The Horse Racing Industry is Barbaric and Inhumane

by Jenna Kemple, Guest Reporter

Opinion/ Editorial, Culture

The brightly shining sun showers warmth over a beautiful, luscious green field, gracefully curved into an oval so large one can barely see both ends. In the distance one can hear the pounding of more than a hundred hooves assaulting the ground at formidable speeds as, getting closer, a herd of tall, muscular horses, the athletes of the equine world, each with the loving assistance of a jockey on their back, plow their way over the track in perfect harmony with each other. They’re all exhausted, but the adrenaline pumping through their veins, combined with a drive like no other to be the first to reach the finish line, keep them all at the peak of their performance. Only possible with mutual love and trust, it is an exquisite example of a true bond between horse and rider. On the sidelines, thousands of supporters gather to cheer on their favorite pair through the race so they may receive the medal they so deserve. Horse racing. An honorable sport. A sport of class and nobility; the sport of kings—right?  

Wrong. Nothing could possibly be further from the truth. The racing industry is knee-deep in the blood of its own profit makers. For centuries it has done nothing but inflict the direst cruelty upon the horses placed in their care on an astronomical scale. The sadistic training techniques imposed on young horses, the use of drugs to increase performance and mask injury, and the number of horses bred for racing every year that are slaughtered before they even make it on the track, are truly a wake-up call to all that the horse racing industry is barbaric and inhumane.

Horses are known for their size, speed, and stamina, so it’s no surprise that racing them has been an activity that nearly all countries and cultures have participated in at some point. However, in the birth of professional racing, the harmless activity has evolved into a competitive, money-obsessed industry where the safety and well-being of their horses is no longer a priority.

One thing must be understood. Racing is unnatural. Horses are forced to run faster than they would ever normally run on their own. They are trained and raced in the freezing cold and sweltering heat, often over high jumps that are unsafe even at a lower speed. They are repeatedly pushed well beyond their physical exercise threshold and into exhaustion. Then, they are forced to continue running—again, and again, and again. Seventy percent of all racehorses suffer from exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhaging (EIPH), or bleeding of the lungs post-race, and many will suffer at least one breakdown at some point in their career. The average lifespan of a horse is between twenty-five and thirty years, and yet the average career length of a racehorse is only four to five years, by which time they have only just reached adulthood. When compared to other equestrian sports who have horses well into their teens and twenties winning medals, it becomes apparent that there is something unusual about the racing industry. Racehorses are not viewed as majestic creatures with unique personalities and beautiful souls with unlimited potential outside of racing, but rather as machines. Mechanical, replaceable units of life created, by the industry, for the sole purpose of running and earning money from gamblers who are unaware of the harm they are indirectly causing.

The racing industry cares only about one thing—speed. Both in the velocity of their horses and the time it takes to get them on the track because the quicker a horse can begin its racing career, the sooner it can begin making profits. Despite the physical limitations of young horses, the minimum age a horse is permitted to begin racing is two years. But at this age, they are still children; they still have their baby teeth and their musculoskeletal systems will not be fully developed until at least six. “Radiographic studies on the acquisition of bone mineral in horses from one day of age to 27 years have shown that maximum bone mineral content (BMC) is not achieved until the horse is six years old.” This means that the horses forced to race at such a young age are at high risk of severe injuries that, for horses, often mean a death sentence.

The industry argues that the lower leg bones such as the cannon and coffin bones as well as the kneecaps, which take the most stress in racing, are fully developed by two in light built horses such as thoroughbreds, and therefore, two-year-old thoroughbreds are in no more danger of injuries than adults. But this is not the case. Horses mature from their legs up, so while it is true that these bones would normally be fully developed by two years, the excessive stress placed on them during training before they even run their first race, often results in a painful condition called developmental orthopedic disease (DOD). DOD is a condition where excessive stress placed on growing bones causes them to rapidly gain and lose calcification. “Damage to the growth plates appears to be a trigger factor for some forms of DOD, this could be caused by exercise on hard ground, or not enough walking and low-level activity.” Unfortunately, this means racehorses’ lower leg bones, such as the coffin, cannon, and kneecaps, are more fragile than an average two-year-old horse, indeed putting them at higher risk of severe bone injuries and breakdowns than adult horses.

To counter these inconvenient setbacks, jockeys will use a variety of drugs to mask pain, prevent bleeding, and increase overall performance. The use of drugs on racehorses is not altogether illegal in the U.S., instead, restrictions on what drugs are permitted depend on state law. Some of the most common drugs used in racing are Phenylbutazone, Furosemide, Adrenal Corticosteroids, Sublimaze, Stadol, Acupan, Procaine, and Acepromazine. The most widely controversial drug is Furosemide, more commonly known by its brand name Laix, due to its performance enhancing abilities. It is mostly used to lessen the effects of EIPH, but also acts as a diuretic making the horses race lighter. Not only is all this drug use blatant cheating, it makes the horses more prone to far more catastrophic breakdowns than they were without.

