I'm sure almost everyone has seen PETA's most recent video of their undercover investigation of trainer Steve Asmussen and Scott Blasi. If you haven't, it doesn't paint a pretty picture of them or horse racing in general. I'm not going to defend or condemn Asmussen and Blasi, it's not my place. I do want to point out some things about the video.
In the four months that the investigator worked at the Asmussen barn, she only got seven hours of video. Of that, they only used nine minutes of damaging footage. The medications and treatments used in the video are technically legal, provided they are used far enough out from a race (no I'm not condoning anything they did or said in the video, just stating facts.) There is definitely damaging footage in this video, but I would be very interested in seeing the rest of what they caught on film. The large majority of their documenting that they conveniently left out.
The worst part about PETA is they don't just attack the subjects of their investigation, they use those subjects as examples of the entire industry that they are focused on at the time. It's the equivalent of a reporter using an alleged criminal of a certain ethnicity to prove that all members of that race are the same as the "criminal". Here are some quotes and thoughts from PETA involving the entire horse racing industry:
Steeplechase jockey Ruby Walsh was attacked after the comments in this article (link below). The part about him referring to his worry over the condition of his friend and fellow rider was conveniently left out of the article by the media. It was later added in a follow-up story. PETA, of course, jumped on the opportunity to draw these conclusions:
http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/4947088
-The animal welfare group Peta, told the Huffington Post UK that Walsh's comments expose "the true emotion behind horse racing: greed."
-"Horses are treated like wind-up toys, their fragile limbs pushed to and sometimes beyond the breaking point, and are overworked to the detriment of their health by the inherently cruel and greedy racing business, where money is king."
* After this article went viral comments were posted on Twitter wishing him physical harm/death. He is concerned with the impact that this could have on his children.
These conclusions drawn by PETA from their own investigation were reported to CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/21/us/racehorse-cruelty-allegations/?c=&page=4
Injured horses compete under peak demands, PETA said. It alleges they are doped against the excruciating pain of worn-out joints, hooves with holes and bleeding lungs.
Their handling and training are so grueling, prized chargers drop dead before making it to the racetrack, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said.
The group targeted one of America's top horse trainers, Steve Asmussen, and his main assistant, Scott Blasi, in a monthslong undercover operation that included video recorded clandestinely.
Though the sting singled out the two men, the group said what it found is "standard practice" in the horse racing industry, where "death and injuries are business as usual."
PETA's response to Eight Bells (they went after the jockey for whipping Eight Bells in the stretch):
http://www.peta.org/blog/kentucky-derby-horse-killed-front-thousands/
While the trainers, jockeys, and owners may weep their crocodile tears today over Eight Belles’ euthanasia, they will be back on the track tomorrow, putting other horses at risk. Thoroughbreds are raced on hard dirt surfaces—like the one at Churchill Downs. Their bones simply can’t take it, as Eight Belles’ two broken front legs showed last night. Despite the wealth associated with thoroughbred racing, for the horses—most of whom end up broken, cast off, or sent to Europe to be killed for the dinner table—it’s a dirty business and no better than dogfighting.
And to Barbaro:
http://www.peta.org/blog/rip-barbaro/
The story is being pitched as an unexpected accident that shocked the country, but the truth is that Barbaro’s tragedy is a very public reminder of the plight of racehorses everywhere and the cruel fate that awaits so many victims of the horse racing industry.
My point here is that no one in the horse racing industry is exempt from their accusations. To PETA we are all heartless, horse-killers that care about nothing but money. PETA uses their investigations to condemn us all.
What PETA doesn't understand is that if they only focused on changes within the industries they are after instead of trying to demolish them, they might actually get some backing from within those industries. People usually aren't against stiffer rules and more severe consequences for those that break them. They're usually willing to accept change. There is a shockingly large amount of people in horse racing that would like to see change. What they aren't willing to do is support a fanatical organization who's only goal is to take away their lively hood, an organization that has no regard for people while they accuse those people of having no regard for the animals.
And it's not just horse racing. Do you ride with spurs or carry a whip? Do you do anything that causes your horse any type of exertion? Ever use a chain on your halter? Ever confined your horse for any reason at all? Have you made your horse do something it didn't want to do, even without using punishment? Do you run a breeding program? Guess what, in PETA'S eyes, you are abusing horses. Dressage, eventing, jumping, rodeoing, western-pleasure, halter, reining, cutting, endurance....yep, chances are PETA thinks you abuse your horse.
PETA has done some great things for animals in their time. They could do a lot more with a better approach. Their self-described "colorful and controversial gimmicks" are rarely received well and often prevent them from being taken seriously. They seem more like they are out to make a point than to they are to take a functional stand. Coming across as disturbed and spoiled children throwing a temper tantrum until they get their way isn't helping anyone or anything in the long run.
Twitter is filling up with pictures of the good side of the industry using #fullstoryPETA. If you are tired of PETA's deception and manipulation then this is a way to help give horse racing a voice. (I'm assuming this applies to other social media also).
