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Jumps Horse injures Warrnambool punters
5 May 2011 Have your say
Jumps racing just got even more dangerous.
Seven people were hospitalised after a horrific accident on May 5th that saw jumps horse Banna Strand leap into a crowd of spectators at the Grand Annual Steeple at Warrnambool. Watch how it happened...
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<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/23305315?autoplay=0" width="500" height="280" frameborder="0"></iframe> <a href='http://www.animalsaustralia.org'>AnimalsAustralia.org</a>
Jumps racing is known to be 10 - 20 times more dangerous for horses than flat racing. Already the 2011 season has seen six horses die on track nationally. Click here to demand an end to jumps racing.
Cast your vote against jumps racing
Media is widely reporting on the Grand Annual Steeple debacle, with many outlets seeking your opinions on whether jumps racing ought to be banned. Please cast your vote to end this brutal bloodsport by voting in the following news polls:
- The Age (closed - view results)
- Fox Sports
- WA Today (closed - view results)
- The Brisbane Times (closed - view results)
- The Herald Sun (closed - view results)
- The Daily Telegraph
- The Advertiser
- SBS News (online discussion)
- Bendigo Advertiser (vote 'no' in this particular poll)
- 7 News
If you know of any additional polls that could be listed here please leave a comment below.
Post a commentYour Say: 47 comments
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Karen Maish:
Pain
Sunday, 11 March 2012 at 6:16pm
The horse has a heightened sense of pain and ability to feel it above human levels. Even if those ignorant to this don't understand, it is beyond me how they can watch and disengage themselves from the empathy in watching them be driven to obvious exhaustion and physical trauma. An accident becomes a story to tell. Our society is sociopathic.
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Wotani:
Act rather than preach
Tuesday, 28 June 2011 at 8:42pm
We are all of us preaching to the converted here, why not complain to your local parliamentary rep to have the Federal gov play nanny and just ban it? What's wrong with nannies anyway? Isn't it their role to be responsible and care? Nanna Power all the way!
Gemma:
Just insane!
Monday, 20 June 2011 at 5:23pm
The poor horses should not be used for entertainment like this. Anyone with a heart would know that. It is just wrong. How can people find enjoyment out of animal cruelty? It must be banned right now!
Show 4 replies
Gabrielle:
A different take
Tuesday, 31 May 2011 at 7:46pm
why don't the bookies, jockies and punters saddle up, add some weights and carry a monkey on their backs and we can cheer and bet on them while they jump and tumble and injure themselves? Now that would be sporting wouldn't it?
Show 1 reply
Colleen Maranda:
Animal Abuse is Child Abuse
Saturday, 21 May 2011 at 1:24am
Parents who teach children that it's entertaining to watch gentle horses crashing heavily to the ground may wonder what went wrong when their children become adults with aggressive and / or depressive tendencies. If lives are scored by chaos and misery, will parents remember teaching their children to enjoy misery when it's inflicted on fellow creatures incapable of cruelty?
TamTam!:
Who cares!
Tuesday, 10 May 2011 at 1:28pm
I have to laugh when those involved in horse racing tell me horses love to race and jump. I laugh when they tell me they are well cared for. To me making them race and jump at a risk of causing painful injuries and also death is not caring for these beautiful creatures. You whip them on the arse and MAKE them run. They are so high strung. It is not a choice by them. Do these people care how many of their horses go to the meat market because they didnt make the cut. How many are put to their death to save a few bucks. Come on. It is shameful. Money talks.
