The question was: what is the track’s policy on euthanizing horses/ON grounds, NOT race nights…? what is the policy/standards of euthanizing and disposing on track property ?.. someone must have an accounting of such things… the horses… what/who determines this as an allowable option?
the claim has been made that horses were shipped IN specifically for euthanizationI don’t think DickHertz is throwing Brandon Jenkins under the bus, we all know what goes on- his point is that Penn published a “zero tolerance policy” after pressure from certain people, and they have not and will not enforce it. They have not offered the horsemen any alternatives, like Turning for Home or the FLTAP. Jenkins is certainly not the only one, but there was no arguing with the paper trail in that case, and Penn then back-tracked. I personally wish they would remove that sham of a policy, bc far too many horses have gone underground since then with no hope of being purchased at any auction. The clueless people that insisted on this policy are nowhere to be seen now either. What a joke.
[QUOTE=BeverlyAStrauss;4672015]
I don’t think DickHertz is throwing Brandon Jenkins under the bus, we all know what goes on- his point is that Penn published a “zero tolerance policy” after pressure from certain people, and they have not and will not enforce it. They have not offered the horsemen any alternatives, like Turning for Home or the FLTAP. Jenkins is certainly not the only one, but there was no arguing with the paper trail in that case, and Penn then backtracked. I personally wish they would remove that sham of a policy, bc far too many horses have gone underground since then with no hope of being purchased at any auction. The clueless people that insisted on this policy are nowhere to be seen now either. What a joke.[/QUOTE]
All so true. Thanks for posting this.
What Beverly said.
[QUOTE=brightskyfarm;4671879]
The question was: what is the track’s policy on euthanizing horses/ON grounds, NOT race nights…? what is the policy/standards of euthanizing and disposing on track property ?.. someone must have an accounting of such things… the horses… what/who determines this as an allowable option?
the claim has been made that horses were shipped IN specifically for euthanization[/QUOTE]
I guess I don’t see why this would be an ETHICAL issue. A business issue as far as cost to the track for body disposal? Sure. But I don’t see the difference between a vet driving out to a farm to euth a horse, or having the owner meet the vet at the track or clinic to have the same thing done.
Bottom line, if the owner and vet deems it appropriate to euthanize a horse, than it should be put down. It sure beats dumping the same horse at an auction. There are far worse fates for an animal than to have a needle that ends it’s pain.
What exactly is your point? Because I feel like I’m missing something… 
[QUOTE=AppJumpr08;4672168]
I guess I don’t see why this would be an ETHICAL issue. A business issue as far as cost to the track for body disposal? Sure. But I don’t see the difference between a vet driving out to a farm to euth a horse, or having the owner meet the vet at the track or clinic to have the same thing done.
Bottom line, if the owner and vet deems it appropriate to euthanize a horse, than it should be put down. It sure beats dumping the same horse at an auction. There are far worse fates for an animal than to have a needle that ends it’s pain.
QUOTE]
Absolutely!
[QUOTE=On the Farm;4671798]
Funny, you seem to have a self-proclaimed handle on everything else going on at Penn. Oh well.[/QUOTE]
My point, ON THE FARM, is if you called Rob Marella tomorrow at 717-469-2211 and asked him, HE would not know what the policy is. I’m sorry you fail to realize this. Or perhaps I missed the ship-in euthanasia policy while reading my Penn National handbook. :rolleyes:
*Its being suggested that the track is backing this
outlet by using its resources to assist?
[QUOTE=brightskyfarm;4672385]
The point:
*I am directly challenging the statement that horses were shipping in to be euthanized.
*If horseman/owners/rescues/ ARE using this euthanasia *excuse* as a cop-out to spending time, money and other resources to re-home a horse, yes, then I directly challenge the ethics of that.
*Its being suggested that the track is backing this
outlet by using its resources to assist?
If authorities went to a(any) farm and found a pit full of horses, they'd be quickly asking for an accounting I assure you that.[/QUOTE]
I personally wouldn’t mind if they euthanized every single one of Gill’s horses right then and there. At least they would be the only ones to die and there would be no worries of them taking their riders with them which if you think back is the entire reasoning behind this thread PLUS it would spare them the nightmare of slaughter. It never was about the horses, it was trying to keep the horses from killing the people around them.
And no, if you went to a farm and found a pit full of healthy weight horses with trimmed hooves that were humanely euthanized the authorities whomever that may be would not and could not do a thing about it.
Personally I wish tracks would offer a ship-in euthanasia option. I don’t think making the decision to euthanize an animal should ever be easy, however, I do think finding an outlet to do so affordably should be. If low cost euthanasia was business as usual that would take away one of the arguments for slaughter.
I will never understand the people who can’t bear the thought of euthanising their unsound animal, and yet have no compunction about giving away that animal for free to a stranger – horses end up in far worse fates that way than by the needle.
Before you go questioning someone else’s decision to euthanize an animal, ask yourself how many unsound horses have you successfully rehomed.
My thoughts exactly!
BF said exactly what I wanted to say, and couldn’t find a way to say it.
I think it’s important to remember that horses don’t agonize for days over being euthanized. They agonize for days over the fact that they are in pain. They won’t spend a lifetime as a marginally pasture sound horse thanking their lucky stars that someone chose not to have them euthanized. They will live in some form of discomfort instead. So which is kinder to the animal?? I think it’s pretty clear.
Euthanasia
The reason horses might be put down at the track instead of somewhere else is that it saves on the disposal fees. The expensive part of putting a horse down isn’t the vet fee or the drugs (I know many vets that will humanely euthanize a suffering animal for cost or free) - it’s the disposal. What to do with a 1200 carcass?
When I had to have my personal horse euthed last summer, in my area the disposal fee is $600-800 (which I paid). If he had been at the track that would have been GREATLY reduced (if not free). Not sure exactly why that is (since I don’t work on the backstretch) - hopefully it’s not a bulk discount or something like that…
I don’t have a problem with euthanasia when necessary, but treating horses like disposable products that are tossed out and replaced when they are completly used up is wrong.
Agreed, wholeheartedly, which brings us back on topic.
Using horses up until there is nothing left is the Gill m.o. Although jockey safety is what prompted the stand against Gill at Penn, it is the disregard for the best interest of the horses in the quest for the almighty dollar which is the core of the issue.
[QUOTE=lily04;4666093]
I did not use lasix for most horses until 3 years ago when one was claimed from me and the trainer told me his owner claimed the horse because I did not use it and they could improve him with lasix. I now give min. allowed of 2cc. I would rather not but don’t want to have another claimed because someone thinks they can improve it with medication.[/QUOTE]
The logic of this escapes me. You’re saying you unnecessarily drug your horses, which you know to be wrong just to keep them from getting claimed? WTF?
[QUOTE=NoBSshoer;4673815]
The logic of this escapes me. You’re saying you unnecessarily drug your horses, which you know to be wrong just to keep them from getting claimed? WTF?[/QUOTE]
I understand the logic completely. When’s the last time you saw a racing program that listed a horse without a “L” and a “B” next to it’s name? Huh?
[QUOTE=rcloisonne;4673949]
I understand the logic completely. When’s the last time you saw a racing program that listed a horse without a “L” and a “B” next to it’s name? Huh?[/QUOTE] Circa 1996 New York. What was that all our mothers told us about following along with the crowd? Or was it jumping off bridges?
Thankfully PA still doesn’t allow it for 2 year olds. Will be only a matter of time I’m sure before they capitulate to druggie trainers like all the other states have.
Two year olds can run on lasix in PA, they can not run on bute.
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