| Putting Eight Belles in Perspective |
May 12, 2008
by Maureen Gallatin
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Like many horse lovers, I’ve been struggling with the death of Eight Belles after the Kentucky Derby, particularly on the heels of losing horses in the sport of eventing. It’s uncanny how horses we’ve never met remain etched in our minds — for me, the racehorses, Ruffian, and Swale (Swale was the first horse I knew of who dropped dead of a heart attack). I’m sad about the horses, and also hopeful that this will trigger some changes in the industry. But I think it’s also important to put this in perspective. As I write, there are 200,000 people dead or missing from a cyclone in Myanmar, with the concern that the number could be 500,000 when you include disease and hunger. I can’t imagine what kind of grief people there must be going through. The lack of water, communication, or medical help — it’s overwhelming. In the face of overwhelming numbers, we’re tempted to block it all out. Anytime you mix horses and speed, there are risks. But there are risks in nearly every aspects of life. We’re approaching prom season, and even though I don’t have teenagers, I get worried. I know the statistics about teen deaths and alcohol (see www.madd.org - “Traffic crashes are the number one killer of teens (15-20 year old), and 31% of teen traffic deaths are alcohol-related.”) I’m not minimizing the loss of our horses. One of the premises of “Inspired by horses” (www.inspiredbyhorses.com) is that God put something noble inside inside horses that connects with the nobility He put inside of people. Maybe something inside us says we can’t put the world to rights or care intimately about the starving millions, but we can function fully when it comes to our horses. Perhaps the loss of a great horse also reminds us of our mortality. When it happens occasionally, we may be tempted to run faster or farther, as if to beat the odds. But when we hear of more than the occasional death, we come to a full stop and look around. As we do, we can become immobilized, as is tempting when we hear about a plane crash, despite that there are 87,000 flights per day over the U.S. Or in true “carrots for courage” tradition, we can look at the bigger picture, realizing how many races or events have no injuries. We think of all the local shows, and the faithful people running water trucks, dragging rings, insisting on safe jump courses and so forth. And we recognize their contribution. Quite often, they make the difference between a safe event and one where disaster strikes. Those people often go out of their way to help others, usually in quiet, unrecognized ways. Each time someone checks the cinch for a child before she gets on her horse, or reties a horse tied to the trailer who is about to get loose, they’re making a contribution. I want us to care about Eight Belles and Barbaro, and the old mare in our own pasture, but I also want us to care for the people in the industry, who themselves care a lot about the welfare of horses – and not just their own.
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| well said by a wise woman. |
| Posted by patricia Kay Wood |
| I think Two year olds are to young to race. |
| Posted by red |
| I'm sorry, but I just can't buy it! People can try to justify injury and deaths in horse racing (and other events where money and politics out-weigh animal safety) all they want, but the bottom line is that race horses are dead-broke and pushed to the limit before they're even old enough to be under saddle at all! The problem will never go away until that fact is realized.
Sure, other equine sports can be equally taxing on a horse, but you have to look at the big picture. Now, I'm into trail riding, but let's take Dressage for example. Most dressage people I know, who truly care about their horses' welfare and longevity of usefullness in their beloved sport, don't even put them under saddle until they are truly three years old or even older. They want their horses to be able to handle the rigors of upper-level dressage at the older ages that it takes to get to those levels.
What knowledgeable horse person loves the phrase, Dead broke by two. Not me! It sounds great to have a reliable horse at such a young age, but I don't care how reliable that horse is on the trail or the fact that it can be ridden by a child. That horse has obviously been put under saddle too early and possibly pushed too hard to be able to claim that status. How useful will that horse be to me 5 to 10 years down the road?
There is NO arguing that a three-year-old race horse, a horse which most of the time hasn't even actually hit it's true 3rd birthday, is WAY too young and WAY too stressed out to handle the pressure, both physically and mentally. Hence, the reason why there are so many off-the-track, thoroughbred euthanasias and broken down horses that need loving homes.
I could go on and on about the travesties of horse racing and the injustices to the horses who are put through the rigors of that sport, but what's the point? Nothing will ever change, and the horses will suffer. Sure, we could argue that other sports have problems, too, but horse racing is one sport where it is widely accepted by EVERYONE that the horses that are racing are ALWAYS youngsters. Do you know of anyone in any other equine discipline who could tell you that their horse is too old to particpate in their chosen sport? Well, how about trying to enter a 10 to 25-year-old horse in the Derby? Good one, huh?
