[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by DemolitionRed

Horses have been successfully ridden for over 5 thousand years. As a keen horse rider and long time owner of horses and having backed gently (not broken) horses myself, I can tell you that most horses don't try and buck a rider off. There are kind ways to back a fully grown horse as a three or even four year old and its done through time, trust and patience. People often use a method called 'natural horsemanship' where they speak the language of the horse and don't ever use a whip to frighten the animal and certainly never dig their knees into it.

Wild horses tend to be used for the meat market. Many Dartmoor ponies are rounded up once a year for the abattoir. If horses weren't ever kept as pets and ridden, they would just become another part of the meat chain. My first pony lived to the ripe old age of 30 and was a much loved member of our family.

I totally get all that ,but it's the racing I find cruel and not everyone cares for them as you obviously do,they are just a money making commodity to some and are not treated so good,some are raced when they are too young, they are poked and prodded to run faster ,and the jumps are just ridiculous.

[DemolitionRed]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

I totally get all that ,but it's the racing I find cruel and not everyone cares for them as you obviously do,they are just a money making commodity to some and are not reated so good,some are raced when they are too young, they poked and prodded to run faster ,and the jumps are just ridiculous.

I agree with all of that.
Of course, some failed racehorses get sold on for team chasing, which is equally dangerous but many get sold on to naive newbie horse owners who can't believe what a bargain such a fine looking horse is and WOW an 'ex racehorse!!" They then discover that every time their horse gets gets on turf, it wants to gallop and there's no stopping it or its so fizzy they daren't ride it and they often find the horse has massive skeleton problems and deemed unfit for purpose. It then gets sold on again and again.

The life of a racehorse isn't great but the life of an ex racehorse is equally concerning.