As briefly mentioned, horses must spend time in training before they are able to begin racing. For a jockey who wishes to begin their horse’s career as soon as possible, that training begins at six months. Six months is still infancy for horses. It is the same as asking a toddler to begin weight training. To be track-ready within the next eighteen months, the intensive training required forces the trainer to separate the horse from all other horses, including its own mother. It is not uncommon for a racehorse, once training has begun, to never see the green of a pasture or spend quality time with another horse until the end of its short career. At six months of age, horses are a long way off from independence, making the separation from their mother psychologically damaging which will likely cause many behavioral issues down the road. As herd animals, having regular interactions with their fellow equines is a crucial part of their development. A human cannot teach a horse how to be a horse, they must learn how to respect boundaries and accept corrections from other horses before they can accept them from us. Without that, they become pushy, irritable, aggressive, and unpredictable. Nearly all racehorses suffer from these behavioral defects.

The industry argues that the reason for this behavior is soley because thoroughbreds, which are a very common breed in racing, are hot-blooded, meaning that they are high strung by nature. This is just an excuse. While it is true that thoroughbreds are particularly difficult to manage, they are trained and used on an Olympic level in nearly every equestrian sport worldwide because of their athletic abilities. They are often kept as personal pets and even used as therapy horses across the world. Clair Neveux, a PhD candidate in equine behavior at the University of Bristol Veterinary School, sent surveys to equine therapy organizations in several countries to see whether they would consider adding thoroughbreds into their programs. “These results move toward an understanding of the key features of equine-assisted service horses and emphasize that Thoroughbreds could be more considered in the future by equine-assisted services providers.” Thoroughbreds are a sensitive breed, a great quality for therapy horses because it helps those involved in equine-assisted services see reactions they would normally miss, helping people develop and maintain stronger bonds with these horses. But sensitive horses tolerate harsh handling exceptionally poorly. Racehorses are not dangerous or untrainable by nature, they are simply showing signs of severe trauma.

Being torn from their mothers in infancy is the first sadness a racehorse will be put through, but definitely not the last. From that point forward, the horse will be treated as a replaceable piece of machinery. Any measure will be taken to ensure that the highest possible speed is achieved, even if it raises serious welfare concerns. Unlike many of the horrifying practices within the industry, the excessive use of whips cannot be hidden from the public, and as a result, is one of the most widespread welfare concerns in horse racing. The horses are whipped aggressively and extensively throughout every race to urge them into running faster than they would ever normally run on their own. In fact, racehorse saddles are even designed in such a way as to carry the rider in a standing position rather than a sitting one. This position gives the rider’s legs, which are usually the main form of communication between a horse and its rider, minimal contact, and instead forces the rider to rely entirely on use of other forces, such as the whip to cue their horse. Many think that horses have thick skin and thus, are not as sensitive to physical pain as we are, but this is simply not true. Dr. Lydia Tong conducted a study to determine how sensitive horses really are to external stimuli such as whipping by comparing skin samples from horses’ flank area, where they are most whipped during a race, to skin samples in humans in the equivalent area, the buttock. She found that while horses have a thicker deep collagen tissue layer, their epidermis was considerably thinner than that of human skin, yet still had very similar nerve structures. This means that despite the entirety of a horse’s skin being thicker than humans’, they have considerably less padding between their sensitive nerve endings and the outside stimuli making them a great deal more sensitive to pain than we are.

Racehorses are treated poorly not only on the track but also in their everyday lives. They  are not pets, they are workers, and when they are not being worked, they are often left in their stall with little to no mental or physical stimulation for up to twenty-three hours a day. Horses who have to endure this solitary confinement will begin exhibiting obvious signs of distress by displaying behaviors such as repetitive movements and unprovoked aggression, “(crib-biting, wind-sucking, and weaving, primarily), aggression toward humans (biting and threats), a ‘depressed state’ bodily posture (neck and back at about the same level, with low ears and poor response to any kind of stimulus), and stress-related behaviors such as ‘acting nervous’ with a high neck and excessive alertness or frequent defecation…” Their stress is often so high that they will develop painful stomach ulcers, and in some cases even colic, which is a fatal anxiety induced condition for horses. When they are finally taken out of their cell to be worked or raced, their only intention is to get as much distance from their small prison cell as rapidly as possible. But it is a futile attempt because failure to cooperate is not tolerated in the racing industry. Instead, they are forced to work and then returned to their stall to spend yet another day behind bars. From their cell to the track, this is the entire life of an active racehorse.

Emotionally unstable horses in young, overworked bodies, under the influence of game changing drugs—it’s a recipe for disaster in any situation, but on the racetrack, the stakes are raised tenfold.

Breakdown. A breakdown is the official term used for when a horse has an accident on the racetrack. It is yet another example of the extent to which the industry views its horses as equipment that “breaks down.” “Between 700 and 800 racehorses are injured and die every year, with a national average of about two breakdowns for every 1,000 starts.” According to The Jockey Club’s Equine Injury Database, nearly 10 horses died every week at American racetracks in 2018. The frequency of breakdowns is truly alarming and is often a horses’ final struggle. Heart attack, heatstroke and exhaustion are all major causes for breakdowns, but most are a result of running through previous injuries that have not been given sufficient time or resources to heal properly or have not been cared for at all. Because of this, breakdowns are exceptionally catastrophic. Horses with their front legs dangling at a newly formed second knee have no choice but to take many, many strides before coming to a complete stop. The horse, in utter agony, will panic, unsure of what to do with a leg that suddenly no longer functions or reaches the floor. Sometimes, in their inconsolable frenzy, they will run into the edge of the track causing themselves further harm, or in front of other horses causing massive pile ups of broken necks and crushed riders.

