As for the prod in the chutes..thats actually a measure to get the horse in the arena and way from kicking anything solid as much as it is a way to get the horses bucking.
Its a very minor current in those things that will have the horse straighten out as it exits the chute and before it starts to buck so it wont clip the steel around the chutes.
Years ago they used whips but it was determined this is more humane. Some horses don't require the prodding as they tend to take a couple steps before they jump. Other are notorious to want to jump inside the chute. I have a somewhat distant cousin who was paralyzed while getting on a saddle bronc that started bucking in the chute, fell backwards and broke my cousins back.
Not saying its right nor wrong, just an explanation of what it is that actually occurs. Those chutes are dangerous dangerous places for humans and the animals themselves if they dont know how to behave in them.
Quote:
|
and i also dont think "horses die elsewhere, so its ok they die here too" is a good excuse.
|
No one said its ok that horses die...anywhere.
Its just what happens with those animals. Horses get put down running wild far more than in rodeos. One step into a gopher hole and they are usually done. As was said above, last nights accident is fairly common for thoroughbreds. Especially their hind legs it seems to me, they just take a bad stride and the leg fractures. Most of those fractures are unable to be mended properly so the animal in euthanized.