I don't know about you, but barring any unforeseen medical issues, my horses and I will be trail riding well into old age! You can't say that about a race horse. Okay, so what if they're career is over before they've even come close to middle age? If they're great, they're bred. If they're not, they're killed or must find a new owner who could care less that they didn't make it on the track. And that's one sport where the horses can't be placed with most horse owners because most people wouldn't be able to handle them.
That being said, race horses are still WAY too young to be pounding the dirt during practice before they're even old enough to race. They don't just all of a sudden become old enough to race, and that's where it all starts at such a young age. At an age when they should just be learning about supporting a rider under such demanding conditions, they are already conditioned and ready to race, all for the entertainment of screaming crowds. YIPPEE!
Think about it!!! |
| Posted by mhrider |
| There's no way we can save the dead in Myanmar or the victims of the Tsunami in Indonesia or the starving millions in Darfur. But you deal with the lost child in the mall, run an errand for a sick friend, and do what you can so you can punch your ticket every day as a member of the human race. I know the argument: These horses wouldn't be alive if we didn't breed them for our pleasure. And the other one: These horses are athletes, and things happen. Maybe they do, but it is up to each one of us to use the ability to reason God gave us to protect the horses in our care. One at a time. Horses will work their hearts out for us. They should not be worked on steroids. A three year old filly should not run in the longest race of her life against colts.
What happened at Churchill was tragic and it is incumbent on all of us who are proud to be called horse people to see that it doesn't happen again in that way. |
| Posted by JoAnn Foxx |
| i for one remember Ruffian. But we as horse owners now have to worry how to support our four legged friends. I have two horses and the prices in Arizona are about 14.95 per bail of hay. We are in a desert. How can I keep afford to pay for their food. I work hard. I love my horses. With no rain is sight I am having a hard time to even grow bermuda on my four acers. I have to have my horses. They are not money makers they are my support with the stressful world we live in now with the price of gas it is hurting me financially and can't do a thing about it. My horses are my mental support after a hard day or night of work. I have lost two horses in the past and they both were my best friends. I had grown up with one since I was 9 years old. What can we do with the high prices of their food? What can I do. I want to help old horses. I have one that is not mine but he is 38 years old and want to see him have a great life til he dies. I want to do this with other old horses people dont want anymore but now I can not do it with the prices so high.
With eight bells I feel for her as I do with Ruffian. But maybe it is a lesson that eight bells has taught us to learn for our future race horses. The question I have is why did her ankles give out. I know she had the best care and best Vets looking out for her. And so did Ruffian why did her leg suddenly break. When I saw Ruffian run the day she broke her leg she ran her heart out for all of us. She knew, I had never seen a race horse run like Ruffian that day. She wanted that race. And I think she would of won to beat Secrtariat. |
| Posted by Lisa Dickson |
| A cyclone is due to a natural disaster.
A teenager's misguided choice to drink and drive is due to an underdeveloped prefrontal lobe of the brain.
A horse race is due to an industry that simply wants to make money at the expense of an animal who cannot make it's own choice. |
| Posted by Penny Sparacino |
| I understand and appreciate your comments and they are certainly valid. I also read the blog by mhrider and I must agree. I feel that the age that horses start racing is far too young when their young bones are not strong and fully developed. Horse racing is for the entertainment (and money making) of humans. Thank God for the many men and women in the racing business who truly care about their horses and who truly work in their horses' best interests. However, there are far too many more who are in it for the money at the expense of the horse. I don't think we'll ever change this, but when tragedies like Barbaro, Eight Belles, George Washington, any many others before them happen...it will keep the racing industry under the microscope and somewhat accountable for the safety and welfare of equine athletes. With the upcoming Preakness looming, I cringe and cross my fingers that horses like Big Brown can get through the gruellling Triple Crown uninjured/still alive.... (why do these races have to be so close together??) |
| Posted by bcarter |
| Well written and I agree with you completely. |
| Posted by Nola Butler |
| I am confused by your comparison of human choice to stress horses too young and to breed horses with weak hooves and feet with earthquakes, cyclones, etc.
People who understand the development of young bones, muscles, and supporting tissue wait until the horse is ready. My thoroughbred only ran 3 races as a three year old, but suffers pain everyday from osteoarthritis in his spine. He loves trail rides but at 17 years old can no longer be ridden. He was dumped at a horse auction when he was not useful to his former owner. There are thousands more like him. I hope Big Brown is bred to mares with great hooves. |
| Posted by jazhrider |
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