[Lori~D]

Originally Posted by amiestgermain

I actually would love to watch racing if the horses were older and more care was taken with them. Horses are meant to run. Watch wild mustangs. . .that's what they do. They run. Sometimes they sit and eat and graze, but every day, they just run across open fields together.

I rescued a small quarter horse when I was younger, and I was the only rider who was experienced enough to run her (who was also light enough to ride her) and you could tell the difference in her excitement when I was getting on her as opposed to when my brother or mom would. Sometimes, if it was a nice, crisp day, I had to make SURE she didn't just bolt the moment I got on her!! (I almost lost a leg once on the And she'd never try that with my brother or mom. She just loved to run so much once it was a FUN thing and she wasn't being beaten to run around barrels.

Thats not true. They only run full out when they are in danger or fighting and they do get hurt then to. Horses in racing are pushed to the limit way to young. the bones in the knees have not closed or barley closed. Eight belles was hurt before the finish. You can see it in the overhead replay. I've jockeyed. She came on strong and quit about two-three lengths before the finish. You can see it plainly. Then from the weakness of her injuries she broke down more after that. I rode a horse that quit just like that once on the final stretch. My horse was hurt different and was OK but she was older and mature. We placed third in that race by a length.