Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy
Brooke Pieters
English 105
Macy McDonald
30 March 2018
Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy
I know being on such a large college campus with diverse interests that there are some horse people out there. For those who have never been around horses I know you have heard of horse racing. Most likely what comes to mind is the Kentucky Derby because it is the one of the largest races, with 19.1 million viewers last year. Gaining a 9.3/10 rating which is an impeccable rating for such a short race, due to the hype and potential fortune that one could win from betting. Unfortunately, most people do not understand the truth behind horse racing, no one has a clue as to what goes on in the barns, or what these horses go through. The truth is horse racing is glorified and inhumane, allowing the potential for winning large amounts of money take over our humanity. Since we are all around the age of 18 we are now allowed to gamble, so for those who have gone know what a rush it can give. Make you feel like you are living on the edge. Also, being a college student means large debt, so why not gamble 20 bucks when you could end up winning so much? Betting on horse racing is different though because then it’s not just a machine but an actual animal who has no idea why it’s being forced to run or treated so horribly. Taking one characteristic of the extreme athleticism within this breed and declaring that the only characteristic. In reality their athleticism reaches far beyond speed and endurance. So my point of writing this is because we are the next generation to start going off into the real world, and I know that we can be the ones to make a change in this sport, hopefully stopping it. In order for us to make that change you need to understand what these horses go through, once you do I know you all will want to make this change as well.
The stereotype of people who ride horses is that “the rider does nothing, they just sit there” that is so inaccurate. Horse jumping/ dressage/ eventing are all Olympic sports, and I’m almost positive that an Olympic sport wouldn’t be one where someone just sits there. Being an Olympic athlete is an honor, its shows work and dedication so the fact that this sport is an Olympic sport should show the difficulty and work it takes to actually ride a horse and be great at it. Many of the horses you see in the Olympics are not ones who have started their career on a racetrack because normally a life on the track results in death at the end of their racing career. Thoroughbreds are extremely fast, approximately 44 mph, also 405 meters covered in 20 seconds. We took this amazing ability and made them run, and that turned their fate to racing, for centuries now. That’s like taking a race within the human population and then allowing that entire race of people to do only one thing because they had one characteristic that worked for that one thing. Imagine being born into a race where the only thing you did was play music, but what if you weren’t good at that but great at something else? Unfortunately, you would be stuck there, just like thoroughbreds are stuck to racing. Giving them a bad rep in other disciplines like jumping. It has gotten to the point where some barns even refuse to allow any off the track thoroughbreds in their barns. What must don’t understand is that horse racing turned them into these insane crazy animals, but once they are out of that lifestyle they are allowed to thrive, showing their athleticism in other disciplines.
A great example of the talent this breed has beyond the racetrack was shown in “Touch of Class”. A small mare born April 27th1973 where her career started on the racetrack. She didn’t show her true talent because she wasn’t happy being forced to run. Her career fizzled out of racing due to her “lack of talent” said by the owner. She then was up for sale and luckily was bought even after failing a pre-purchase exam due to minor injuries that had gotten severely worse when not cared for properly.
“Touch of Class” started a new career in show jumping after some rehabilitation. By 1981 she was already competing at the Grand Prix level being very successful. She also won the world championships in Dublin. She made it all the way to the Olympics winning double gold in 1984 and becoming one of the best Olympic horses in US history, giving one of the most exciting Olympic jump offs. Touch of Class was inducted in the Jumping hall of fame in 2000 still known today for her immense talents and was even compared to the Olympic long-distance runner Zola Budd. Her owner always talked about her true heart and insane drive with her speedy ways.
Sadly at the end of her career she didn’t get a relaxing retirement because she was then used for breeding, popping out baby after baby. We all know the struggle we go to in order to avoid getting pregnant, imagine being forced to, one after the other. This showing how we just abuse horses. Taking a horse with such loyalty and heart and using them until the end, never just appreciating how much they actually give us. Touch of Class just like all the other thoroughbreds give us everything they have, loving us and trusting us. Giving us their hearts, with nothing in return.
