Omak Suicide Race

There was a race like that in Williams Lake BC for the famous stampede with a steeper hill than that, it has been banned for decades, same results as that video. Every now & again, you will hear old timers talk of how exciting is was, yeah, right.

They have a hide race at the local fair... Its pretty fun to watch and most don't last the length of the arena.
Would be interesting to see them try riding down hills on a hide on a modern day version, NOW that I would watch...

Thats just wrong. But im not going to comment on anything with HSUS or PETA. I really do not trust anything they try to promote or protest or whatever theyre going for.
You can't fix all the idiots in the world

I think this race started as an Indian tradition. At least, a lot of the competitors are Indians.

I fail to see how this is any different then horses that die doing any other discipline. Accidents happen. I'm pretty sure cross country and steeplechase have more then 20 deaths in 80 years.

Is anyone aware that any horses entered in the race must pass THREE tests to ensure they can handle the rigorous race? Kind of amusing how HSUS and PETA won't mention those facts.

Horses get injured every single day in every single discipline under the sun that can be life altering or ending. Don't go after one dangerous sport unless you're willing to go after the next.

EDIT:

Suicide Race Final 2011 - YouTube

Amazing how tame it looks when it all goes correctly. I can think of MUCH more "acceptable" dangerous things we make horses do.

This is disgusting. A race MEANT to kill horses hence the name "Suicide race" Just to see what horse comes out of it alive? No way, not me.
I am in tears watching this.

I've seen people do more stupid stuff than this-

And like other posters I won't support HSUS or PETA
Srry

Did anyone notice the guy at about 50 seconds in, I must admit I had a wee giggle at the guy. He really wants to win!
On another note I completely agree with you MacabreMikolaj.

I will in no way ever say that it is acceptable to hurl your horse down such a path. There is no test that can insure that these horses will not run into each other causing falls or just lose their balance causing numerous injuries to both people and horses. There are acceptable things that have potential for injury, but there is a difference between the doing something that has the "POTENTIAL" for injury and playing russian roulette, where injury is certain, it's just a matter of who gets the bullet.

You mean like cross country? Or steeple chase? Or barrel racing? It's never a matter of IF a horse gets hurt, it's always WHEN. A quick review of YouTube will show just how many videos there are of spectacular crashes and injuries when you ask a horse to leap 4'0" solid wood fences, or charge into a 360 degree turn full tilt. There are very very few disciplines we do with horses where the risk is absolutely minimal - Dressage comes to mind, perhaps some Western Pleasure.

Most national show jumping courses have banks just as steep as this hill, albeit shorter. Granted the horses typically have to slide down a bank and then immediately leap a 4'0" or taller fence at the base. I've seen multiple injuries from horses not managing the bank properly and leaping out into the air halfway down.







Maybe we should start campaigning against the Hickstead Bank...

I can understand where you're coming from, but the hill is NOT the problem. Perhaps some over crowding occurs and that should be dealt with, but I don't understand how running down a hill is somehow significantly more dangerous then cross country, show jumping, barrel racing, steeple chasing, etc. Hundreds more horses get hurt in those disciplines and even die every year.