Here we go again, something else to shut down.

You know, a race horses life is not all about horse racing, they also have spell periods, swims, rides on the beach and, if they are fortunate enough, they get to be sirers of other race horses, so life for a race horse also has it's up side. Agree!

Now, if we take away the horse racing, most of these horses would not have even been born, as they were only ever bred to race and nothing else.

So what's next on the hit list.

If only we took this approach to people, bred to work and provide, not to enjoy lif at another's expense.

Silly Hat Day is actually cruel to humans.

Seduces the sweepstake sheep into believing they are an expert nose picker once a year.

And if wasn't so demeaning seeing the Silly Hats stagger around and trip over their high heels into their own vomit it could almost be entertaining.

Otherwise boring as...

Nick you predicate this article primarily on the welfare of horses, what about human beings?

People are animals, we all, except for a tiny proportion of the world's population, serve and are served by both animals and other human beings.

Is it any different for an individual to be raised, educated, employed, retire and then die, the whole time serving the joy and frustrations of their parents through childhood, serve the need of teachers and other educators whilst being educated, serve corporate and individuals through their output as employers and empoyees, the government as taxpayers, provide financial and child minding service to their children and grandchildren in retirement and then die having served a multitude of uses and provided uses during their lifetimes.

I see no difference with you, you serve the University, serve the students in your lectures, you too are being mistreated if your mantra is followed.

By the way, did the lettuce or tomato bush providing you sustenance to continue to breath have any say in whether or not you could eat them. Sentient beings or not, we all serve or are served in too many ways to imagine.

I do not doubt that , generally at least , horse owners treat their horses very well , at least while they are still capable of racing and earning money for the owners . Owners would be stupid if they did not .

I do not know whether owners sell them for pet food after they cease to be profitable . I suppose some do , while others allow their redundant to live out their lives in comfort and producing offspring , which will also be be raced if good enough .

In Britain , foxhunters [ including the royal family ] and , in the USA , deerhunters claim that foxes and deer thoroughly enjoy being hunted and killed . It is all good sport .

The Melbourne Cup is a cruel event for members of the community , particularly those in the workforce , who [ like the majority of the population ] have no interest in racing and who refuse to pretend that they do , just for Melbourne Cup Day . They are ruthlessly pestered to have a bet or buy sweep tickets , and discouraged from working on that day and , in Canberra at least , for several days previously , and criticised as unAustralian if they refuse to participate in the fake excitement .

The Productivity Commmision should be asked to report on the cost of the loss of productivity caused by the Melbourne Cup .

The author's article indeed highlights the flaws of veganism as
as a philosophy.

A great deal of Australian livestock for instance, are outdoors
in the sunshine, grazing pastures, raising their young and enjoying
their lives. They are fed in times of drought, treated for diseases,
vaccinated to avoid others and put down if they are suffering.

It is in farmers interests that they are happy and content. If farmers
did not run them, they would never have enjoyed their lives in the
first place.

Or they could be out in nature. They could die in droughts, get
ripped apart by wild dogs and other predators, die slowly if disease
strikes etc. Hardly a pleasant and peaceful life.

Yes, in the end they are eaten. Just like vegans are eaten when they
die and the worms etc move in. We are all recycled and I don't really
think that animals really care too much, as to who recycles them after
death.

Most livestock also die fairly quickly, mostly totally unaware of
what is about to happen. Unlike people, who are stuck in homes,
suffering to their last breathe, as we watch and wait, dor days,
weeks or months. Livestock treatment is thus more humane then
what people have available to them. Not all of us are lucky enough
to die from a good old heart attack.

Nick, you really need to rethink your philosophy, for its deeply
flawed.

What a load of unadulterated BS contained in the article. Go and study something useful.

David