Comments on: More on Eight Belles http://michelelee.net/2008/05/04/more-on-eight-belles/ Breathe: Words Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:52:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Rena Sherwood http://michelelee.net/2008/05/04/more-on-eight-belles/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Rena Sherwood Mon, 05 May 2008 22:47:54 +0000 http://michelelee.net/blog/?p=37#comment-14 Race horses are not well cared for. They are inbred, with skeletons that can't even support themselves, let alone that of a rider. Over 90% can trace their lineage back to one horse (The Darley Arabian). They stand in stalls 23 hours a day, when in the wild, horses move around all the time. They're made to run before their bodies mature at age 5. Their legs are chemically blistered or pin fired before they are ridden for the first time in an attempt to make them "stronger" (Sports Illustrated casually mentioned this in 1988, so I'm not sure if these practices continue). I used to be a Standardbred racehorse groom. After six months of appalling neglect (and one death due to colic) and incredibly low wages, I left. The horses were just merchandise. They were beaten and left to stand around in stalls when they were hot. This made more some really viscious animals. These animals only run on the track because they're given no other choice. Ever get hit by one of those whips repeatedly? Owie. Turns the skin beet red, although after a while you don't feel the blows much anymore. There's no such thing as "just a horse" or "just a kid" or "just a whatever". Suffering is suffering, no matter where you see it. Whatever moves you to sadness is like whatever moves you to joy -- differing things will move people differently. Thanks for bringing this issue up. Race horses are not well cared for. They are inbred, with skeletons that can’t even support themselves, let alone that of a rider. Over 90% can trace their lineage back to one horse (The Darley Arabian). They stand in stalls 23 hours a day, when in the wild, horses move around all the time. They’re made to run before their bodies mature at age 5. Their legs are chemically blistered or pin fired before they are ridden for the first time in an attempt to make them “stronger” (Sports Illustrated casually mentioned this in 1988, so I’m not sure if these practices continue).

I used to be a Standardbred racehorse groom. After six months of appalling neglect (and one death due to colic) and incredibly low wages, I left. The horses were just merchandise. They were beaten and left to stand around in stalls when they were hot. This made more some really viscious animals. These animals only run on the track because they’re given no other choice. Ever get hit by one of those whips repeatedly? Owie. Turns the skin beet red, although after a while you don’t feel the blows much anymore.

There’s no such thing as “just a horse” or “just a kid” or “just a whatever”. Suffering is suffering, no matter where you see it. Whatever moves you to sadness is like whatever moves you to joy — differing things will move people differently.

Thanks for bringing this issue up.

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