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I’ve just read through this whole thread and I think most things that needed saying have probably been said. I have only ever commented before on the Gordon Elliot thread, and no, i am not only interested in the bad side of racing, but i am very concerned about horse welfare in general. I would just like to say a few things i havn’t seen mentioned. The use of a rifle on the horses looked totally wrong,and to many people illegal. I have only ever held one horse to be shot (by a vet), a brood mare in severe pain with a twisted gut. The vet used a small pistol. But years ago, an online horsey forum was up in arms over a ” disgusting” slaughterhouse video. I refused to view it, I don’t like to see horses abused, but eventually I just had to watch, to know what they were all talking about. Well, it was an Animal Aid undercover video at Potter’s in Bristol. I prepared myself for the horrific scenes, needlessly as it turned out. All horses (a lot of TBs) were led in quietly, just as if they were walking into their own stable. They stood for a second, had the gun (rifle) put to their head and dropped quietly. I watched approx 12 put down and every single one was a quiet, quick, stress free end. The use of a rifle looked ungainly but seemed to be used expertly – years later I learned that the man using it was a real horseman, he felt so strongly about horses having a stress-free end,that he trained as a slaughter man and had that rifle specially designed, as the long barrel meant the horse could not see it and hence did not get upset. Horses do have a blind spot directly in front of them. I suspect that man is retired by now, and that pratt at Drurys deserves shooting himself. And the vet needs to be struck off.
It was intetsting to see Mark Johnston mentioned on here – he is one trainer who I shouldn’t think gives two hoots about what happens to his horses when they leave his yard. He is incredibly hard on his horses, I know Deidre did/does retrain some for eventing but an awful lot will have had every last ounce wrung out of them whilst in training. Oh,and on a mainly Irish racing group,I am reliably informed that the nice Animal Aid man,Dene Hansall was himself convicted of animal cruelty,starving horses, in the past! You couldn’t make it up!Well I’m going to annoy Ham even more now by continuing with conspiracy theories and dead horse descriptions! Apallache, I don’t think its callous horses going to the factory in Ireland -years ago, on holiday there, I was chatting to the drivers of the ‘jaunty(jaunting?) carts, taking tourists up and down- he said they were 7 yrs old, their working life was about finished and they would be going ‘on de hooook’! I did think that was a bit callous, but I would much rather that than have them left hungry or in bad homes. And I have been reminded here that horses are classed as agricultural in Ireland. As I understand it here, if a horse is used in the course of a business, it is not a pet and therefore can’t be buried. I know of permit holders burying horses-training is their hobby not business I suppose. I would never complain about anyone burying a much loved horse,legal or not, it is done out of compassion for the horse.
I am glad others noted the colour, or lack of, in the pic of Morgan,his coat looks so dull, I couldn’t tell either. I did wonder if it was actually him, remember GE can’t remember if it happened a few years ago or 4 years ago tho we have to assume it was actually 18 months ago. The actual date of that pic would be interesting as it looks like summer but Morgan is listed as deceased 26 sept 2019.
In answer to the person who thinks I have inside info, unfortunately I don’t, I did see the k Harrington tweets which were quite interesting and funny in places. I still think this is an insurance scam. Maybe I look at the pic, and the video,differently to others. The Rob James video does not shock me at all- I have never.ever, seen anyone on a dead horse… But, I can well imagine some young stable lads doing it, I don’t think it makes them bad,if that is as far as it goes.If the head lad saw them they’d get a clip round the ear and wouldn’t do it again. Rob James actually gives the mare a little pat as he gets off, gave the impression he does care. The trainer on a dead horse tho is a different matter. Not neccesarily because he’s sat on him, but because of his expression; as others have said, he looks like a trophy hunter, he’s smiling, he’s had a win, or 2,as he’s giving his 2 fingered victory salute. The only reason I can think of, for a trainer/owner,to actually look pleased when their horse dies,is if the horse is worth more dead than alive. Such horse would have to be a once valuable one who has deteriorated recently. Just like Morgan. I still think he has a pelvic injury even tho the pic quality is poor. Most people maybe don’t look beyond the grinning buffoon on his back, tho a local lady small trainer(permit) said she thought the horse was in “appalling condition”,so some are noticing, but not enough. Whatever is going on, it looks like he’ll get away with it basically.
