Yes, They Do Shoot Horses.

Some readers may have seen a recent parody video produced by The Onion, that offers some important (though likely coincidental) insights into the world of human-animal relationships.

The video I am referring to is a ‘news clip’ that features the ‘parents’ of gymnast Shawn Johnson explaining their difficult decision to ‘euthanize’ Shawn with ‘a quick shot to the head’ after she suffered an injury that would have put an end to her career.

The video itself is humorous, but also very profound, as it shines a stark light on commonly-held prejudices by humans toward non-humans.

As explained by Professor Gary Francione:

“By applying the language that we hear when injured race horses are ‘put down’ in a context involving a human, we get an interesting insight into how even those who claim to ‘love’ animals often commodify them and regard them exclusively as means to our ends.”

As the video demonstrates, animals used for human entertainment are viewed as any other commodity – as expendable items, not as living beings with an interest in the preservation of their lives.

Horse racing in the United States is a 40 billion dollar business. As is the case with the animal food industry, that degree of profitability essentially makes the industry exempt from the restrictions of animal welfare laws, which exist (in theory) to protect animals from unnecessary suffering.

Despite the fact that animals are injured and killed on the race track every day, the general public seems quite happy to ignore the fact that this brutality occurs for no acceptable reason. Horse racing exists only to serve the selfish desires of people who, for some reason inconceivable to me, refuse to see that these animals are being forced to put their lives on the line, simply so humans can experience the thrill of betting and watching them race around a track. Every day, people who are otherwise kind, decent and in other ways quite civilized, have no qualms about watching animals be forced to run – literally at break-neck speed – risking their lives for human entertainment.

As stated in the New York Daily News:

“As long as mankind demands that [horses] run at high speeds under stressful conditions, horses will die at racetracks.”

Horse racing is, simply put, a socially acceptable form of animal abuse.

Although there have been a number of occurrences where the hearts of ‘fans’ around the world have been won over by injured ‘celebrity horses’, these stories, as tragic as they are, are only the tip of the iceberg. Barbaro and Eight Belles – two recent examples of high-profile animals euthanized after having their limbs broken – were but two of over a thousand horses every year in the US alone who end their lives as sacrifices on the altar of human entertainment.

In horse racing and (the even more dangerous) steeplechase jumping, injuries such as those inflicted on Barbaro and Eight Belles are not only commonplace, but moderate, compared to some of the more horrific endings to the lives of horses, as this powerful 90-second video produced by Animal Aid demonstrates.

According to a 2008 Associated Press survey,

“Thoroughbred racetracks in the U.S. reported more than three horse deaths a day last year and 5,000 since 2003, and the vast majority were put down after suffering devastating injuries on the track… Countless other deaths went unreported because of lax record keeping.”

This number does not even include horses who were killed simply because they had grown beyond the age where they were able to compete. What happens to horses who are no longer ‘useful’ for racing? For the most part, they are either sold for breeding or they are sent to slaughter for human and animal consumption. According to Gary Francione, approximately 75 percent of all racehorses end up at the slaughterhouse.

As stated on ABC News Online,

“Of the 80,000 horses shipped out of the United States to slaughter each year, horse advocates estimate 10 percent (8,000 per year) are former race horses… The most famous example may be Ferdinand, who won the 1986 Kentucky Derby, and was later slaughtered in Japan for food.”

Horses must think humans have a strange way of showing appreciation.

Laurie Lane is the New Jersey chapter president of ReRun, an organization that pays farms to rehabilitate race horses.

“I think it’s a terrible injustice,” Lane said. “Because I don’t think you’d do it to a football player that won a Super Bowl one year and hurt his shoulder the next year.”

But again, this brings us back to the initial issue, which is that when it comes to animals, our collective moral conscience is in a state of serious atrophy.

As Professor Francione articulates:

“We think that it is acceptable for us to use animals as long as we treat them ‘humanely’… As the Onion video demonstrates, we would regard that as absurd in the human context… It is only our speciesism that makes us unable to see that it is equally absurd in the animal context.”

There are a few basic rights that all animals ought to be afforded. Even the legal language of this country states that animals are entitled to live a life free from unnecessary suffering.

As Francione states in his book, ‘Introduction to Animal Rights’,

“Whatever differences we may otherwise have, we must agree that if the prohibition against unnecessary suffering is to have any meaning at all, it is morally and legally wrong to inflict suffering on animals merely for our amusement or pleasure.”

I would hope that everyone reading this would agree that this kind of cruelty in human entertainment is not ‘necessary’. I am confident that everyone would agree that experiencing broken legs, broken ankles, broken necks, broken backs and eventual death can rightly be described as ‘suffering’.

The stubborn prejudice of horse-racing apologists is summed up perfectly by one horse trainer, quoted online as saying:

“Animals don’t have a say in it, but when they get to this level, they have a pretty good deal going.”

I understand that this is referring to the care that racehorses receive while they are still valuable to their owners. Obviously, there is a lot of time that goes into keeping a prized horse fit for racing. But I think anyone would be hard-pressed to believe that there was any ‘good deal’ going for Eight Belles, Barbaro or any of the other 5000 racehorses who were killed between 2005 and 2008.

