De Hoefslag (the Dutch Chronicle) reports that three horses did not survive the race. The picture of Split Creek Bundy is horrifying. Evidently he broke both front legs and had to wait 20 minutes while other competitors passed before a vet arrived to put him down.
Now to disturb you even further, here’s this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w5v5owZFiM
Somebody once loved that foal dearly. Some of the best horses I ever knew were Standardbred-Arab. They deserve better.
I saw the photo on my AERC facebok feed, and that was enough. Completely awful. However, for me, I don’t connect the sport I’ve seen here in my region to what they are doing in other countries. Sadly, the public might, but I hope to be one to educate them that most of us love our horses and treat them well.
I hope AERC continues to set a high standard. I translated the page, and it looks like this wasn’t an FEI ride event, but it does sounds like there is little to no standard of care. While I would hope other countries would treat their animals better, we’re dealing with cultures that don’t. The frustration is high, but they haven’t shown to care a bit about international pressure. I know I would never sell a horse to that level (not that I have that talent, but still!)
Instead, I’ll continue to do my best to spread the “good horse word” here at home. One of my favorite things on the trail is to talk to the random hikers, kids, etc. I had about 10 kids swarm my sweaty horse last weekend, as I explained I was doing a 15 mile ride, one of the Mom’s said “It looks like your horse is having fun!” I hope we can educate that way, instead of these awful situations.
RIP Splitters Creek Bundy, as Nutmeg said, you certainly deserved better.
I’ve said it before and I say it again. Anyone that sells any animal to a muslim is guilty of animal abuse. They have zero respect for human life, why would anyone be delusional enough to think they would have any regard for an animal?
While I am as angry as you are, GottaQH, please let’s not go that way. A$$hats can be found in every land. But if the high level competitors in this non-FEI event wish to appear on the world stage, they must pay more than lip service to the welfare of the horses. Or take up motorcycles.
[QUOTE=GottaQH;7995207]
I’ve said it before and I say it again. Anyone that sells any animal to a muslim is guilty of animal abuse. They have zero respect for human life, why would anyone be delusional enough to think they would have any regard for an animal?[/QUOTE]
Does the same apply to anyone that would sell a horse to a once a week turnout home? Because they obviously don’t give a **** about a horse either.
[QUOTE=GottaQH;7995207]
I’ve said it before and I say it again. Anyone that sells any animal to a muslim is guilty of animal abuse.[/QUOTE]
Seriously? What does have religion to do with this?
I know plenty of Christians in the US horse racing industry for whom a horse is just as dispensable as for that particular owner in this UAE endurance race. But we’re only guessing. For all I know, this owner is heartbroken right now and will pull out of the sport… Just like it’s considered an “accident” here when a horse suffers a fatal fracture, it’s an accident over there as well.
Does it make it okay? No, of course not! As an Endurance rider I’m appalled by what goes on sometimes in our discipline (and others) but bringing religion into the discussion is just plain ignorant.
[QUOTE=Lieselotte;7995800]
Seriously? What does have religion to do with this?
I know plenty of Christians in the US horse racing industry for whom a horse is just as dispensable as for that particular owner in this UAE endurance race. But we’re only guessing. For all I know, this owner is heartbroken right now and will pull out of the sport… Just like it’s considered an “accident” here when a horse suffers a fatal fracture, it’s an accident over there as well.
Does it make it okay? No, of course not! As an Endurance rider I’m appalled by what goes on sometimes in our discipline (and others) but bringing religion into the discussion is just plain ignorant.[/QUOTE]
I wonder, is there any market for the endurance horses in the middle east, when they are no longer useful for racing? Is there any type of recreational endurance, trail or pleasure riding they could be used for, any backyard ownership / having horses for fun? I wouldn’t think so…but not sure.
I don’t think it is correct to compare Middle east endurance racing to what most people think of when they think of endurance racing. I gather they don’t have vet checks and the emphasis is on “race”
but there are so many - I think its around 3000 registered in UAE with the FEI - Its seriously doubtful if less strenuous homes could be found for them. But on the other hand there probably arent that many who actually survive until retirement so who knows:no:
[QUOTE=Lieselotte;7995800]
Seriously? What does have religion to do with this?
I know plenty of Christians in the US horse racing industry for whom a horse is just as dispensable as for that particular owner in this UAE endurance race. But we’re only guessing. For all I know, this owner is heartbroken right now and will pull out of the sport… Just like it’s considered an “accident” here when a horse suffers a fatal fracture, it’s an accident over there as well.
