Horse-racing industry cares about its animals

[The Real White Meat]

But Jenny, are you a vegetarian? Something is amiss! Horse/steer/celery????? Or do simply wish for something to bitch about.

[K_HUFF_OWNER_TRA INER]

and I HAVE RESCUED HORSES...placed horses that the owners wanted to find good homes for!!...IT WASN'T RACE HORSE PEOPLE THAT SENT MY BELOVED 2 YR OLD TO THE KILLERS!...IT WAS A SCAM ARTIST THAT TALKED ME OUT OF HER (SAID HE WANTED TO BREED HER TO A PAINT HORSE THE FOLLOWING SPRING!(I'VE NEVER MADE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN!)...I HAVE NEVER LET A HORSE GO TO ANYONE ELSE WITHOUT A CONTRACT AND COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE THAT IT'S TO GO BACK TO ME OR THE ORIGINAL OWNER!!...NONE OF MY OWNERS/FRIENDS ALLOW THIS KIND OF THING!!...YOU ONLY HEAR OF THE BAD IN THIS BUSINESS IN THE NEWS...VERY SELDOM TO YOU HEAR OF THE GOOD!!...LIKE THE HORSES THAT WIND UP AT THE RIDING FOR THE HANDICAPPED PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY!!...I HAVE PLACED 12 HORSES TO GOOD HOMES FOR OTHER OWNERS...INCLUDING 3 OLDER MARES THAT CAN'T BE BRED ANYMORE...THEY ARE COMPANION ANIMALS/BABYSITTERS FOR YOUNG KIDS AND WEANLINGS!
FOR THOSE HEARTLESS BASTARDS POSTING IN HERE TELLING EVERYONE THAT RACE HORSE TRAINERS/OWNERS DON'T CARE...THEY CAN GO TO HE__...I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS 20 YRS. AND I'LL REMAIN IN THIS BUSINESS UNTIL I KILL OVER!

[jenny]

A lot of you have written about how wonderful race horses are treated,let me remind you of the great Alydar and how he died. Alydar was one of the greatest race horses that ever ran,he was also very successful as a stud,he was murdered for the insurance money. AGAIN GREED!

The great Ribot was so abused under the whip of a jockey that he became so rank that only his groom could get in the stall with him.Ribot trusted no human except for that groom.It is true that not all trainers abuse their horses but a great majority do.

I am sorry that it took the tragic death of Eight Belles to bring this to light,but hopefully because of this something major will change for all the rest of these wonderful creatures.It doesn't matter if they are five thousand dollar claimers or run in graded races they all should be treated with the greatest of respect and dignity.

[jenny]

Until I hear the words "I love to be pumped full of drugs, then made to run to my death" from a horse's mouth, horse racing should be BANNED. End of story.

[jenny]

Uh yes, besides the obvious cruelty & selling of tainted meat, like the illegal abuse & slaughter of downed crippled cows the HSUS filmed while undercover in a California meat slaughter plant in Feb., leading to the largest beef recall in US history,here are other reasons why.

The consumption of meat, eggs, & dairy products has been linked to osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, asthma, & male impotence. Scientists have also found that vegetarians have stronger immune systems than meat-eaters; they are less susceptible to everyday illnesses like the flu. Vegetarians live, on average, six to 10 years longer than meat-eaters.
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Have some … pus with your cookies?

If you down a glass of cow’s milk, you will. It may be white, but researchers say that every cupful contains somatic cells, i.e., pus.

The dairy industry knows that there is a problem with pus in milk. Accordingly, it has developed a system known as the “somatic cell count” to measure the amount of pus in milk. The somatic cell count is the standard used to gauge milk quality. The higher the somatic cell count, the more pus in the milk.

The Real White Meat wrote:

But Jenny, are you a vegetarian? Something is amiss! Horse/steer/celery????? Or do simply wish for something to bitch about.

[jenny]

June 15, 2008

New AP Survey

5,000 American racehorses injured & put to death since 2003--Excluding Slaughters!

New Report:(Three deaths a day at U.S. tracks)

Thoroughbred racetracks in the United States reported more than three horse deaths a day last year and 5,000 since 2003, and the vast majority were put down after suffering devastating injuries on the track,...

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory...

[jenny]

You know what K_Huff, this is a forum. The writer & you obviously don't want to read other opinions unless it's to pander & kiss the ass of your profiteering sham of a so called sport. Well, maybe the author shouldn't have posted the article where others can voice an opposite view point & debate the contents.

