The horse has an incalculable debt to humanity. The horse has accompanied us for ages, influenced our history, and given its life in defense of our causes and victories. Because of their strong and special bond with horses, the Native American Comanches, who were skilled horsemen, built an empire on the power they summoned. The horse was essential to their existence, just as it was to the white settlers on the western frontier, who, had they not embraced the natives’ mounted warfare tactics, would never have been able to stop their own destruction. Even though horseback riding has long been outlawed in modern culture, the use of horses for violent and risky purposes is still accepted. Yes, taxpayers pay for it. Even though our allies have given up something for our progress, we still require they forfeit their lives, but not for so noble a cause as our survival.
Horses now die for sport rather than in combat. Another Triple Crown season means another group of young horses willing to put themselves in danger for the sake of entertainment and financial gain. As a result, the American racehorse’s life is devalued and cheapened, as hundreds of them are killed each year. My personal history revolves on horses, and I am plagued by flashbacks of my track days and my old self. I was completely engrossed in the world of racing years ago, when I was galloping racehorses. As a rider, I acknowledge that I still take pride in my history. However, as I mature and broaden my perspective, my opinion of why modern American racing is incorrect now encompasses the historical and philosophical background sacrifices horses have made for humans and how dismissed their enormous contributions generally are.
It is important to think about the animal itself and the innumerable horses who have died and will die for the pointless sport of racing, regardless of whether one’s love for horses is shown by dressing up for a day at the races or by acknowledging and being truthful about how cruel racing can be to horses. My heart hurts for them. I find it incomprehensible that there are those who accept that fact while continuing to support and defend racing. The most repulsive predator of horses is the human ego. The racing industry argues that its new technology and methods have reduced the number of fatalities, which is equivalent to claiming that we are still stealing we are just stealing a little less.
Do we cheer when fewer horses are killed? It is clear that we need to move past this sport that condemns so many horses to a life of suffering and premature death if we approach racing from a realistic perspective. Although it is encouraging to think that racing may be done in collaboration with the horse and without killing it, no amount of ingenuity or intellect in the world will be able to accomplish it. Our society’s technological advancements cannot and will not make up for our lack of empathy and morality. If our society allows a sport that regularly and brutally slaughters horses—animals that have been a reliable companion throughout history—we only reveal our backwardness.
The world as we know it was shaped in part by horses. We are now running them to death. Despite lofty declarations of progress, the racing industry is fundamentally backward, as seen by its readiness to sacrifice horses for financial gain and prestige. For a horse whose ancestors took to the war in 1800 and never saw the end of the combat, it is not progress to enter the starting gate in 2025 and pass away before completing the race. Horse racing in the modern era is just poor medicine.
