PETA goes after abusive 2-y-o sales practices

Barcaldine · Postby **Barcaldine** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 8:26 am

An interesting discussion is going on at the Paulick Report website about the superfast "breezes" at baby sales. Worth a look:

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/the-b ... -auctions/

Crystal · Postby **Crystal** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 10:56 am

consignors dont guarantee a race winner, they dont even guarantee a sound horse. But nobody goes to the 2 year old sales with the intention of buying a bottom claimer. 2 year old blow outs are just that- a small glimpse of a horse that "might" have talent. People pay more for speed.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 4:42 am

I absolutely NEVER thought these words would come from me.. but I agree with PETA.

I have held the opinion for some time now that the two year old in training sales have become horse killers. Not right away.. but there is just no way these top consignors, who leave trash baskets FULL of empty syringes in the tack rooms, are doing right by the horse.

winds · Postby **winds** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 8:28 am

I've never been an advocate for the 2 yr old in training sales. I went to one, and the horse I wanted only galloped. He went on to earn over 200k . His name was Computer's Choice, I believe.

winds

ratherrapid · Postby **ratherrapid** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 2:00 pm

the larger Q is what excuse is there for horse racing and animal rights orgs to fail to get their heads together for the good of the animals. PETA are "radicals". If you the chicken in a 2 x 3 foot cage or a horse in a 10 x 12 stall, maybe radical is what u need.

BenB · Postby **BenB** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 10:52 am

It is about time, they go after fasig tipton en Co.

This has ruined enough horses at an age far to young.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 11:21 am

It's not the fault of the sales companies. It is the direct fault of the consignors and sales prep folks.

pfrsue · Postby **pfrsue** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 11:45 am

madelyn wrote::lol: I absolutely NEVER thought these words would come from me.. but I agree with PETA.

I know, right? I keep looking out the window for inbound ballistic pigs. :shock:

wilf · Postby **wilf** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 12:13 pm

Worst thing that ever happened to racing ,ruins so many promising young horses that could give so much back if they were given the time to mature .

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 7:12 pm

There was a study the late Don Engel authored where he analyzed, I believe 10 years worth of Barrett's fastest breezed horses. He tallied up their auction price then totaled race earnings. Buyers ended up with major losses with only a few earning or exceeding earnings above their sale price. I think there were a few that ended up as successful stallions and broodies..

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 7:24 pm

wilf wrote:

Worst thing that ever happened to racing ,ruins so many promising young horses that could give so much back if they were given the time to mature .

Isn't that the truth. And the really good ones show so much but after several tough races are usually never seen again. Most of the Feb/March sale babies are started in October when yearlings. What a pounding they take.

ratherrapid · Postby **ratherrapid** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 12:24 pm

i was once at blue ribbon in the ship in barn in february and some owner in gold chains drives through for an overnight layup on his way to somewhere with six two year olds he had just bought at the Florida breeze sales. the shedrow looked like a hospital ward. Two healthy horses in the six as i recall.
I talked to the guy. he'd spent about $300,000 on the lot of them. He was other than happy.

ArchDandy · Postby **ArchDandy** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 9:41 pm

Cannot disagree, 90% of the horse business is bad for horses themselves. However I differ from Peta's view in that I fight for animal WELFARE and not animal RIGHTS. Peta wishes to completely seperate contact with animals, I simply wish to make our interaction with them cruelty free. I'm fairly certain most on here are also in that boat.

Marsalon · Postby **Marsalon** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 4:52 am

I would NEVER agree with PETA.

Horse racing could use a number of changes and 2 yo sales are definitely one of them. These sales are a real meat grinder and I won't purchase a horse from one because I think the overworked stock is a poor value.

PETA on the otherhand, wants to abolish horseracing, along with food animals, beasts of burden, and household pets. The goal of an anumal utopian society where non-humans roam freely and uninhibited by people, like cows in India, is fundamental to this extremist organization. While the group may occasionally have a rational thought, remember this is the same bunch that advocates the use of humane fly traps over flyswatters.

PETA is no friend. PETA is no ally. Give them an inch and you'll lose a foot.

Roger · Postby **Roger** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 5:48 am

Being the simple guy here, I don't have a problem with two year old in training sales as a process. I have a problem with people raising fat yearlings and then putting those fat yearlings in training but keeping them fat for the 2 yr old sale. Fat kids cannot be in good running shape even if they are started in Oct as yearlings. If a 2yr old has been handled right as a yearling, it will be ready to start training in the fall and it will be ready to race in March, but it can't be treated as a cream puff all its life.
Several studies indicate that horses raced a two year olds stay sound longer than horses that don't. Another personal gripe is how can we expect 3 yr olds to run three triple crown races without 2 yr old seasoning.