That's the point of a forum's thread, respond & agree or disagree. And when ones 'facts' are blatantly biased in favor of the racing industry because like most of the 'insiders', they are self serving with a monetary stake in it's demise, it invites criticism from pro-animal rights & welfare advocates who know better & won't back down from saying so.

[jenny]

Horse Racing — the Horror Behind the Glamour
----------

List of Horse Racing's Documented Cruelties


The horse racing industry advertises itself as "glamorous," but in reality, exploitation, welfare violations, cruelty, and premature deaths are an inherent and unavoidable part of this industry based on greed.
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FACTS: Horse Racing to Blame for Overbreeding, Slaughter

1. The horse racing industry causes thousands of horses to be born only to be slaughtered or abandoned to an existence of neglect, starvation, and suffering. There are three reasons for this:

2. Very large numbers must be produced annually to generate a few fast ones to be selected to compete. Of the many thousands bred to race, very few make the grade. The rest must be disposed of.

3. During training or racing, injuries are common. Injured horses are also euthanized or sold from one owner to another into increasingly worse conditions.

4. When race horses have finished their career - usually at a very early age, before they are fully mature - they, too, must be disposed of. Their numbers exceed by far the number of humane retirement facilities.

**The above has been found to be true of every country where this issue has been studied, including England, Germany, Japan, and the* U.S. In the small country of Macau, for example, approximately 300 horses are imported per year, the same number as are retired. Most of those retired are euthanized. Some who do not make the grade, but who can still race, are exported to race and/or to an unknown fate in China or Vietnam.
**********
**A local Macau newspaper published photos of healthy horses (some as young as 4 years old) who were no longer fast enough to win races, being lined up and shot, their bodies dumped at a local landfill. The horses were shot because shooting is a cheaper, though much less humane method of euthanasia than lethal injection.
**********
In the U.S., around 5,000 leave racing every year, the same number who enter it. In every country where horse racing exists, many end up euthanized, slaughtered or sent into a downward spiral of abuse.

Chai International

[jenny]

K_Huff, how did someone 'talk you out of' a supposedly beloved horse? Know what I've read from witnesses in the auction of horses going to slaughter business? That most owners 'pretend' not to know where their 'beloved thoroughbred' will end up when selling it at a horse auction.

But they damn well do know, in reality odds are the horse will end up being purchased by a 'kill buyer' for a few hundred dollars. The 'kill buyer' then loads the 'unwanted horses' which many times are young, healthy racehorses who's only crime was to lose a race into a cattle trailer & off it goes to a Mexican slaughter house.

See, I don't know what happened in your case, but many in the industry say the owners & breeders are lying when they claim not to have known what could happen to the horse & that they thought it would be sold to owners that would take care of it.

They act shocked when they find out their horse was sold to a Mexican or Canadian slaughterhouse & turned into steak for human consumption in France or Belgium.

But the irresponsible 'over breeders' are too ashamed to admit they didn't want to feed & shelter a horse not making money on the racetrack & dumped it like garbage at an auction knowing full well what would happen.

[TomF]

If we ban the slaughterhouses, what will we do with the old and infirm horses? I am already reading stories about large herds of wild horses that are simply abandoned because they are to old or sick. Is this really what we want? I, too, love horses. But to think that we can find homes for these unwanted horses is just fantasyland. It's expensive to keep a horse - even one that can't be used. Instead of banning slaughterhouses, let's put more effort into making sure they are effective and humane. What's next, the beef industry? Adopt-A-Cow?

[Beni Han]

I agree vehemently with the need for newspapers to give more coverage for horse racing. Horse racing is almost always,.."other sports""" .. Some papers dont even name it.

Positive covering of the racing industry will help race horses more than anything.

[leeann]

Do you not comprehend what the problem is? Slaughter is a convenient dumping ground for excessive breeding.

Jess Jackson-Curlin owner said that the horse racing industry used to breed to race, now it races to breed. Breeding & slaughtering has become a profitable little side racket all on it's own, without the racing part. Your young healthy horse loses a race, hell, it's straight from the stable to the table in 7 days! Euthanizing humanely costs a couple hundred bucks, why waste money on that when you can earn a few hundred having your losing but healthy racehorse slaughtered and turned into meatloaf on someones plate in France. Irresponsible greedy breeders are the problem, they must stop over breeding. Slaughter is not the answer, they are the problem, they need to STOP IT!

Horse Racing to Blame for Overbreeding, Slaughter of young healthy horses!!

