Quote:
Originally Posted by Suzles
Okay I didn't want to reign in on this debate but I WILL answer this question. The problem is that too many horses are being bred. There will NEVER be enough homes for them - either as privately owned, or as racehorses or as chuck or rodeo horses or show jumpers or eventers or dressage hoses. Everyone wants to breed. They view it as free money. The slaughter house at Bouvry will tell you how many pass through each day. How many mares give birth in the feed lot - and how often both they and the foal die from complications on the manure and urine soaked feedlot floor. Very few entires make it to be full time studs - artificial insemination is prevalent. Any old mare can receive a straw of semen. Quality is of second importance to quantity. Money leads the way.
For some facts for you for how much I know about horses, I have been around horses over 50 years (30 years a riding instructor) and I have NEVER had -= or even know of - a working horse just drop dead. I did have a retired horse that dropped dead in his field at age 27 (from presumed complications from the sedative used during a dental exam). My other horse died at age 39 - a phenomonal age for a horse. Horeses are gentle, noble animals - they like to live as part of a herd. Grazing for a great part of the day. Chuck horses - I know this for fact, are given anti inflammatory drugs and steroids. I know, because a rodeo guy spent time talking to me at the peaceful protest we hold every year outside the stampede grounds. Calf roping will be the first event to go. Its gonna happen. Its not heritage. Its all about money.
|
I dont think you answered olings question in regards to Chucks. As far as Im aware no horses are bred for chuckwagon racing. They use purely used horses. So question as far as chucks go is whether being a chuckwagon horse is worse than being dead.