Horse racing is one of the oldest sports in human history, and its basic concept has not changed much over the centuries. It is a contest of speed or stamina between two horses over a set distance, and the winner is the first to cross the finish line. The sport has evolved into a complex spectacle, with large fields of runners and sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment, but the essential feature remains unchanged. Horses are bred specifically for the purpose of racing, and the sport generates enormous sums of money. The animal welfare implications of the sport are controversial, and PETA is a leading organization working to address them.
The most egregious abuses in thoroughbred racing are injuries and deaths on the track, but these issues represent just the tip of the iceberg. In a recent study, animal advocacy informants also identified routine training and husbandry practices, and the interface between humans and horses as areas of major concern in racing.
This article focuses on the results of that research, which used semi-structured interviews and photo-elicitation to assess horse racing industry knowledge and perceptions about thoroughbred welfare and sustainability. The three conventional verbal-only questions at the beginning of the larger interview schedule and responses to a photo-elicitation questionnaire were analysed using qualitative content analysis.
A variety of photographic images were analyzed during the photo-elicitation phase. These images evoked a variety of responses, with many informants describing the horses in them as looking stressed and unhappy. Many also commented on the apparent lack of veterinary care and/or human handling of the horses, and the inappropriate use of equipment such as bandages and tack.
Some of the images were interpreted as depicting specific types of injuries or illnesses, such as a fractured sesamoid bone (one of the two small bones in each foot) or a splinter wound to the foot or ankle. Others reflected more general feelings of unease and discomfort, such as when the horses were seen “dancing around their stalls” or dragging their heads with the lead rein or bridle.
Other images prompted commentary on the role of handlers, with several animal advocacy informants noting that they “add to the stress of the race by their forcefulness and helmeted faces,” which contributes to the horse’s sense of being unbalanced. In addition, these handlers “drag and pull on the bit,” which adds to the horse’s perceived stress and makes it harder for them to plant themselves. The same commenters noted that some of the horses look like they are carrying too much weight and were not suited to running fast.
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