[horselover0129]

Does anyone else feel that horse racing is mean and horrible? Well i do,i used to think horse racing was fun to watch and i liked it but then i got a ex race horse and she had gotten beat from the crop so badly by the jockey she had scars all over and neck and i have hated horse racing ever sence then. i think it is horrible how they hit those horses with the crops like that. My horse was afraid of crops and of most people because she thought they were going to beat her like on the track. Sry if anyone liked horse racing but i just hate it.

[::Miss Kitty::]

Are you sure the marks are from whips? Jockeys (here anyway) are not allowed to hit a horse on the neck, just wave the whip where they can see it. There are also huge fines for leaving marks on a horse. I work with thoroughbred racehorses and I can tell you its anything but cruel.

[horselover0129]

We were told from her past owners that owned her right from when she got off the track that it was from the crop. We have no actual proof though were just believing the people.

[::Miss Kitty::]

How would the jockey possibly be able to hit the horses neck hard enough to leave marks while sitting on the horse? I could understand marks on the hindquarters (it would be awful but seems more likely). I bet its from the horse playing with buddies in the paddock or something. One of our racehorses has scars on his neck from when he was a foal.

[horselover0129]

Im not sure but i still don't like horse racing,its just my personal opinion

[::Miss Kitty::]

I love it, but everyones entitled to their own opinion

[WR Fancy Dancer]

When I was 13-14 I worked at a Thoroughbred racing farm, and the horses were all great. The jockies were really nice, and the horses weren't whip-shy at all. I think it, like any thing else, depends on the farm and the people. I mean, in saddleseat you can have big-name farms that scar the horses for life, then you can have the type of horse that used to be an awesome saddleseat horse, but is now a nice trail horse!

Also, I agree with Miss Kitty, most of the racetracks around here have strict rules around here involving whiping the horses, and that many of them simply show the horse the whip.

Too bad about your mare though, good luck with her!

[::Miss Kitty::]

I can tell you that race horses are treated like gods (and goddesses ) When they poop, someone is right behind them to clean it up. They are groomed and taken care of everyday. They are fed well and get regular excercise. They have the best of everything and even if you may not think so, they like what they do. If I showed you photos of our horses running, you would see their ears forward and I can tell you they can't wait to get out on the track.

[WR Fancy Dancer]

Yea, the horses at BroadWall (the farm I worked at) were loving life! Granted, there were the few who didn't run extremely well, but they were still kept for the way they did run.

[::Miss Kitty::]

When I was 13-14 I worked at a Thoroughbred racing farm, and the horses were all great. The jockies were really nice, and the horses weren't whip-shy at all. I think it, like any thing else, depends on the farm and the people. I mean, in saddleseat you can have big-name farms that scar the horses for life, then you can have the type of horse that used to be an awesome saddleseat horse, but is now a nice trail horse!

There are bad people in every horse sport who ruin it for the good people who really do care about their horses. I could say that barrel racing is cruel (I don't think that but its the same idea). Ya know?