Steeplechase vs. Flat track horseracing

[Twitchin Kitten]

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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?

[LH]

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I would like to see horses running trails and every once in a while have to jump over hedges and then straight out running, then maybe some zig-zag kinda like an iron man event.
You must know that horses love to run and if the coarse was not so very difficult it would be cool to watch them go through a timed coarse. But the sports you describe are what brings in the money to keep the equine machine running. It almost creates a need for better vetrinarians and better horses. Without the money from the show and racing aspect of it you could possibly doom many top breaders and contributions towards advanced techniques.
But back to my first paragragh, it would be cool to have cameras set up at integral parts of a coarse. If not for riders, horses would be at the plow and that would be a waste. I have always thought horses were smarter than dogs in their own way anyways.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Well, horses are not smarter than dogs but they are smart in their own horsey way. Many steeplechase races do have cameras at integral points in the race, especially over the difficult hedges.

If you know anything of fox hunting, it's a more natural set up for the horses to jump over. I used to trail ride competitively and although there were no jumps, it was a timed event but no money was involved. Horseflesh was worth $$ for the good horses but it wasnt' integral to a winning animal.

There are a lot of competitive trail rides in your area, if you want I can look up a schedule and you are most welcome to watch the competitions.

[twisteroo]

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I suppose I never really thought about it being that I'm not a horse race fan, or even a big horse fan as far as that goes. But yeah, why set them up where they have to jump all that crap? They seem to be pretty easily broken anyway.
I suppose if I think about it I understand horses more than I understand horse people.:p
Since the beginning of time they have been a utility animal, here for us to use for work or entertainment, I don't imagine that will change any time soon. They say that in France they cook a pretty mean horse steak also.

Lately the way of the world is all going towards the better treatment of animals, maybe if you lobby against the steeple chase....well, maybe we will see you on the news one night anyway.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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I have no intention of lobbying against steeplechase. I don't have that much go in me for that. Too many people are too ignorant on the matter to make a difference too. I'd have to be loony PeTA crazy to make a difference. Besides, what about other countries? They still do it.

I just think setting them up to jump those massive and dangerous fences is cruel. They have no idea how big/wide any jump is and what's on the other side. On Cross Country, horses are usually taken around the course the day before at a leisurely pace, not always jumping the fences. They have half a chance to remember. Stadium jumping the same thing... when the rider enters the ring, he circles the course once or twice (depending on the day's rules) and the horse gets to see what's ahead for him.

[Rhubarb]

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I haven't done much with racing. My grandad would walk over the Downs to small courses, Badbury Rings or Salisbury. We went as children a few times with him and the atmosphere was electric.
Then I went to Newbury (flat racing) with hubby's 'work do' and this time we were betting with vouchers. The people watching was more fun on this occasion, seeing them win or lose.

I found Greyhound racing had just as much electric buzz, but I really did think that was cruel, knowing how these dogs are just cast out once they reach the end of their career. One of the local dog-walkers rescues them and finds them homes, once she has them house trained.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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I had an adopted racing greyhound. Poor thing was afraid of his own shadow. Don't even get me started on the cruelty of that sport. I was lucky though. I contacted the breeder/owner and she was one of the good people who actually cared for her dogs, never mistreated them and found homes for all her ex racers. She was livid when she found out what condition Red Man was in.