7 of 8 BC winners to run next year

[kgar311]

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

I've been around horses a long time too, and frankly, unlike Brady, Ouija Board would rather hang around a beautiful green pasture with a herd of pals doing nothing but eating and scratching in the sunlight, most of them would!

Are you the new horse whisperer. I had a conversation with OB last month and she told me that she loved racing thats why she still wins. When did she tell you that she would rather hang out in a field and do nothing?

My whole point to this thread earlier was that I thought Oracle made it seem it was cruel to race a "race" horse. This is what they do. If she seemed hurt or was lacking on the race track I would say def. retire. But as far as I could tell she still has something in her so let her race. And as gator said horses do get depressed when taken off the racetrack or out of competition, its all they know.

[LARHAGE]

Originally Posted by kgar311

Are you the new horse whisperer. I had a conversation with OB last month and she told me that she loved racing thats why she still wins. When did she tell you that she would rather hang out in a field and do nothing?

My whole point to this thread earlier was that I thought Oracle made it seem it was cruel to race a "race" horse. This is what they do. If she seemed hurt or was lacking on the race track I would say def. retire. But as far as I could tell she still has something in her so let her race. And as gator said horses do get depressed when taken off the racetrack or out of competition, its all they know.

I'm not a horse whisperer, but I know horses and they race because we make them, it isn't something they would do on their own. I, nor Oracle, was inferring that racing was cruel, but rather that she has accomplished enough on the track to earn a nice retirement, and yes, it's a life horses love, THAT is what they were evolved to do. I have heard of horses pining away when taken from the track, but it's 9 out of 10 times geldings, they are managed completely different, mares LOVE being out in pasture, thats there natural life.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

I'm not a horse whisperer, but I know horses and they race because we make them, it isn't something they would do on their own. I, nor Oracle, was inferring that racing was cruel, but rather that she has accomplished enough on the track to earn a nice retirement, and yes, it's a life horses love, THAT is what they were evolved to do. I have heard of horses pining away when taken from the track, but it's 9 out of 10 times geldings, they are managed completely different, mares LOVE being out in pasture, thats there natural life.

I should add that I wasn't disagreeing with you at all. I think that the majority of horses enjoy life out in the field. There are cases where it's an adjustment period for them, but I think that they enjoy it a lot more than being hauled around everywhere for competitions or races.

I think that Ouija Board definitely deserves to rest. She's done all that she's been asked for and then some.

[kgar311]

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

I'm not a horse whisperer, but I know horses and they race because we make them, it isn't something they would do on their own. I, nor Oracle, was inferring that racing was cruel, but rather that she has accomplished enough on the track to earn a nice retirement, and yes, it's a life horses love, THAT is what they were evolved to do. I have heard of horses pining away when taken from the track, but it's 9 out of 10 times geldings, they are managed completely different, mares LOVE being out in pasture, thats there natural life.

Wow horses are forced to race, thats a first. Youre right all horses stop in their tracks when jockeys fall off. Ive never seen a horse do battle with another with out jockey. Plus all that legislation in congress to stop horse racing because its cruel and it forces horses to do things they dont want to do. Ive come across horses that refuse to go on to the track and not once have I ever seen a trainer whip and beat a horse to make them train. Once that happens they are finished.

[LARHAGE]

Originally Posted by kgar311

Wow horses are forced to race, thats a first. Youre right all horses stop in their tracks when jockeys fall off. Ive never seen a horse do battle with another with out jockey. Plus all that legislation in congress to stop horse racing because its cruel and it forces horses to do things they dont want to do. Ive come across horses that refuse to go on to the track and not once have I ever seen a trainer whip and beat a horse to make them train. Once that happens they are finished.

The simplistic answer is horses are PUT into training, they don't all line themselves up out in a field and race, they compete because they are made to, the good ones excel and do get to understand the game, the bad ones don't. They also run on after the jockey falls off because they are herd animals and their instinct is the safety of the herd. I'm not saying they can't and don't enjoy racing, but believe me, they also would rather spend their times in a pasture than a 12x12 box stall for 22 hours a day.