"Touch of Class" in 1984 Olympics
I want to inform everyone on the history of horse racing, so you can understand how long it has been around. It has almost become a dynasty which is why it would be hard to stop it, but it can be done. In ways like not giving them our money, quit attending the races, even just educate other people about the truth. The more people we have speaking out the better. Horse racing began way before “Touch of Class” was born. The first racetrack was laid out in long island in 1665 and is one of the most widely attended spectator sports in America. By 1984 there were 314 operating tracks across the United states. In 2003 money generated from horse racing peaked at 15.2 billion dollars just in people placing bets. Not only is there billions of dollars generated by the racetracks themselves but also by the breeders. Arrogate who won $17,422,600 just from 11 races is now a stud for breeding. His stud fee will start at $75,000 and with an impeccable record this will only go up.
The breeding within this sport was based on the desire to breed champions based on two principles. The first principle is that horses with superior racing abilities are more likely to produce successful offspring. The second is that horses with certain purebred traits that are desired are more likely to pass these traits to there offspring, continuing the champion blood line. Which we all know is false because Secretariat sired over 700 foals and none of them even compared to his abilities. For those who do not know who he is, he is considered still today, to be the greatest race horse to ever live. Even for “Touch of Class” none of her foals were comparable to her. Think about famous athletes who have children with no athletic ability.
On average there are about 45,000-22,000 racehorses breed per year. Only about 5% to 10% will see a racetrack, vast majority of horses competing in the US will spend careers in lower-level racing, never reaching public eye. Not reaching the breeding bids that could lead to an early retirement, meaning a long career until bodies and winnings wear down, finally leaving the track, but with an uncertain future. The uncertain future normally leads them to slaughter. These horses are bred to be killed. The other 90-95% of Thoroughbreds that were not fast enough for the track will either be adopted or sent to slaughter if not adopted fast enough. Owners don’t keep them around for too long because it’s to expensive to feed and house them.
That 5-10% who are fast enough to see a racetrack generally start race training or actual racing at age 2. At this age their skeletal systems are still growing and unprepared to handle the pressures of the hard track and exasperated requirements for racing. A horse is generally not fully matured until the age of about 4-5 years old. Due to this many young horses will rip tendons and get hairline fractures that are hard to diagnose by a vet, these injuries will go unseen and will get to a state that is irreversible.
Serious injuries will lead these horses to become addicted to illegal drugs that the owners pump them full of in order to keep them racing when they shouldn’t be. Not only are they given drugs to hide the pain but also to control bleeding in the lungs. At such a young age the lungs are still developing, and the harshness of race training will actually cause bleeding in the lungs. The owners will give the horses Lasix which is used to control this bleeding but causes serious dehydration. The medication is given in the form of a water pill (put in water). Lasix works by reducing blood plasma, which reduces blood pressure in the lungs, but increases urine output and frequency. This is where the phrase “I have to pee like a racehorse” came from because after a race the horses have to pee so much due to this drug. After the race the horses will slug down up to 15 gallons of water due to losing so much in sweat and urine. All this water at once can cause them to colic and die. In addition, it will leave many of these horses with extreme breathing problems. I’m sure many of you do not have addictions to drugs but think about your family members, people who are alcoholics or took a wrong turn down the path of hard drugs. See the struggle that they go through with that addiction, but they had a choice, these horses do not. They don’t have a voice, we are their only voice and we haven’t been doing a great job at protecting them.
These horses are given so many drugs every day. Drugs for pain daily as well as Lasix and they are pumped full of steroids to improve their performance. Also drugs to calm them down after races. They need the calming drug because they aren’t allowed to run around in a pasture or be free, they are either racing or in their stall.
Hiding the pain with drugs will mask the injury leading to a severity that even the most powerful drugs cannot mask. When they get to this point if they are able to load on a trailer they will go to auction. With the fate of a slaughterhouse because no one will invest in a horse with such serious injuries. Those who are too far gone to load onto a trailer are euthanized at the track, thrown into a pile where they wait for a truck to pick them up and dispose of their bodies. Horses who are lucky enough to make it to Thoroughbred rehabilitation centers still don’t have an easy life. I talked to Lauren Linn who works at one of these centers who states:
“Weening these horses off the medications routine to racing can take months, it is so difficult to watch them struggle through withdrawal symptoms from the vicious drugs they were given when they were racing to keep them on the track. We see them not only struggle with withdrawal but also just general movements because they are in so much pain due to the intensity of the injuries.”