Louise Tozeland:
DISGUSTED
Tuesday, 10 May 2011 at 1:26pm
Just to point our some interesting facts on this sport and the damage it does !!!The combination of galloping at speed combined with jumping fixed obstacles makes jumps racing inherently dangerous contributing to the much higher risk of inj...ury and death to the horse in a jumps race than in other forms of horseracing. Th...e races are much longer, the riders are heavier and the horses suffer from severe fatigue which affects their limb co-ordination making it even harder for them to jump Horses jump under pressure beside other horses and there are errors of judgment by both horse and jockey. In addition it is common for horses to be brought down by other horses that are falling and for horses to fall or stumble and lose their rider and then create havoc as they continue running with the field without a jockey to steer them, Equine scientists have confirmed that horses did not evolve to be natural jumpers for the following reason, # Laterally placed eyes
restricts forward vision and ability to judge distance and position of feet approaching obstacle at speed # Very heavy carcass makes it difficult to lift huge weight over obstacles # Inflexible spine makes it physically more difficult to compensate for jumping errors # Long limbs become very extended when galloping making it difficult to adjust their stride at speed as they approach the jump #Many jumps horses have severely damaged and painful feet due to traditional shoeing practices. Shoeing inhibits ability of horses to feel their feet....A 15 year study into jump racing was conducted by the University of Melbourne between 1989 and 2004. The findings were presented by Dr Lisa Boden at the International Symposium for the Prevention of Thoroughbred Racehorse Fatalities and Injuries in July 2005, and are summarized as follows : Fatalities
Jump horses: 1 death for every 115 horses that start in a race
Flat horses: 1 death for every 2150 horses that start in a race
Catastrophic limb injuries
Found to be 18 times more likely in jump races
Cranial (head) or vertebral (back and neck) injury
Found to be 121 times more likely in jump races
Sudden death (mostly attributed to cardiovascular or respiratory failure)
Found to be 3.5 times more likely in jump races, These statistics provide clear evidence that jump horses are pushed far beyond their natural limits, and are subjected to much greater musculo-skeletal (limb, head and back injuries) and physiological stress than their flat racing counterparts, furthermore The 2008 Jumps Racing Season in Victoria
The 1991 report by the Senate Select Committee stated that in Victoria, an average of 11 horses die in jump races every year and that despite steps taken to improve safety the fatality rate would remain constant.1 A Racing Victoria safety review in 2002 and 2005 suggested many recommendations and changes to make jumps racing safer, however at the close of the 2008 season some 12 horses had died in scheduled races in Victoria and an additional one in a jumps trial. Horses suffered 28 falls.
Show 2 repliesrestricts forward vision and ability to judge distance and position of feet approaching obstacle at speed # Very heavy carcass makes it difficult to lift huge weight over obstacles # Inflexible spine makes it physically more difficult to compensate for jumping errors # Long limbs become very extended when galloping making it difficult to adjust their stride at speed as they approach the jump #Many jumps horses have severely damaged and painful feet due to traditional shoeing practices. Shoeing inhibits ability of horses to feel their feet....A 15 year study into jump racing was conducted by the University of Melbourne between 1989 and 2004. The findings were presented by Dr Lisa Boden at the International Symposium for the Prevention of Thoroughbred Racehorse Fatalities and Injuries in July 2005, and are summarized as follows : Fatalities
Jump horses: 1 death for every 115 horses that start in a race
Flat horses: 1 death for every 2150 horses that start in a race
Catastrophic limb injuries
Found to be 18 times more likely in jump races
Cranial (head) or vertebral (back and neck) injury
Found to be 121 times more likely in jump races
Sudden death (mostly attributed to cardiovascular or respiratory failure)
Found to be 3.5 times more likely in jump races, These statistics provide clear evidence that jump horses are pushed far beyond their natural limits, and are subjected to much greater musculo-skeletal (limb, head and back injuries) and physiological stress than their flat racing counterparts, furthermore The 2008 Jumps Racing Season in Victoria
The 1991 report by the Senate Select Committee stated that in Victoria, an average of 11 horses die in jump races every year and that despite steps taken to improve safety the fatality rate would remain constant.1 A Racing Victoria safety review in 2002 and 2005 suggested many recommendations and changes to make jumps racing safer, however at the close of the 2008 season some 12 horses had died in scheduled races in Victoria and an additional one in a jumps trial. Horses suffered 28 falls.
Patricia Hines:
Horse Races
Tuesday, 10 May 2011 at 12:37pm
I am appalled with all the injuries suffered by horses & jockeys in a so called safe sport, & what about trotting races, there are injuries & horses being put down because of falls. i for one have never been to a race & I never will. How many horses & jockeys have to die before something is done?
Chris Goumas:
Money Money Money !!!
Tuesday, 10 May 2011 at 9:03am
Why is this still continuing ? ... Its really obvious ... Money !!! Animals used for our amuzement so that someone can line his or her pocket ... Please find another way ... LOve and Peace to All ...