If recovery is possible after such a disaster, it will take place as quickly as possible so that the horse can continue its racing career. But if the injury is severe, on-site veterinarians are called to the track to euthanize the innocent creature immediately. When this happens, rapidly conjured white cloth is ushered around the injured horse to act as a barrier so the audience cannot watch the horse agonizing in its last moments. Breakdowns are so common that when they occur, the race is not even called off. For the other jockeys, it only means one less competitor. Some famous racehorses that were euthanized after a breakdown are Barbaro, Eight Bells, and Go for Wand. These names are a powerful reminder that no horse is immune to the inevitable dangers of racing—not even the best.

Wastage. It is the single most blood-curdling element in all of horse racing. The one and final abomination that requires a voice—mass death of young, expired, or inadequate racehorses.

Racehorses are bred in mass. Half the horses bred for racing will be slaughtered. Horses are bred in this quantity in the hopes of creating that one horse that will become a legend. But all the others become “wastage.” The new foals begin training, but nearly any reason is sufficient to throw them away, whether it be bad behavior, poor performance, or even minor injury. If they go on to be raced, breakdown ensures that the chance of being thrown away is still within the realm of possibility.

But certainly not all racehorse owners are so heartless. For the few owners who truly do their best to avoid unnecessary harm on their horses, will look for potential second careers for their horses. But the problem remains, racehorses have trauma and injuries. No one wants them because they are dangerous and often can no longer perform many basic tasks. Still, there are off the track thoroughbred (OTTB) retirement sanctuaries for them to live out the rest of their days in green pastures and with no responsibilities. But of the thousands upon thousands of horses being bred each year for racing, there are not enough sanctuaries to rehome all these horses once they can no longer be raced. They are sent to slaughter.

By the ripe old age of five, or whenever they have been deemed “not fit for racing,” owners ship their racehorses to slaughterhouses where they will suffer a horrific death. Well, not yet. Anyone who has witnessed the hair-raising brutality that occurs inside a slaughterhouse, knows just how haunting it can be. There is no regard for the fact that the animals awaiting their deaths are still alive before they are murdered. They are treated as though they are already corpses because soon, they will be. Here, you will find violence beyond words. It is unacceptable on every level and according to the racing industry, as well as U.S. law, should not be taking place at all.

Horse slaughter is illegal in America. This should prevent the industry from breeding horses like they are disposable and encourage them to take better care of the ones they have. But no, unfortunately, all it means is that the horses are forced to undergo one more atrocity in their short life. Transportation from the U.S. to a country where horses are permitted to be slaughtered such as Australia, Mexico, or Canada. This journey is described as “The Final Race” by an ABC news report after a two-year, undercover investigation in Australia. The conditions that these horses are forced to endure on their final journey are truly blood-curdling. The horses in transport are kept in unsafe holding conditions with poor ventilation, sharp metal edges, dangerous temperatures, and no separation of aggressive or stressed horses lead to dangerous injuries that not a single person will see or care for. Their wounds are simply left to grow more painful and life-threatening. These horses are not even provided with basic necessities such as food and water because not a single person is willing to spend the time and resources on the thousands of horses that will be dead in only a matter of days, or even hours. The traveling conditions are so poor that many of the transportees will succumb to their injuries and starvation before even arriving at their destination of death, which saves time and money for the slaughterhouses. These horses are alone and scared. All hope of solace is gone, and they are in the situation they are in because those responsible for their care… didn’t. There are no words to adequately describe what takes place in the short life of a racehorse.

  From birth until death, racehorses have their entire life pre-planned–a life in which they are not at the center. They see only the most gruesome side of humanity—abused and violated for the money and entertainment of the sport’s viewers. They are raced until they’ve been run into the ground, and when they’re no longer profitable, they are tossed aside and replaced like broken equipment. The industry is brutal, it is merciless, and it is swimming in blood and sealed with secrets. But it is not invincible. Like any business, it doesn’t have an orchard of money-growing trees. The abuse only continues if we fund it. They can only profit off the backs of innocent victims if we let them. The abuse only stops when we refrain ourselves from supporting and promoting it. (Continuing to do so with knowledge of the obscenities that run rampant within it, is no different than having the whip in your own hand.) Speak out to end this abuse and free the racehorses. 

DISCLAIMER: The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the various authors in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of Kamiak High School or The Gauntlet. 

Sources

Burke, Christine. “Should Our Teens Be Allowed to Have Open Campus Lunch?” Grown and Flown, 19 Oct. 2018, https://grownandflown.com/teens-allowed-open-campus-lunch/.

Kamiak Administration. Kamiak Student Handbook 2022-2023. 2022, https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:cd5472ad-b041-329c-9662-1866aad95fd2.