Is horseracing humane?

1. Is horseracing humane? Made a neighborhood watch on horseback Rachael Wood

2. Why I chose this topic • I’ve been riding horses for most of my life and I wanted to learn more about the discipline of horseracing

3. Research • The horses are bred for the wrong reasons. • In an Australian study consisting of 1,084 race horses, statistics revealed that 87% of the horses did not earn enough money to cover training costs, and 40% earned no money at all.

4. Research • Horses start training before growth plates have matured; many injuries result from this • Training puts unbelievable amounts of stress on the young horses • Injuries and breakdowns are part of the business but they shouldn’t be happening as often as they are.

5. Research • Track surface • “Polytrack” – synthetic surface made of recycled rubber, carpet fibers, and silica, all coated in wax • Synthetic tracks average a 1.47 deaths per one thousand starts, compared to 2.03 fatalities per one thousand starts on dirt tracks, according to a study conducted by veterinarians at thirty four tracks across the country

6. Research • European horses have longer racing careers than American horses do • European horses spend more time outdoors and have better enjoyment of life • European racing is more of a truer sport than American racing • British Horseracing Authority • After their short careers, most American racehorses are either euthanized or sent to slaughter • Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation

7. Obstacles • I failed the first time • Time management • Procrastination

8. Successes • I learned a lot about horse racing

9. Link • I wanted to do something involving horses

10. My Product

11. Reflection • I learned that I’ll step out of my comfort zone if I have to and I’m not as bad at talking to adults as I thought • I have very poor time management skills

12. Thank you for your time! • Do you have any questions?