TomF wrote:

If we ban the slaughterhouses, what will we do with the old and infirm horses? I am already reading stories about large herds of wild horses that are simply abandoned because they are to old or sick. Is this really what we want? I, too, love horses. But to think that we can find homes for these unwanted horses is just fantasyland. It's expensive to keep a horse - even one that can't be used. Instead of banning slaughterhouses, let's put more effort into making sure they are effective and humane. What's next, the beef industry? Adopt-A-Cow?

[leeann]

1. The horse racing industry causes thousands of horses to be born only to be slaughtered or abandoned to an existence of neglect, starvation, and suffering. There are three reasons for this:

2. Very large numbers must be produced annually to generate a few fast ones to be selected to compete. Of the many thousands bred to race, very few make the grade. The rest must be disposed of.

3. Most thoroughbreds are owned by corporations that have no interest in them aside from making money; such owners don’t hesitate to sell horses to a slaughterhouse "kill buyer" when they break down.

4. Irresponsible Breeders--

We propose that American horse slaughter becomes an ugly chapter in our history. We propose that Europeans butcher their own horses, not ours.
__________

Two states have already tried to bring the kill houses back and the bills were shut down before the ink was dry. The vast majority of Americans don’t want horse slaughter. The asset was the horse when he was racing, providing community service or being a companion before he got old and lame.

BTW-old and lame horses are not the horses going to slaughter.(The meat men want healthy horses with meat on their bones.)

(How about setting aside money the horse has earned to provide for their retirement?)

**********

The Breed and Dump Cycle--

(How about educating owners and breeders on responsibility? Don’t breed more than you can afford to take care of. Don’t buy another horse if you can’t afford to care for the horses you have.)

The folks whining the loudest are those that want an outlet for their mistakes. They breed and breed and when the foals don’t meet the grade, ship ‘em off to slaughter. They are causing the problem and they need to figure out how to fix it.

(Slaughter isn’t the answer. It hasn’t been the answer in over 20 years because slaughter pays them to be irresponsible!)

[leeann]

93% of all racehorses slaughtered are not old, lame or injured. They are young healthy horses who have lost races and because they don't make money are disposed of like garbage.

Quote from a slaughterhouse worker:

"You move so fast, you don't have time to wait till a horse bleeds out. You skin him as he bleeds. Sometimes a horse's nose is down in the blood, blowing bubbles, and he suffocates."
[TOP]

From the book "Slaughterhouse" by Gail Eisnitz
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"Meat Men" prefer flesh of young American horses

"I only buy American meat, which is red and firm. In butchering terms we call it 'well-structured', the best you can get. Out of a thousand animals, only the American ones are really worth buying. But they don’t eat horsemeat in America. They raise horses for foreigners."

A Butcher in France.[2]

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Industry Promotes False Image Of Racehorses

The industry promotes the false image of race horses retiring to lives of luxury as pets, well-cared-for riding horses, or stud horses. In reality, when horses can no longer race, they are usually sent to slaughterhouses.

***Former Champion 'Hallo Dandy' Discovered Scarred, Emanciated Forgotten:

Some have been discovered weak, emaciated, and forgotten. Even champion prize winners, once their racing days are over, have been found in appalling conditions. The 1984 UK Grand National winner "Hallo Dandy" was found in a field, thin, with scars on his back, and his ribs poking through.

***Abusers Unpunished, Undetected:

Legislators in the U.S. and England have tried to regulate the industry through statutes and regulations, but these attempts at control are often circumvented. Fraudulent and criminal practices are inherent in horse racing despite the best efforts of controlling authorities and extensive laws. Severe and widespread abuse of racehorses usually goes unpunished, or even undetected.
__________

[jenny]

Jess Jackson Testifies Before Congressional Subcommittee

Curlin Owner Calls for Establishing Major League for Thoroughbred Horse
Racing, Ban on Drugs


WASHINGTON, June 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/--

Jess Jackson, majority owner of (2007 Horse of the Year Curlin) today asked Congress to support major reforms.

***The industry's "broken business model" depends on profits from breedingrather than racing, Jackson said, noting that current estimates are thathorse owners invest $4.3 billion a year for a chance to compete forapproximately $1.1 billion in purses. "There is every incentive to shortenhorses' racing careers, racing them too young and retiring them too soon, in order to get them to stud sooner ... " he said.

***"We used to breed torace. Now we race to breed." Compounding the problem, he said, "The industry focuses excessively on breeding horses for early, brilliant speed at relatively short distances.

***Today too many breeders end up producing heavily conformed upper body muscled horses with relatively fragile legs. It's like having Arnold Schwarzenegger's body and Don Knotts' legs. We need stamina and durability
as well as speed."

