BBC this morning .. Irish throughbreds slaughter

[JosieB]

Tom Hogan Irish trainer.. used to have 80 horses ttaining, now only 25.
5000 thoroughbreds slaughtered last year at the 5 slaughterhouses. Sanctuaries also shown trying to deal with ''normal horses'' Good to see the problems in Ireland are being hilighted.

 

[Lynds]

I was interested that they only focused on Ireland, I think the UK has problems too.

 

[millreef]

Ex-racehorses here in Hong Kong are rehabilitated to work for the pubic riding schools when their temperament allows - they're also sent off to China to work for the mounted police I believe. At least that what they say!

 

[perfect11s]

Sad result of the ecomomic situation in a lot of countrys not just Ireland, Better that than neglect and suffering , hopefully there will be a more measured attitude to breeding and less human greed in the future ,

 

[Spins]

it really is a sorry we're state we're in.. read this the other day.. Well hopefully highlighting it will help solve it to.. there has also been a racehorse to ridinghorse association set up (finally) which is starting a media campaign to get people more interested in racehorses so fingers crossed it all works!

 

[Spins]

sorry meant sorry state we're in.. flip i really have to start reading back what i write!

 

[showqa]

Terribly, terribly sad. I know that economic problems have wreaked havoc in the lives of many, and perhaps there are times when there is no choice. BUT I also think that it's far too easy to just do away with racehorses when they're not wanted. I think it's scandalous that some can be so cavalier about the life of an animal in good health.

 

[FairyLights]

its simple really , the racehorses are bred to run and win races. if owners cannot afford them or they do not win they need to go to an alternative market, which isnt there at the moment,the leisure industry is saturated.
Demand is much less than supply. To get a winner many horses have to be bred,so where do the surplus go? Same applies to anything which involves competion,show ponies,endurance arabs,eventers whatever,if they dont do the job they are bred for ,or even if they do and there are not enough people wanting to do that particular sport then they need to go else where,usually the hunting feld or the leisure /pleasure owner. If no one wants them then what? a quick bullet is better than slow starvation. There is just too many horses being bred too much supply and not enough demand. I've been saying this for at least 10 years . the hey-days of the 1970's are gone. Please,breeders ,of all types, reduce your foals, geld mediocre stallions and even stop breeding all together for afew years.

 

[Ranyhyn]

Much better than neglect and suffering I agree with Perfect11s.

Slaughter is not the worst thing to happen to a horse, trust me.

 

[nikkimariet]

This is what I'm doing my dissertation about. It's LOVELY.

 

[Spins]

its simple really , the racehorses are bred to run and win races. if owners cannot afford them or they do not win they need to go to an alternative market, which isnt there at the moment,the leisure industry is saturated.
Demand is much less than supply. To get a winner many horses have to be bred,so where do the surplus go? Same applies to anything which involves competion,show ponies,endurance arabs,eventers whatever,if they dont do the job they are bred for ,or even if they do and there are not enough people wanting to do that particular sport then they need to go else where,usually the hunting feld or the leisure /pleasure owner. If no one wants them then what? a quick bullet is better than slow starvation. There is just too many horses being bred too much supply and not enough demand. I've been saying this for at least 10 years . the hey-days of the 1970's are gone. Please,breeders ,of all types, reduce your foals, geld mediocre stallions and even stop breeding all together for afew years.

Exactly