What makes racehorses good?

[Judith]

Paul I agree a zillion percent, If a horse is run on pain killers it can not possibly know it is sore. I had no idea that the QH industry was just as guilty. I have to admit I know absolutley nothing about quarter horse and arab racing. But interestingly the western pleasure horses I have had in for training, same thing, give em a tone of bute or nerve them so they can not feel their legs. Pretty darn sad

 

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

Oh you wouldn't believe what we see in the barns at the Big Barrel Races. Alot of folks in there injectin this that and the other just to make one run.
Doin breathin treatments...supposedly to get more oxygen into their blood...(make em run faster) Alot of stuff in a tube that does this that n the other...etc etc.......
The only thing we'll give horses on a regular basis away from home is electolytes. Just in case they don't drink enuff water on the road.

That's somethin we've talked about at length. If a horse is hurt, or we suspect it is hurt.......there won't be a run made. That's just the way it is. Lil Lilly completely understands. Why take a chance on ruinin a good horse for one run? We do everything we can to make sure that the horses are physically prepared, by feeding good feed/hay, exercise, and plenty of fresh water. And plenty of time for the horse to just be a horse. I think that does more good than just about anything you can do for one to improve their mind.

 

[Mrs.Greg]

Theres too much use of drugs in alot of horses...I know a guy won't mont any of his horses without a shot to quieten them down :? Buying a horse at a auction mart isn't advisable because of these shots being givin to the horses to quieten them down...I hate this,I don't believe in drugging horses to make them something they're not.