To show you how far these racehorse trainers allow these injuries to go is shown below. Does this injury look familiar? It should if you watch UFC or have a twitter. Anderson Silvia vs. Chris Wideman shows the same kind of injury.
The only difference between these two injuries is due to the fact that humans can go to therapy and heal getting intense surgeries in order to completely heal. When it comes to horses they are just killed, why? Because they don’t understand that they cant put any weight on that foot, they will still try to move around. You can try to force them to lay down but if they lay down to much they get pressure sores because they are such large animals. You could use a giant sling to lift them up so they aren’t on their feet at all, but again they will get sores. Also, it will take months to get them to actually get into the sling and not freak out. Horses are flight animals when they get scared they run, it’s their natural instinct. Surgery is another option but intense surgery’s like this would not only cost a bundle but also neither impossible for the horse to recover. Not to mention people in the race horse industry do not care enough to consider any other options, they just say euthanize them because it’s the cheapest and easiest option. These horses are seen as nothing but a tool to win.
The breeding of the thoroughbred has become a serious issue as well. They keep breeding the thoroughbreds for “Flashy speed and beauty” which has lead to very fragile horses, more susceptible to injuries. While they become more slender and bulky, their ankles and legs become slenderer which will lead to many orthopedic problems and many fractures.
Owners of these horses also have the farriers shape the hoof into a shape that will have the hoof act like a shovel, so that the hoof can dig into the track and give them more power forward. The horses are now running on their toes which is equivalent to us trying to walk with only our middle fingers. Seems nearly impossible when you think about it, but once again they have no choice. Imagine getting to practice and your coach tells you “were doing sprints today on our middle fingers” and your only choice is to do it or quit. Luckily you would walk away still living the rest of your life, these horses would leave either dead, or with the fate of death.
Thoroughbreds are well known for their energetic personalities, like a person with ADHD, they are always moving around. They are also known for their desire to please their “person” they are loving, caring and protective. Lauren Linn who works at the Rehabilitation center adopted one of the thoroughbreds at the center, she states:
“My horse see’s me walking down to the barn and runs to the
gate waiting for me. My horse has given me his heart. He takes
care of me, protects me and trusts me. When he sees me there
is this light in his eyes and I know that I’m his whole world.
Thoroughbreds are the most compassionate breed I have
owned they crave love, and they give love with the most
boisterous personalities. They are one of the most beautiful and
powerful breeds in the world.”
So why do we take such a talented and loving breed and mistreat them this way? Stripping them of their personalities and abusing them. The truth is devastating and horrific. Its hidden because of the amount of money it generates. We glorify horse racing and have made it into such a big thing, now that the truth is out let’s fix our mistakes. We should allow the breed to return if possible to where they were before humans interfered. We should allow this breed to be happy again and allow them to show us what their niche is and what they want to do, let them show us where their true talents lay. Instead of seeing thoroughbreds as just racehorses let us see them as any other breed being successful in all disciplines. It can be done the issue just needs more support, we need more voices. I can’t tell you what will happen when we do this, all I know is that the world will be changed, the world will be amazed.
Works Cited
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Peterson, Dan. “Kentucky Derby Horses More Fragile, But Not Faster .” Live Science, 1 May 2009, 11:12 am, www.livescience.com/7762-kentucky-derby-horses-fragile-faster.html.
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Reuters, Jamie. “Horse Racing's Decline in Popularity Sparks a Debate on What Can Be Done to Save the Sport.” Newsweek, 11 June 2016, www.newsweek.com/horse-racing-fading-revenue-popularity-457123.
Taylor, Marianne. “Touch Of Class: 1984 Olympic Double Gold Medal Winner and Show Jumping Hall Of Fame Inductee.” EquestrianCoach.com Blog, Equestrian Coach Blog , 4 Aug. 2016, equestriancoachblog.com/touch-of-class-1984-olympic-double-gold-medal-winner-and-show-jumping-hall-of-fame-inductee/.
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