Jackson saw the great thoroughbred **Seabiscuit run in a race not far from his home as a child. "That memory has stayed with me all these years, and helped forge a strong affection for horses and a deep appreciation of their beauty, power, elegance and athleticism."
**********
About Stonestreet/Farms Jesse Jackson

Owned by Jess Jackson, Stonestreet Farms and Stonestreet Stables currently race several dozen thoroughbreds and maintain over 100 broodmares in their breeding operations. Stonestreet Stables is the majority owner of Curlin, 2007 Horse of the Year.
**********

Jesse Jackson has reaffirmed everything I've said on this forum. He's been involved with racehorses for over 60 years & has more knowledge than any 'industry insider' expert. Jackson accuses the horse racing industry to be driven by profit more than concern for the horses bell being.

Curlin's owner complained breeders now breed thoroughbreda to have fragile legs, when years ago the racehorses were much stronger, which I said on this forum & some narrow minds gave me shi* over it. Disagree with that, you are arguing with a legend who puts your knowledge to shame. Just like the greedy industry, you are making feeble excuses for your own selfish reasons. Or maybe you hate progress for animal rights and will argue against everything they fight for.

[PETA Sucks]

jenny, do you use hormone replacement therapy or insulin? I ask since your so hell bent on condeming anything you don't agree with that you couldn't possibly use any product that animals have helped produce could you?

Perhaps you should research PMU farms. I can tell you for a fact that racehorses are treated MUCH better than the poor horses in the PMU farms.

Insulin is the product of animal research. If you want to speak out about "animal cruelty" as you call it, there are plenty of causes(PMU farm horses, animal research animals, fur farms etc) that could use your help.

To make the broad statement that most trainers abuse their horses is like saying that all PETA members are crazy terrorists that resort to violence to make their points. While there may be a few problem trainers in racing, the same can be said about animal rights groups.

Don't judge the entire racing industry based on a few negative reports you've seen since PETA and others like them are the ultimate hypocrits and spin machines constantly scewing/omitting facts to support their own causes.

jenny wrote:

Uh yes, besides the obvious cruelty & selling of tainted meat, like the illegal abuse & slaughter of downed crippled cows the HSUS filmed while undercover in a California meat slaughter plant in Feb., leading to the largest beef recall in US history,here are other reasons why.
The consumption of meat, eggs, & dairy products has been linked to osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, asthma, & male impotence. Scientists have also found that vegetarians have stronger immune systems than meat-eaters; they are less susceptible to everyday illnesses like the flu. Vegetarians live, on average, six to 10 years longer than meat-eaters.
__________
Have some … pus with your cookies?
If you down a glass of cow’s milk, you will. It may be white, but researchers say that every cupful contains somatic cells, i.e., pus.
The dairy industry knows that there is a problem with pus in milk. Accordingly, it has developed a system known as the “somatic cell count” to measure the amount of pus in milk. The somatic cell count is the standard used to gauge milk quality. The higher the somatic cell count, the more pus in the milk.
<quoted text>

[TomF]

Leann

You are obviously someone who cares very much for her cause. Unfortunately, you have decided to allow emotions to run rampant over facts. The horse racing industry is not, in fact, made up of large corporations. Go to Penn National or any other lower tier track and point out to us the major corporations. The reality is that this is an industry of many people who own only one or two horses, and they care very deeply for their horses and the sport. There are some horrible owners who make everyone look bad, but fortunately, they are in the minority. Furthermore, most jockeys are in favor of banning steroids and pain-killing drugs - as am I. Also, it's true that we need to get back to emphasizing durability in thoroughbreds. However, to think that the majority of breeders and owners see these great animals as nothing but easily disposed of commodities does nothing to help the issues - it only makes well-meaning individuals like yourself look like a screaming, frothing at the mouth lunatic. And I don't think that's what you want.

[petaisbad]

http://www.petakillsanimals.com/

Speaking of Barbaro, perhaps you should take a look at how many horses his fans have rescued...and NOT all from the track!!!

[petaisbad]

"I am sorry that it took the tragic death of Eight Belles to bring this to light,but hopefully because of this something major will change for all the rest of these wonderful creatures.It doesn't matter if they are five thousand dollar claimers or run in graded races they all should be treated with the greatest of respect and dignity."

Fans and a huge majority of horsemen (if you know what that means) have been saying that about respect and dignity forever. Where have you been????

[petaisbad]

Give me some figures of good vs. bad in the horse industry. You can't because the good FAR outweighs the bad...and gets no coverage, no preaching from the PETA-ites and their cronies!!!