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Originally Posted by GenuineRisk
Eurobounce, your points on cruelty are well taken, but I think maybe you're a little off the mark in terms of feeding and use of whips and turn-out. Thoroughbreds can't really be left out all day because they'll wear themselves out-- if they spend the day racing each other along the fences of their pastures (wasn't it said even into his 20s Man O' War would still try to race the young 'uns?) they'll have nothing left for the races.
Horses of any profession have to have their diets monitored-- horses will happily eat themselves to death if given the chance. They aren't stupid; they evolved into plains-roaming animals that subsisted on a diet of very few calories, so they had to eat all day long. Just because they now have high-calorie, commercially produced feed doesn't break all those millenia of conditioning to eat as much as they can whenever they can (actually, I think people have some of the same issues-- I don't think the urge to overeat is as much emotional as it is evolutionary, which makes it much harder to overcome!). And whips can be punishment, yes, but judiciously used, they are encouragement-- a reminder to keep focused and now it's time to go go go! They also can get a horse to steer rapidly away from a bad situation. I'm purely a pleasure rider and I NEVER go out without a crop, even if I don't use it. And I'm sure not racing anybody, especially on poky old Bach (long story-- my morning ride today...).
But you're right; overuse of the whip is mean and unnecessary and I think there could be more rules against excessive whip use. And honestly, I think one of the best things racing could do is to cut back the racing schedule-- give the horses several months off where they CAN run around all day and graze and just be horses. Overwork is no fun for anyone.
And no stallions at stud before the age of five! (Someone said that on the ESPN board and it was much lauded) If you have to keep them fit and sound until then I think people would breed for soundness and maybe they'd race longer.
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Good points Genuine,
I'll just add that the horses at the farm where mine live get fed four times a day if they're in the stall. Not all at once. One or two flakes distributed morning to night so they don't get sick. Plenty of fresh water, transition to greens (pasture)...too much will cause problems also, if they're not used to it.
As far as whipping...it's always a good idea to have one so that the horse knows who's in control. If they sense that you aren't...you'll get hurt quickly.
Same with a chain over the nose (or on the gums).
There are times that I've seen the whip used too much. No question.
If a horse is already dog tired, do you think hitting him twenty times is going to make him run any faster? Me neither.
As far as "breeding for soundness", that's something I've been trying to do for quite a while. It goes against the "current", blazing furlongs by 2yo's at the sales...but it's just the way I am. I'd rather have 'em last longer than make a fast buck. To each his own.
Good stables are not cruel. Actually, believe it or not, these folks show they care every day.
DTS