Does it make it okay? No, of course not! As an Endurance rider I’m appalled by what goes on sometimes in our discipline (and others) but bringing religion into the discussion is just plain ignorant.[/QUOTE]
Seriously why does religion figure into horse ownership? There is a Saddlebred owner that appears dedicated to bashing all Muslims on her FB page and it makes me so darn annoyed.
this particular owner was the ruler of Dubai and the owner of hundreds if not thousands of endurance and racehorses. its nothing to do with race or religion but all to do with money, power and corruption and is a dark and sordid matter 
investigate further - then please go and hug your horse
The voice of reason has weighed in: Pippa Cuckson has a piece at Horse-Canada:
http://www.horse-canada.com/cuckson-report/the-silence-of-the-lambs/
Also the Clean Endurance Facebook page reports that Splitters Creek Bundy seems to have tested positive for four illegal substances, although two may have been given just prior to euthanasia.
I don’t understand why anyone still sells horses to Area 7 competitors. This is not a new problem. Their competition culture has some issues. Big issues. (That have eff all to do with religion)
I’d no more send a horse over there than I would sell a TWH to a big lick barn to show under a trainer with multiple HPA violations.
I don’t do endurance riding but…
As a horse lover I continue to be disgusted with the continued abuses of these horses, with no governing body intervening. Why are these races allowed to continue???
I recognize there are abuses all across the horse sport spectrum, including my own (dressage).
It just makes me cry to see these horses suffer 
Julie
[QUOTE=JULSCARVER;8011063]
As a horse lover I continue to be disgusted with the continued abuses of these horses, with no governing body intervening. Why are these races allowed to continue???
I recognize there are abuses all across the horse sport spectrum, including my own (dressage).
It just makes me cry to see these horses suffer
Julie[/QUOTE]
Well, there was no governing body involved in regulating or supervising this event. That country is a monarchy, the King is heavily involved as an owner and generally one does not argue with or publically disagree with a King in the Kings very conservative and traditional country.
Really doubt there is any kind of market for these horses in their home country. Not much of a middle class and, culturally, don’t keep animals as pets or for a hobby.
[QUOTE=findeight;8012708]
Well, there was no governing body involved in regulating or supervising this event. That country is a monarchy, the King is heavily involved as an owner and generally one does not argue with or publically disagree with a King in the Kings very conservative and traditional country.
Really doubt there is any kind of market for these horses in their home country. Not much of a middle class and, culturally, don’t keep animals as pets or for a hobby.[/QUOTE]
Anything not being used for sport is going to be worked to death between the shafts of a cart. Equines are considered beasts of burden in all of the Middle East and basically disposable. Here is one excellent organization that provides basic veterinary care pro-bono in Morocco: http://www.americanfondouk.org/
That is the reality over there . . .
[QUOTE=Lady Eboshi;8012743]
Anything not being used for sport is going to be worked to death between the shafts of a cart. Equines are considered beasts of burden in all of the Middle East and basically disposable. Here is one excellent organization that provides basic veterinary care pro-bono in Morocco: http://www.americanfondouk.org/
That is the reality over there . . .[/QUOTE]
Umm…generalize much? In the UAE (which is in the Middle East, as opposed to Morocco which is in North Africa) there are few animals 'between the shafts of a cart" - it’s a well developed country where people are not generally reliant on animals as beasts of burden.
I lived in the UAE and even marshalled these races years ago. Breakdowns were exceptionally rare. I have no idea what’s changed - it makes me sad to see this.
As for the question about where they go after, the local riding schools did always have ex racers (both TB and Arab), but I doubt it would have made up for all of them.
It appears that even in the case of severe injury or breakdown there is great opposition to euthanasia. This may be based on culture/religion. There are accounts of what happens to badly injured horses which cannot be “gifted” and, basically, its “let nature take its course but help it along the way a little”:sadsmile: There must, of course, be some which are still workable to some extent and survive a full endurance career.
Goodness - only 16 posts on what is arguably one of the biggest animal welfare scandals in recent memory.
The races in Group 7 which cause the most injuries are the CEN, which are run under National Federation rules and which are NOT under FEI jurisdiction. No-one knows just what the ‘rules’ are, but it’s clear, from the appalling completion rates, and documented fatal injuries, and the numbers of horses which disappear after 2-3 races in which they failed to Qualify (IE: complete) that there aren’t many.
Added to this are the emerging records of blood tests which show that horses were doped with pain-killers, or de-nerved so that they gallop along on numbed legs - Splitters Creek Bundy was one such horse.
Apart from the sheer cruelty of such treatment, and the sports apparent inability to counter it, we can see that the sport of Endurance is now beginning to suffer, with riders deciding not to support the sport, in protest.
Fortunately, international protest has spurred the FEI into action, and more may be to come. We wait with interest, but not baited breath.
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