Death Of 6 Horses in Jumps Racing Unacceptable

by Eoin Trotskylite Wed May 13, 2009 12:03

hi Bernie,
I understand your sentiment on this - nobody wants to see horses die on the track, especially those who work with them every day - but in rural Ireland, the tradition of the horse clans lives on and would be impossible to challenge.

People involved in "jumps racing" refer to it as "national hunt racing" to differentiate it from "flat racing". "Point to Point" race meetings are a major social event in many parts of rural Ireland where smallholders, farmers and villagers gather to enjoy the finery and have a "punt" - wager.

The Tallow Horse Fair in Waterford occurs every September and would be a good place to meet with the ordinary people who are engaged in the traditional pursuits of hunt and racing.

Beyond the tradition and culture of people breeding, caring for and riding horses, lies a massive gambling business which has afflicted far too many people. See the disemployed men clutching biros and the Daily Star as they hover outside the bookies, chewing fags and sharing stress and optimism. Watch them cluster in the bars, shouting at the satellite tv channel broadcasting live coverage of a race from a corner of Britain that no-one can find on the map.

Then again, the local economies of Tramore, Listowel, Galway, Mallow, Tralee and other places benefit significantly from the national hunt racing festivals they host.

No amount of horse deaths, regrettable as they are, especially to those who breed and care for the horses, will stop the tradition and culture of horse racing in Ireland.

by radio listener Wed May 13, 2009 20:15

i heard a spokesperson from aran on radio kerry today talking about this

by Non Media Whore Tue May 19, 2009 23:08

"i heard a spokesperson from aran on radio kerry today talking about this"

Bernie, from AFAR, was the only Animal Rights spokesperson on Kerry Radio talking about this.

by CAtlady Thu May 21, 2009 01:21

My title refers to the following...

"I understand your sentiment on this - nobody wants to see horses die on the track, especially those who work with them every day - but in rural Ireland, the tradition of the horse clans lives on and would be impossible to challenge."

A) By those who "work with" them I assume you mean breeders, trainers, jockeys etc. If these individuals truly did not want to see horses die, they would not

- breed animals for lightmess and speed which result in unnaturally light,easily breakable bones, leading to their deaths
- train the same animals to run in highly dangerous unnatural situations
- sit on the backs of animals and force them into unnatural dangerous situations

I live with and care for many animals who I do not want to die. I therefore do my very best to ensure that they do not. I do not let the dogs chase cars and I do not let the cats play with the python. Neither do I force any of them to perform unnatural athletic stunts for my profit or pleasure. I'd have to be bloody thick to do either if I wanted them to live wouldn't I? So unless all of the above are mentally deficient, the only logical conclusion is that the priority of keeping the horses alive is rather lower on the list than making a profit..... I invite logical arguments to the contrary but please spell the logic out as I have put some thought into this and fail to see it.....

B) In many places many traditions have lived. Slavery was a tradition which lived in the American South. It would have been seen by the ethically/visionarily impaired as "impossible to challenge". As are the traditions today of female genital mutilation, fur farming, flesh eating, homosexual vilification, etc etc etc

To say that ANYTHING is "impossible to challenge" is absolutely ridiculous and speaks only of the ignorance of the speaker of these nonsensical words. Is rape impossible to challenge? Child abuse? Dog fighting? Badger baiting? List can go on here indefinitely unfortunately.....

I hereby challenge all the animal (including human animal) abusers of the entire planet!!!! Of course success is not guaranteed.... But to say that a practice cannot be challenged is completely idiotic!

To say that these practices/traditions SHOULD not be challenged would be immoral. To let them pass unchallenged due to apathy is human, but most certainly a sign of the baser side of human nature.

Horses should NOT BE DROPPING DEAD so that humans can fatten bank accounts! Life is worth more than that. Is it not???

by Shergar Thu May 21, 2009 02:05

Your cry Catlady of should life not be worth more than this is melodramatic and rather ridiculous when you consider that countless billions of animals are bred and slaughtered for food and profit (including horses).