GE statement said the horse died from ‘apparent’aneurism (or heart attack) which suggests no Post Mortem done. If an insured horse is badly injured, the insurers will send out their own appointed vet to decide whether to PTS. But if the horse is already dead, from an apparent aneurism say, then they don’t always send one, your own vets statement may be enough.
Racehorse insurance comes in different forms but some/most cover death on the course, in training and associated activities (travelling to races?).
Sorry for the essay, I’ve tried to address others comments; these are my thoughts only (not all of them, I have more!), I hope it doesn’t bore you to tears!
And Drone, you are right, you DO understand(have been taken in by!) me – I wouldnt dare comment on most topics on here as you lot know far more about it than I do!Drone, very few racehorses will be buried,only the very special ones might get to be buried at the trainers,most owners don’t have their own land. Mine weren’t racehorses they were my own mares I’d had for over 20yrs and were buried on the farm. In Ireland they’ll be “off to the factory”. They seem more blasé about it over there.
Drone, I don’t think a horse would lose muscle like that over a day or two, especially as his neck has kept all muscle. His belly may possibly bloat a bit but they’re not like cows, different digestion, not so gassy or they’d get colic all the time. Im not sure if there’s an eye missing, difficult to tell – what a gory post this is,sorry. Personally any horses I’ve had put down look exactly the same the next day when they’re buried. When the pic first came out, people were saying it was Easyland but that was obv wrong as he’d died around Xmas but one person said no its Morgan, he broke a leg and was put down. So he was right about the name(before it became publicly known),so maybe a broken pelvis which would fit with that image. Another thing I saw was from an ex-work rider there, saying GE was nasty to the horses saying he liked to “bait them” stubbing cigarettes out on them. Now I don’t know if he smokes so that could be a load of rubbish, just the terminology sounded right, its how the Irish lads describe teasing a horse.
Gamble, I’m not sure I understand everything you say lol but thanks for advice on quotes, I will study it later, when I have more time. I am def female, not a Virgo but a leo- not a typical Leo tho, too quiet! I have an eye for detail where horses are concerned – Morgan also has not a mark of sweat on him, doesn’t even look like he’s had a saddle or bridle on, its summer there would usually be a bit of sweat or definately marks from saddle, girth and bridle. The bay mare in the Rob James video, has a lovely shiny coat, not a hair out of place, no way has she had a saddle on that day, a sunny day, there would def be marks from her girth. Re the DM article, I personally don’t think it had anything to do with Labaiks owners- I think GE would like us to think that, as it paints him in a better light than the alternative – the boyfriend of the stable girl he was ermm having relations with. Talking of Labaik, there were people saying he was dead long, long before Elliot ever did with Elliot saying no he was out in the field. There seems to be something sordid about this yard and horse deaths, nothing seems straightforward: Labaik, Easyland, Morgan, and didn’t he have the horse that dropped down dead BEFORE a race? That’s a fair few heart problems, I wonder how many more there’s been.
I don’t know how to do quotes but Gamble says about disrespecting live horses – look closely at the pic, Morgan was not a healthy horse before he died, he has a muscular neck, big belly and a back end that doesn’t match – jutting out hip bones and muscle wastage on the quarters. He looks like a horse with a pelvic injury. I think there is far more to this than merely sitting on a dead horse,tho that in itself is sick enough. I also think it shouldn’t be brushed under the carpet to protect racings image.
Good morning,I have been a member here for a while but never commented, but can’t keep quiet on this subject I’m afraid! As an intro, I worked in various yards for 30 yrs- racing,studs,yearling prep,breaking and hunt yards and loved every minute. I love to follow racing now, have no interest in gambling but every interest in horse welfare. I love to see fit healthy TBs galloping and jumping well, doing what they’re bred to do. But this GE stuff has sickened me. I have my own thoughts on what us going on in that pic but nobody else seems to have mentioned it. I hate to cast aspersions on the characters of Elliot and O’Leary, but does anybody think O’Leary insures his horses?
