@***super_nova*** wrote:
@lyndal1838 wrote:
In fact, all horses love a good gallop....our little pony used to go nuts when he was let loose in the paddock after a trip in the float.
Yes, of-course they like to run and play, but to run at a speed that makes them to bleed that is not something they would do for fun in wild, unless they are escaping from the predator. Also all dogs like to chase and run. The difference between horse and dog racing is that to make horse run they are in state of fear and pain is inflicted on them, while for the dog it is the natural hunting instinct that makes them go after the lure. I have heard some horse people talking about horses love to run fast; well, yes when heard of horses is chased by lions they stampede and all try to run the fastest, as the last one is the one that gets caught. Also recently there was a research done on th bruising inflicted on horses during the race, and it was quite severe, deep and took long time to heal. Interesting that the owners of Black Caviar would not allow the jokey to use his whip.
Nova, you are wrong on so many points.
Speed is not the only criteria for a horse bleeding. I have seen it happen in the hacking ring and it is rare for horses to gallop there, let alone go at the speed of a racehorse. If a horse is predisposed to bleeding then it will happen whatever they do.
Lets be honest here...how many times do you really see horses bleeding when racing? It does not happen a lot but when it does the media sure lets us know about it.
Horses are not in a state of fear when they are racing and they are not flogged with the whip as you seem to think. There are very explicit rules for the use of the whip and if a jockey misuses it he will not get many rides. Not all horse trainers are bad...most of them look after their horses very well. I do agree though that the use of the whip could do with even more policing than it gets now.
Could you tell me where there are wild horses that could be chased by lions. I am pretty sure there are no lions attacking brumbies in Australia. In the USA it is more likely to be mountain lions doing the attacking and that situation is rather different to wild lions on the plains where their prey can gallop.
I am one of those horse people who says that horses love to gallop. We have kept horses on several different adjistment properties with all different breeds of horses doing different disciplines. Without exception, you could watch the paddocks and there were always one or more horses taking off for a gallop and more often than not the others would follow.....and no humans in sight to make them move.
