“HORSE racing abandoned on horse welfare grounds due to the extreme heat and distance of the race.” Not in Ireland.

national | animal rights | press release Monday June 25, 2018 15:54 by Bernie Wright - Alliance for Animal Rights

Horses lives matter, Stop Heat exhaustion on Irish Tracks

HORSERACING, HORSES DESERVE BETTER.
“HORSE racing abandoned on horse welfare grounds due to the extreme heat and distance of the race.” Not in Ireland.
Forcing and whipping horses to race in extreme heat, high temperatures and humidity, lack of air movement, poor ventilation, dehydration and exposure to direct sunlight all increase the danger of serious heat and sun related problems, Irish horses are no exception, especially when they are expected to perform at intense levels, just as racehorses are.
Racehorses suffering heat stress can collapse, sometimes resulting in death. Heat stroke, which occurs over a short period of time – usually when a horse is unfit. Behind the scenes lies a story of immense suffering.Some outcomes of heat stress are falls, seizures, heart damage/attacks and muscle and Soaring temperatures at Cheltenham has seen races abandoned.

Not being able to drink enough water to avoid dehydration. You cannot race a horse on a gut full of water but that is exactly what they need. They have to be on course two hours before the races in some cases and their fluid intake is seriously restricted.
Over three times as many horses are being bred now than 40 years ago and a decreasing proportion –35% – are sufficiently robust and healthy to start racing. Many of the ‘defective’ newborn foals end up slaughtered for meat, while those who actually enter racing suffer a high level of fatal injuries and stress-related illnesses such as gastric ulcers and bleeding lungs. Broodmares are kept almost constantly pregnant in order to provide so called owners with a young colt or filly to sell each year.
Just think of the poor animals standing in their stalls without being able to drink enough water to avoid dehydration. You cannot race a horse on a gut full of water but that is exactly what they need. They have to be on course two hours before the races in town and their fluid intake is seriously restricted.
There will be racing until after 9pm this evening in Ballinrobe, why don’t the uncaring gamblers learn some personal skill or sport instead and stop using horses as slaves.
http://www.animalcrimesregister.org/horses
AFAR Press Officer Bernie Wright, Phone 0872651720