L Lloyd
>>>Two hundred and two Thoroughbred horses in active race training were selected. The number of ulcers and a score of severity were determined. Gastric ulceration of the squamous mucosa was identified in 82% of horses.
Randwick*Procedure: Medical records from gastroscopic examinations of 345 racehorses (331 Thoroughbreds and 14 Standardbreds) were reviewed. Prevalence, distribution and severity of gastric ulcers were recorded. Lesions involving the squamous mucosa and the glandular mucosa of the antrum and pylorus were graded and compared.
Results: Gastric ulceration was found in 86% of racehorses.
(6) The prevalence and distribution of gastric ulceration in
345 racehorses Aust Vet J Vol 81, No 4, April 2003 LM Begg and CB O’Sullivan.
Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., an equine nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research (KER).
That study reported the following statistics:
• Only 37% of untrained Thoroughbreds have ulcers, but that rate increases to 80-100% within 2-3 months of training;
Also Kentucky equine research – and I found this *horrifying*
• Similarly, weanling foals have equally high rates of ulcers. Stress caused by changes in routine is thought to be an important contributor to the development of gastric ulcers
Abrupt and forced weaning of thoroughbred foals at 3-4mth old is often the norm. In wild horse herds weaning generally takes place naturally around 10-12mths of age.
Abrupt weaning of babies described as ‘changes in routine’?
These euphemisms are used to try to sugarcoat or cover up the facts
Some of these wrongs done to the horse should be raising welfare concerns. Yet it is often what is in plain sight that is hardest to see.
And they are such gentle, harmonious creatures.