One for Animals:
PAY BACK
Tuesday, 10 May 2011 at 8:52am
I want these people who ride horses should be induced the same amount of pain that horses go through and see if they can take it. Let them jump and break their neck I have no SYMPATHY for tnem. These poor animals who can't spek for themselves are left with no choice. No one cares about their pain and feelings
Jill:
Speaking horse?
Sunday, 8 May 2011 at 8:39pm
So-called experts try to convince us with the astonishing information that horses LOVE to compete in Jumps Racing, Steeple Chasing and Flat Racing. This all apparently conveyed straight from the horses mouth. I am in awe of these experts, as apparently they can speak and understand horse. I am also astonished that none of the horses interviewed expressed their horror and disgust at these barbaric events that are the cause of so much terrible injury, pain and death of their fellows, solely to provide entertainment and satisfy the greed of humans.
Rene Halstead:
Stop this cruelty!
Sunday, 8 May 2011 at 4:44pm
What a barbaric sport it should be banned immediately!
Thelma Morgan:
Jumps Cruelty
Sunday, 8 May 2011 at 1:03pm
It's about time Victoria dragged itself out of the Victorian era and rid itself of this cruel sport (for men, not horses). No animal should die so that people can bet on a race. It's time the VCR bit the bullet and banned these races. Shame on the people who watch them.
alison ferro:
BAN HORSE RACING FOR GOOD
Sunday, 8 May 2011 at 12:49pm
We need to ban any type of sport that involves animals. We don't need to use animals as entertainment period. These poor animals have no say in anything that happens to them and we need to be their voice!!!!
Lisa:
Hurdle Hell
Sunday, 8 May 2011 at 10:32am
I just don't understand how they can push these poor horses beyond ridiciulous distances (5000m ) and expect them to jump hurdle over hurdle in the process. Hardly any finish the race after either falling, dying, or probably dying from a heartattack laler from all the stress put on their bodies. The poor horses are usually dead on their feet IF they even manage to finish one of these hellish hurdle races. Ban Jumps Racing Now!
Sue Fisher:
A CRUEL AND DANGEROUS "SPORT"
Saturday, 7 May 2011 at 1:33pm
Jumps Racing needs to be banned.because it is so very cruel to the horses and a very dangerous "sport". How the racing industry and the government can support jumps racing is terrible because they are just turning a blind eye to the cruelty and danger involved to the horses and to people because of the money generated by these races, They are also out of step with the majority of Victorians and Australians who want to see jumps racing banned.
Carolyn McDonald:
Disgusted
Saturday, 7 May 2011 at 1:05am
The two most stressful tasks to force upon a horse is galloping at a very fast speed and jumping (which is unnatural for a horse) therefore to combine the two is lethal for the horse and the history of jumps racing proves this beyond doubt with the number of deaths, injuries and never seen again. For jumps horses to die and be seriously injured in trials (no pressure or money involved here) is further evidence. The sickening suffering of these defenceless animals must no longer be tolerated. Shame on those who allow it to continue. BAN JUMPS RACING NOW.
Show 1 reply
Krystal Rondo:
BAN IT FOR GODS SAKE
Friday, 6 May 2011 at 10:28pm
who is paying who off for this sport to still be going?? BAN IT! horses die one way or the other they are bred to be raced and die from not being fast enough, jumping high enough or just running out of fuel at a young age! We have to help those who cannot speak for themselves! im glad the people got hurt i heard the news and honestly only cared about what happened to the horse?? they shouldnt have been supporting it.. and opps kids got hurt.. well what to you think these horses are?? yes young babies themselves who didnt know any better them to be whipped around and jump or die
Show 1 reply
Claudia Horne:
Cruelty
Friday, 6 May 2011 at 7:52pm
Have voted to ban it in every poll and posted comments where I can. This needs to be banned today, now - ASA bloody P!
See also:Jumps racing claims another victimWHIPS HURT. BAN THEM.Jumps racing -- deadly, now dangerous to allOpinion: Jumps racing is simply indefensiblePhaze Action falls in Brierly Steeplechase at Warrnambool, jumps racing mired in controversy again
Behind the glamour of horse racing lies a grim reality for horses. Thousands of healthy horses are killed each year simply because they weren't fast enough to race. Find out more...
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