YOU BE THE JUDGE.
Confinement creates pent-up energy — not enthusiasm.
“Open days” public visiting of ‘studs’ days hide routine isolation and restriction.
Early training often relies on dominance; later control relies on pain.
Tongue ties are about control, not care.
What follows is a closer look at how racing’s carefully managed optics mask routine confinement, coercion, and control.
CONFINEMENT CREATES PENT-UP ENERGY – NOT ENTHUSIASM
Racing advocates often claim that horses are “treated like royalty” and that they “love to run,” inviting the public to attend carefully staged stable AKA ‘stud’ open ‘house’ days.
What those visits don’t show is daily reality.
Many racehorses are confined to stalls for up to 23 hours a day.
When finally released, of course they explode with energy — not because they love racing, but because they are desperate for movement.
Left to choose, horses run freely with their herd, not into starting gates, AND not under the whip.
RACING RUNS ON CONTROL – NOT CONSENT
Many horses are started very young because, as foals, they can be physically overpowered and conditioned to submit.
That early compliance often carries into adulthood. When physical dominance is no longer enough, coercive equipment may be used to maintain control.
Take notice of the heavy duty, harsh bits and bridles, tight grips and tongue ties in the following short video. Just a few of the coercive ‘tools’ and tactics used in the horse racing industry.
PAIN BASED CONTROL IN PLAIN SIGHT
That is misleading. Tongue ties are primarily a control tool.
They prevent horses from moving their tongues to relieve discomfort caused by harsh bits, restricting natural behavior and masking distress rather than addressing its cause.
Modern equine science increasingly recognizes that horse welfare depends on three basics: forage, freedom, and friends.
Horses are not designed to live in isolation or confinement for human convenience.
Locking them up, controlling them through pain, and then claiming they “love” what follows is not welfare — it is propaganda.
HORSE TRAINERS IN OTHER ‘DISCIPLINES’ ARE MOVING AWAY FROM COERCIVE METHODS
It’s important to note that many disciplines are actively moving away from coercive training methods.
Approaches grouped under “natural horsemanship” emphasize partnership and communication rather than force, as taught by respected trainers such as Monty Roberts, Ray Hunt, Buck Brannaman, Pat Parelli, and Australia’s Warwick Schiller.
Racing, however, continues to rely heavily on outdated dominance-based systems and equipment that many other horse communities have already rejected.
The horse racing industry can spin it.
They can shine it.
They can wrap it in warm PR language.
But the truth remains.
And that’s why Meet Our Horse Meat will never stop pulling the shine off the rot beneath.
IF YOU CARE ABOUT HORSES – SPEAK UP
Help us raise awareness.
Boycott horse racing – including saying #nuptothecup.
Support our sanctuaries – they are filled with off the track horses.
What do YOU think?
Join the conversation on our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/@NoAussieHorseSlaughter
#MOHM THREATENED?
We’ve been threatened by those in the horse racing industry and those who benefit from horse slaughter more times than we can count.
But we are not going away.
We are going to persist until horse slaughter no longer exists for any purpose within Australia -- and until the horse racing industry makes drastic changes.
We are going to continue our hands-on work to offer lifelong sanctuary to as many horses as possible. We generally have 20 at just one of our locations - at any given time.
We have the acreage to take on more horses as financial support allows.
BRUMBY SPECIFIC WEBSITE
#MOHM HAS A BRUMBY SPECIFIC WEBSITE TOOAs you know we are dedicated to banning the slaughter of horses in Australia for any purpose and that includes wild horses. Please join us on our "sister" website dedicated to banning the slaughter of wild horses AKA Brumbies for...
PUSH BUTTON DONE-FOR-YOU EMAIL
DEMAND CRIMINAL CHARGES - NOW!Horses died, the racing industry issued a ban. Is that justice? The death of City Limits shows us that the racing industry should NOT be regulating themselves.In January 2026, neighbours discovered the five-year-old thoroughbred City...
CURRENT PETITIONS
WE TAKE SOME PETITIONS SERIOUSLYAt Meet Our Horse Meat, we take 'some' petitions seriously—because we know not all petitions are created equal. That’s why we generally do not promote petitions that are privately hosted or lack government backing. Instead, we focus on...
Join us on social media and become a keyboard warrior.
