how can i become an advocate for ending horse racing?

Question

i think i've found my passion since i'm obsessed with the barbaro story and am hysterically depressed about it.

Answer 1

If there were no racing, there wouldn't have been a Barbaro. You'd have never known his name, never gotten to see him run, there would have been nothing to set him apart from other horses.

Greatness anywhere brings with it triumph and tragedy. It was racing that made Barbaro great.

Answer 2

Since when did you say? Oh... of course, how silly of me... Barbaro. The media made a huge deal about him but something you should know before becoming an advocate against horse racing is that Barbaro, and 'Race Horses' are not the only horses being put down. You have Cross Country horses, Jumpers, Hunters, Horses on ranches, and hroses being slaugtered everyday because the owner somewhere along the line decided...This horse sucks.

If you want to be an advocate you should be an advocate against slaughter, where it matters the most. Where horses are being killed for NO reason. At racers usually end up retired or in another sport. The media does not tell you about the bazillion other horses that are hurt, just the big ones.

I guess my point is... What happened to Barbaro is about 300 times better than what is happenening to all the other horses, that someone decided were no good, and are now being slaghtered. Focus on saving them. Not the pampered racers.

I notice alot of your posts are focused on Barbaro, with your energy I think your focus, and compassion for animals would be a great voice in the fight against meaningless slaugther. I hope you do some research and find a way to do so :D Good luck!

Sorry about the rant, welcome to the horse world.

Edit - Ignore my spelling I was ranting - Read Middle Man's answer... I love it.

Answer 3

No drugs..although some recommend herbs, such as Passion Flower and other, I don't believe it will make that much of a difference though, but I could be wrong. See, Thoroughbreds are hot blooded horses and they are bred to compete and run, as your Ex race horse obviously is. She was trained to do so. Once this training is done, you can never completely take the race track out of the horse and especially so at her age. The best you can do is to try to re- school/train her, both under saddle and on the ground with the goal of calming. And, if you can't do this yourself, it's best to find someone experienced in this who can. They will train her slowly with the goal of calming. I'm not saying it possible to change her, but it's worth a shot to try to get her to the point that you could ride her would be great. . It's smart that you considered her diet, diet is important and a big factor as well. Grain, is considered an energy food, and should be used only minimally. Good grass hey and alfalfa should be all the horse needs along with whatever supplements your vet suggests. Oats is a good substitute for corn and other heat producing grains. I would not go out on trails at all until she has been trained in a way that supports her being calm. I'm sure you'll make the right decision, asking shows you care. Meanwhile, be very careful, stay safe and consider/way all alternatives without using drugs. Much Luck To both of YOU! :)

Answer 4

While there are a number of race horses that are euthanized each year, there are thousands or horses who are given the chance to do the one thing - the only thing they love to do: run. What happened to Barbaro is sad, but the reason he and other horses (and not just race horses) are euthanized is because they are so fragile.

Saint Liam, 2005 Horse of the Year, was euthanized after he injured himself at a farm. Would you propose we shut down horse farms as well?

Answer 5

So you wish to end horse racing, do you? Maybe you need to get out and get a life !! Horse racing will go on until people either refuse to tolerate it or there's no more money to be made off of it.You will not stop the sport ( yes, it is a sport, although there are many people whose livelihoods depend on it or on businesses related to it) by ranting and raving about it. It would not hurt you to make an effort to educate yourself about what really happened to Barbaro. His death resulted from a DISEASE- he had recovered from the initial fractures. That DISEASE, laminitis, is something which can happen anywhere, any time, to any horse, INCLUDING wild horses. We need medical research to determine why this horrible disease happens, how to treat it, and how to prevent it if at all possible. What happened was a tragedy, yes, but banning the sport of horse racing- and depriving millions of people worldwide of their means of making a living for themselves, will solve no one's problems. What would you ban next- keeping horses at all, by anyone? If you ban racing, the tracks will close- and you will suddenly lose millions in tax revenues and there will be tens of thousands of people out of work. There are some states in this country that depend on the tracks for a big part of their tax bases. To deprive them of that means the loss of funding for essential services in many cases. (I'm talking about things like police and fire protection here, as well as things like libraries, funding for community colleges, funding for parks and recreation facilities, and so forth.) Many more people would be adversely impacted, and it wouldn't necessarily result in the saving of anymore horses. ( A lot of the breeding farms would also have to close as well if the sport were banned- and again, you will have lots of people losing their jobs. ) Horse racing isn't just a sport for the elite rich. It has an impact on all levels of the economy where it exists. So stop and think for a moment next time you advocate the end of this sport. Horse racing may be cruel in some ways, but much of that can be eliminated- and indeed, will have to be eliminated for the sport to survive. Would you want to live in a place where you would have to compete for jobs with all the displaced workers from the tracks, farms, stores, and other places that depend on racing? If you answer no, then you're not alone. Just think about it.

Answer 6

Horse racing is actually a centuries old, noble sport that exists worldwide.

But if you feel passionately about advocating its demise, you can always start a grass roots organization and dedicate all of your time and all of your money towards ending it.

Answer 7

Great another animal rights activist! Go save the dolphins or something! If you really want to save horses attack those who slaughter horses and leave horseracing alone! Some of us depend on horseracing to support our families. It is a livelyhood for some of us out there. Should my son starve because you want to put an end to how my boyfriend and I make a living?!

Answer 8

Why do you want to end horse racing? Over one horse? Geez Find a good cause like adopting cats

Answer 9

lovey i wouldent bother or waste your breath that would never happen atleast not in this lifetime anyway and who the hell is barbaro am i missing something.

Answer 10

Why not rally against horse slaughter instead? It's a way bigger issue that affects more than just race horses.