Speak to a jockey or a trainer or anyone who in anyway is involved with horses and they will all testify that horses love running and being involved in races and sport. Should horse riding be banned? Should people in the Third World be banned from using horses or oxen to pull their ploughs?

Your animalist extremism does animals no favours.

by Top Gear - Bicycle klub Thu May 21, 2009 02:17

Catlady ...

> '' I do not let my dog chase after cars '' < .

Many moons ago dogs did indeed chase cars ,only when the dog heard a ''whine'' in the bearings of the wheel did it chase cars .

Nowadays that whine has been removed in wheels due to technology , and its a long time since we had that sound .

Are you sure you know what you are on about ,or am i picking you up wrongly . No offence meant .

by Janus Thu May 21, 2009 03:16

Shergar,
"....should life not be worth more than this is melodramatic and rather ridiculous when you consider that countless billions of animals are bred and slaughtered for food and profit (including horses)."

So everyone's doing it. This must make it OK so. Let me see.... must check how many people drive while over the alcohol limit. I hope it was billions, it might make it ok for us all to do it. I mean let's not actually bother to think for ourselves.

Top Gear - Bicycle klub,
"Many moons ago dogs did indeed chase cars ,only when the dog heard a ''whine'' in the bearings of the wheel did it chase cars."

I saw a dog chase a car not more than two weeks ago - a very modern car, no whine at all. Very fast dog too, glad he wasn't chasing me!

by MuTT - Cat society Thu May 21, 2009 03:48

The dog you saw chasing a mo mo some weeks ago probably contained a Bankster , Dogs have a great 'scent' .

Even the Dogs on the Street are out lookin' for them .

by Mark C Thu May 21, 2009 08:13

Catlady,

You say you don't let the "cats play with the python". Surely having a python in Ireland is not a good thing. I mean, talk about "unnatural situations"?

by Catlady Tue Jun 09, 2009 02:06

Python (Adam) was rescued from a git who refused to feed him. And yes I am against the reptile industry as i am against the mammal industry. I will still never refuse a home when I can provide it. Also have a cornsnake rescued from a flat in dublin. found wandering. That's where exotics end up while dogs end up in pounds. I hate it all but will not refuse care if i can give it. Breeders need to be stopped. Not rescuers!

by Saint Patrick. Tue Jun 09, 2009 12:34

"Surely having a python in Ireland is not a good thing. I mean, talk about "unnatural situations"?"

Sure didn't I banish the snakes out of Ireland before?

Even Pythons.

Monty Python's film,The Life of Brian,was banned in Ireland for 8 years for Blasphemy.

by Pete. Tue Jun 09, 2009 12:46

"Many moons ago dogs did indeed chase cars ,only when the dog heard a ''whine'' in the bearings of the wheel did it chase cars ."

Not correct.

When a dog pees on a car wheel it is putting down it's "territorial marker".

The car moves off and the smelly wheel moves into another dog's territory.

When other dog smells the wheel they bark at the wheel to chase away the "dog" intruding into their territory.

It doesn't have to be a car wheel.

It can be anything that another dog has pee'd on.
.

by j dillon - farmer Sat Jun 20, 2009 09:06

I was woundering what happens to these dead horses.
does anyone have any good sugestions on how to cook dead horse
seems such a waste of good meat

by Shoes Sat Jun 20, 2009 12:44

Good leather shoes!!! For the meat part & insidestuff guess tins of food maybe horse food or something

by j dill - tt Sat Jun 20, 2009 14:31

Do B&Q do A barbeque that fits a whole horse
and maybe a rotisserie for the dogs and cats

by neigh neiiiigh Sat Jun 20, 2009 15:21

neigh neiiiigh, now I know why my dog dosn't bark but neighssss all the tiime. Wigs too from the tail & mane.