| What's wrong with Horse Racing? |
 |
| Though it is legal, and seems harmless, horse racing deserves the attention of animal rights campaigners, since beneath the thrill of the race there is a lifetime of suffering for horses, apart from the fact that any activity which treats non-human animals as property or things infringes on their rights as sentient individuals. Many people who own race horses say they love their horses, but their love is simply misguided, and they do not realise the suffering they unpurposedly cause the animals, or the stress the horses suffer during the races. Horses are naturally wild and free animals, and have been domesticated by humans. But this does not mean that it is natural for them to live a large part of their lives in captivity, and to be forced to race with all their might during horse races. The race is stressful for the animals, since they do not race willingly, but are forced to run by the jockey. Horses obviously do not understand the concept of a race, and obviously do not appreciate or have any satisfaction in winning a race. All that they comprehend during the race is that their jockey is forcing them to run with all their might. This is obviously very stressful for the animals. Furthermore, in many races, the horses are beaten with sticks, whips or other objects so that they run faster. This adds physical pain to the stress-related suffering. Sometimes, the horses are also drugged to run faster, even though this is illegal. To add insult to injury, when a race horse is injured or can no longer race, it is usually killed on the spot (or at an "abattoir") by the owner, since an injured horse is no longer profitable. That's the thanks the horse gets for making money for its owner! Horse racing is even problematic for humans socially, since it encourages betting (without which the racing horse industry would probably crumble), which many times becomes compulsive betting that financially and socially destroys people's lives. |