Why is it that...?

Question

when an owner tries to save her horse after it falls while jumping (or any other activity where the owner would be riding the horse), people support the owner, but when a horse falls in a race and the owner tries to save it, people criticize the owner for only wanting money?

Answer 1

GREAT question! I think people that come here are a little on the jaded side, they CHOOSE to believe that everyone in racing is in it for the money. And yes I am talking about The Jackson's.

Most people probably skimmed over the article that was in the DRF too, the one that said Lawrence Roman RETURNED the money that IEAH Stable invested in his horse "Lawrence The Roman" after he lost his big race in NY. He did this without being asked... he did it because it was THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

Look at all the former owners who are making preparations for their horses retirement with "Old Friends", a retirement farm for TB's. They donate tons of money to make sure our ex-CHAMPS are brought back HERE, and not slaughtered for food like Exceller and Ferdinand. They donate their planes to bring them back.

So yes, these people have money beyond our imaginations BUT they also donate beyond our imaginations. But to label them as cold, uncaring or greedy is just their way of making themselves feel better at the expense of people they don't even know.

Answer 2

I think that most people who criticize racehorse owners do not own or ride horses themselves. Its true that some owners and trainers are simply interested in their race horse for what the horse can bring them. But most owners and trainers are actually concerned for their animals. They want what's best for the animal. And I think those who criticize are probably the ones who also think that racing is a horrible inhumane thing that we force the animals to do. Those people don't recognize the nobility involved in the sport and they don't understand horses enough to know that the horses are just as happy to win races as we are. Then when the animal breaks a leg doing this horrible inhumane thing, those people think that the animal is suffering and should be put down immediately. I truly hate the people who go on about how Barbaro and others should be put down immediately when they break a leg. I've sprained my ankle before and no one murdered me. It's absolutely horrible that those people think that killing the horse is better than fixing it and making it feel better. Some attempts to save the animals fail, but some are really sucessful. If we killed every horse that broke something on the track, Charismatic, Seabiscuit, Afleet Alex, and many other horses would have died long before they deserve. If we can save the horses we should.

And I really hate the people who say that saving Barbaro was really about the Jacksons getting the money for his stud fees. I'd be willing to consider that as a possibility if they had tested to see if the horse was fertile. no test = not for money

Why do people criticize the racing owners and not the personal show-horse owner: Because those people who criticize the racing owners only see horses 3 times a year: the Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont. They don't go to horse shows and see someone's personal horse get hurt. They don't go to the barn to visit with a recovering horse. They don't have friends who own a horse so they just don't understand the perspective of a horse owner.

So people criticize because they simply don't understand. They don't understand and appreciate the sport and they don't understand what it is to be a horse owner. They make their own assumptions about owners' motivations and they criticize based on their own delusions.

Answer 3

Because people are jealous and people don't understand the sport. I donate more money that I net in a year to retirement foundations for race horses. Any horse I have that should not be racing goes to my farm to get a break then is re-sold as a pleasure horse or a pet (as long as they go to a good home, and I have first right of refusal if the horse is resold). I'm under 30 and not a big owner like a lot of people out there, but I feel I owe the horses that much, for what they do for me. People feel that if a horse breaks down trying to make purse money it is cruel, but if it does it trying to win a ribbon for some spoiled brat it is a shame. All I can say is F all the hippocrates that post on this site.

Answer 4

I agree with the opinion that jealousy is behind much of the criticism that is leveled at the owners of racehorses when the animals break down and efforts are made to save them. Money DOES drive many of these people to do what they do- but NOT everyone. As for horses who are injured while jumping or competing in other sports, in those cases many of the owners are small-time compared to those in racing, and there are those who recognize that such owners usually will take a big financial and emotional hit when their horse ( which frequently is the only animal they have, and which they have invested thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of training time in) gets hurt or has to be destroyed because of sickness or an accident. There's another factor at work as well. People who own racehorses or are involved in the breeding industry that supports the tracks and sport of racing are frequently thought of as only seeing the horses as investments or commodities, instead of flesh and blood living creatures. This tends to translate into a lot of very hard feelings and negative publicity when these horses break down or get hurt. Because of the perception that the owners ( and many times, the trainers as well) don't care and only want a return on the investments, many people are turned off to the sport and to horse people as whole. In the case of Barbaro, his owners weren't the only ones who faced sharp criticism from the press and the public- his trainer, jockey, grooms, the vets, and everyone else connected with the colt got at least some of it. Yes, there has been some good that has come out of the tragedy, but there will always be those who don't understand the sport and think that everyone in it is motivated by greed.

Answer 5

I believe that people support the owner when riding in the field because the rider is very close with the horse. But in horse racing if a sir ( father of young) falls they can put him to sleep so they can get his colts and filly's out on the track. So they really don't care.

Answer 6

I think its all about publicity.
The world is not watching 'chasers or show jumpers. Thus the heroic efforts made by everyday horse owners go unlisted and un noticed,except by statistics: in 2006, USA horse owners spent a record 72.8 MILLION on Veterinary care. As there are 9 million horses noted, that equates to a darn lot of care.
Its not flashy, its not national TV, its just the cost of caring for horses. Motivated by love of money or the horse itself, a big thank you!! to every supporter of injured horses and their Vet care. An amazing flood of innovations and ideas come from such accidents,favoring all horses with advanced medical knowledge of their needs and care.

Answer 7

i think that the owners are just after the money to care for the horse

Answer 8

I think in most racing cases, it is a money thing, the people just don't care. But if you are referring to Barbaro, they truly cared about him. I heard (or read) that the owners were going to keep going, even if he couldn't be a stud horse. The horse was a part of their family.

I wish this was the case for all horses. I know my horse got very sick, she got laminitis, but we pursued treatment, and recovered. There was no money in it for us, other then spending money on vet bills. She was a member of the family. (Unfortunately, she colicked, we tried to save her but it was too late).

I think any real horseperson would take care of the horse regardless of if they get money or not. If they are just in it for the money, they are not true horse lovers.

It is a sad world we live in.