He is right about one thing, however. Not a single one of these animals had any say in it.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Jade H.

3:51PM PDT on Aug 24, 2009

So let me get this straight, Meredith D. There are different levels of torture (ie "can't compare the lives and torture of slaves with that of chickens.")??? Some are accepted for those lower on the food chain? Humans pomposity never ceases to amaze me - and I've often wondered what the reaction would be should inhabitants of other planets land here and see US as a food source?!! Rod Serling was so ahead of his time.....LOL

send a green star

CR C.

2:41AM PDT on Aug 16, 2009

Theses owners that have became rich by this terrible sport should treat their animals like gold as they are the onces that got them there fortune. Treat your animals with respect and STOP the racing now.

Tina P.

12:47AM PDT on Jul 28, 2009

It's just sickening, that some rich race horse owner, who gets richer by thae day by means of said horses wont even have the grace to send an injured horse to pasture for the few years it's got left. After a couple of years on the race track the poor creatures more than deserve a proper pension. But to most people that's just a waste of money. It's disgusting.

MarilynnOFFLINE M.

11:27PM PDT on Jul 13, 2009

Horse Racing has become such a BIG BUSINESS it is Sick! This used to be fun to see when I was young, now I will never go to a track when I see what these horses are put through.

They give their heart and sole to running, look at some of the "special horses" in the past that have died "running" it needs to stop, they are raced to soon, then if they don't perform put away like a piece of dirt.

This is SICK

Timothy K.

6:27PM PDT on Jul 6, 2009

It may be wrong to put down race horses when so many are injured during races or are just not up to snuff.

My particular sadness is that horses and other animals are not made into glue as in past days. The white, yellow etc. glues on the market today are completely inferior to the glues of yesteryear. My other point is that horses are made into dog and other pet foods instead of the European actions of eating horse meat which is very digestible and sweet especially for those with chronic digestive difficulties. I believe that breaking the horse racing syndrome is like attempting to get politicians to be honest and above board. I rather doubt it because of the money aspect in it. To me this is like the pet food industry using cattle ribs, calf hearts and livers and other edible animal parts to make pet foods when so many PEOPLE, MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN are starving to death while we can feed WILD SOKEYE SALMON to cats. Where is the food aid for this in countries where people(including poor Americans, Canadians and others) would jump at the chance to get a full tummy and feel it afterwards? Watch WORST JOBS IN THE WORLD and see how pet foods are made. Remember that a horse eats 2 bales of hay per day and humane upkeep. We Western countries have a habit of treating the OTHER WORLD countries and their people like horses. It is a universal fact that only the strongest survive with people and animals to procreate the next best generation. Sincerely, Timothy Kritsch

Elena G.

7:33AM PDT on Jul 6, 2009

I hate horse racing! It's not a good kind of sports. Yes, horses are slaves here. We must stop it.

Gisela A.

1:32PM PDT on Jul 4, 2009

THE HUMAN ABUSE THE HORSE IN THIS PRACTICE

Dan C.

3:25PM PDT on Jul 2, 2009

Meredith,
I have no respect for the cultural prejudices of the day. In the 19th century, a racist would have said that you shouldn’t compare a white man’s suffering to that of a [black man], because to do so might cause offense to some and not help your cause.

I will adamantly compare a chicken’s suffering to an African American’s suffering. And I will compare a chicken’s suffering to any American’s suffering and to my own suffering. It is not I who has the prejudice. It is anyone who has a problem with such a comparison who is epistemically irrational and prejudiced.

The comparison of human chattel slavery (and people of African descent were far from the only humans to be enslaved; it happened to all kinds of groups throughout history) to animal slavery is perfect, which is why it is so resisted. It’s very easy to see the bigotry and prejudice of past cultures. It’s not so easy to see our own collective bigotry and prejudice.

Susan Nellie SF S.

9:22AM PDT on Jul 2, 2009

I have forever thought that horse racing is an unecessary form of entertainment; never could really wrap my head around why so many people found it so thrilling to watch these beautiful creatures being pushed to the limit by little humans with sticks. How horribly cruel is that!
Although I know there are a lot of people who enjoy this, sorry I just can't agree with it. I wish the seekers of glory and fun or whatever it is that one finds enjoyable iin horse racing would take a look at the reality of horse racing, and the reality of their own personal pleasures they get out of this and why!
I would be embarrassed to even be seen at a horse race, it's just too ridiculous, cruel, self serving, unrealistic and boring. Watching beautiful horses in a field, free or being treated with kindness is what is beautiful and a pleasure to see.

Meredith D.

2:46PM PDT on Jul 1, 2009

Dan C.
I understand the point you were trying to make, and I have no doubt as to your passion on the subject. And I agree that what these animals endure is horrific and wrong, and is a form of slavery. But...maybe you shouldn't compare African Americans to animals. I'm against animal cruelty, but you can't compare the lives and torture of slaves with that of chickens. That could come off as pretty offensive to a lot of people, which won't help win support for your cause.