…whilst accepting folk have different opinions than me, i think that’s an unreasoned and largely ignorant view.
You suggest you would want to see all equestrian sport banned, including show jumping, eventing etc. Thousands of people including many youngsters absolutely love their horses, they are awake at dawn to muck them out, feed and exercise them. More often than not, the exercise includes popping them over fences.
So, should we ban people from owning and exercising horses and ponies? Horses are sadly better looked after than many children in our society.
Sport carries risk. You mention football, there are increasing cases of ex-footballers dying with Alzheimer’s linked to heading a ball, so should we amend the rules to stop the ball going over head height? How many boxers have died over the years yet youngsters and adults continue to take part. Rugby players are huge athletes who hit each other at great speed without head protection. American Football is under the spotlight, there was even a death in top level cricket. Drivers die or get seriously injured in motor sports.
Race horses are generally loved by their connections, particularly by stable staff who dedicate a large part of their lives to looking after them for little financial reward. More will die in their stables and out in fields than on racecourses. No idea where they will end up if equestrian sports, even pony racing and show jumping is banned, not forgetting how many jobs are associated with horses.
For those who love the sport, nothing is as bad as seeing horses injured. They are herd animals, they won’t stand quietly in a field for life. What we all support is mitigating the risk of them being hurt and the unedifying scenes in the early stages of yesterdays big race.
