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 Trainer to shoot horses if jumps banned 

Trainer to shoot horses if jumps banned

08 May, 2009 12:23 PM
A leading horse jumps trainer said he will shoot his horses and deliver their heads to Racing Minister Rob Hulls and Racing Victoria Limited if the sport is banned.

Yesterday's suspension of the sport came in the wake of three horses being euthanised in the last two days of racing in Warrnambool.

Warrnambool jumps racing trainer David 'Butch' Londregan said on Radio 3AW he would put the horses down if the sport was banned in Victoria.

"They're unsuitable for a pony club or for kids to ride or for hacking around and they're very unruly type horses and they're no good for anything, so I'm just gonna have to put a gun to their head and shoot them," Londregan said.

If the Racing Victoria board announces the ban on jump racing next week, Londregan warned he would pull the trigger.

"... well I ring up the knackery and start shooting straight away and I'll video them, get some shots and send them to Ross (Rob) Hulls and all the radical groups against jumping races," Londregan said.

"And I'll be sending a few heads here and there, too."

"Probably to Ross (Rob) Hulls first, the RVL (Racing Victoria Limited) and a few other little places," Londregan said.

Londregan said he would be out of business if the ban went ahead.

"I love horses, I've been involved with them all of my life, I'm gonna cry when I'm going to have to get them put down and these people don't realise how well we look after them and how much we love them," Londregan said.

"The way the economy is at the moment I just can't believe the government is even thinking about pulling the pin."

Londregan described jumps racing as a high-pressure sport, insisting there are always going to be injuries.

"Horses that do get put down in jumping races, I can guarantee they were looked after better than a lot of kids," Londregan said.

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Take his horses from him, give them to the RSPCA for their re housing programme, they will find homes for them with animal lovers.
Posted by annyf, 8/05/2009 7:51:22 PM
annyf, this shows you know nothing about horses. Some horses are just not able to re homed, believe me. I have been with horses for over 30 years and my husband has had horses since he was 6 years old, from farm ponies to Pony Club, show jumpers and now race horses including hurdlers. Our daughter has been a top show rider, since she was 6 y.o. as well, again from Pony Club to eventing and then hacking. There are too many horses to find homes for, just look in the horse sale magazines at how many there are. We have at present a show hack going to waste in our paddock as we are unable to find a suitable home for him.

Go to Peterborough in SA and see the horses that go there, everything from kids ponies to good looking ones! This is what is going to happen to all the race horses that will not be suitable for pony club, hacks, or show jumpers. Some ex race horses have finished up as buck jumpers in the rodeos and then they scream and shout that these are being treated cruelly.

I know that if a horse has to be euthanaised at the races it is done very quickly and humanely. So please ask the trainers involved on how we treat our horses. Don't you think we have feelings, it breaks my heart when we have an injured horse or animal on the farm. Even if I hit a rabbit on the road I get upset and they are pests to us farmers.

Posted by monica, 11/05/2009 10:35:11 AM
Well being shot before the broken leg, or broken neck is probably better that having it done after the incident occurs. At least there is no pain and suffering of having a broken limb. When the career is finished for the horse it gets shot anyway and goes for dog meat, so what's the difference? It's a bullet now or a bullet later, the horse still gets the bullet.
Posted by MJM, 11/05/2009 10:50:27 AM
Deaths of jumps horses, while racing, over past seasons has drawn immense discussion and the prospect of banning jumps racing in Vic is not new. Those involved have had time to consider and plan alternatives, including the lives of their horses after racing.
Posted by Kristin, 11/05/2009 10:52:54 AM
Well done, Butch! You have provided evidence to all those who believe country people are rednecks and hotheads, who open their mouths before they engage their brains. You will end up looking a total goose if you don't carry out you threat, or you will launch an enormously damaging backlash if you do. Another case of shooting yourself in the foot, or in this case, both feet - all downside and no upside - what a brilliant strategist!
Posted by Bushie Bill, 13/05/2009 9:38:40 AM

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David 'Butch' Londregan at Warrnambool this week. Photo: Angela Milne
David 'Butch' Londregan at Warrnambool this week. Photo: Angela Milne
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