A horse race is a sport in which two horses compete in an attempt to win a wager. Bettors can choose to place money on a horse to finish first, second, or third. Those who bet on the winner receive higher payouts, but those who bet on placing or show earn less money.
The idea of naturalness is highly central to the thoroughbred racing and breeding discourse, influencing breeding regulations; guiding how horses are managed on the track; and impacting the way they are trained and raced. Despite these implications, key industry and animal advocacy informants in horseracing are often slow to recognise and address practices that may negatively impact the welfare of racehorses. This article uses semi-structured interviews and photo-elicitation to examine how these informants conceptualise naturalness within the context of common racing practices that have the potential to harm horses.
In addition to the many human factors that can contribute to an accident, a horse race is a dangerous activity for horses themselves. They are bred for speed at the expense of bone mass and overall well-being, and they are pushed far beyond their natural abilities in races. This can lead to debilitating medical conditions like bleeding lungs and ringbone, and it is common — and somehow tolerated — for horses to die in terrifying accidents or be euthanised after sustaining crippling injuries that would never have occurred on the wild.
Whether they are at a local track or the famous Palio di Siena, horse races attract spectators from all over the world with their pageantry and history. The sport has endured ups and downs in popularity, from being banned by Oliver Cromwell in 1654 to its current status as a multimillion-dollar industry. Spectators can enjoy lavish hats, mint juleps, and sophisticated fashion at events such as Royal Ascot and the Kentucky Derby, while betting on their favourite horses to win is an integral part of the experience.
The best-laid plans of horse trainers and owners can be thrown into disarray by unexpected changes, however. For example, when a race does not fill or an extra race is added, it can alter travel arrangements and put a damper on plans. Similarly, when a horse does not perform as expected or is injured before a race, trainers and owners can be forced to change their strategy at the last minute.
Some of these changes are driven by the industry and a desire to maximise profit, while others are motivated by a desire to maintain or improve the horse’s quality of life. For example, the use of bits in horse racing is a controversial practice among animal advocates, who claim that most horses exhibit clear behavioural evidence of aversion to having a bit in their mouth, which ranges from mildly irritating to painful. Nevertheless, industry informants are quick to point out that the bit has always been used in this way, and downplay the potential impacts of these practices on the horses’ wellbeing.