Steeplechase vs. Flat track horseracing

[Twitchin Kitten]

0

There is a long history of tradition, sport and athleticism in the "Sport of Kings". I've been involved in many aspects of horse racing from training my own harness horses, breeding them, betting on them and learning how to ride up in the short stirrups jockey style from my dad.

It's a tough sport and in some of the less respectable barns and tracks, it can be downright cruel to the animals.

Steeplechase is popular here and in Virginia, as well as England. I find that to be borderline cruel. It's hard teaching the horses to jump those 'fences' and the accidents are absolutely horrific. Granted many that look awful end up nothing but scrapes and bruises but I've seen too many end up with equine broken legs when you see a mess of them in a pile in a narrow ditch on one side of a fence they didn't quite make over. Sometimes you'll see jockey in a mixup like that and wind up maimed while his horse gets up and finishes the race riderless.

I find it hard on the horse compared to other jumping type competitions. Cross country and stadium jumping is rough. Horses are not natural jumpers in the way you see them jumping with a rider. It's quite unnatural compared to Dressage and even racing. Steeplechase combines racing at top speed and jumping.

I dont' think I would mind seeing steeplechase races fade into oblivion. What about you?