Do You Know Why Broken Bones Are Lethal to Horses?

No, I didn't know why broken legs were fatal. Thanks for the information.

All the more reason to just loathe horse racing...

Thanks for the comment. and yes, it is a matter of concern. My question is, " doesn't this qualify as cruelty to animals?" And the other ethical question that troubles me is ,"is it really necessary to kill them if their bones are broken? can't they find a way to keep them alive, like they keep humans alive?" Why is it so easy to reach a decision when it comes to animals?
while We are still debating the ethics behind euthanasia in humans? Is it alright to keep humans on a ventilator in a vegetative state for years together? Then why not animals?

the emotion behind your comment is touching. does show a lot of feeling. +1 interesting article. i guess animals are euthanised for the same reason they are killed so easily for food. However i dont think household pets can so easily be sent off as they really feel like family members. i really felt for that little filly eight belle who tried so hard for our pleasure.

thanx, mamamia, you touched the right cord in your comment. I appreciate it. ("i guess animals are euthanised for the same reason they are killed so easily for food.")
Why are human beings not allowed "mercy killing"? Even when they ask for it, that is, the relatives?
Can you even imagine the cost of maintaining a person on a ventilator for 10 days? And the cost of daily dialysis for a person whose kidneys have failed?
The cost is more than a lakh rupees. (My own close relative was on a ventilator for 10 days or more and the cost was about 2.5 lakhs) It is a real drain on the savings.

Let me tell you that it is not at all an easy decision to end someone's life (pull the plug) as they say! So, How do they do it with such ease when it comes to animals?

This is such a sad event. I think the questions, regarding Eight Belles and Barbaro and the many other unfortunate victims of horse racing, are: why are breeders allowed to create these race horses with unnaturally thin bones that are so easily snapped when racing? (obviously the answer is, so they run faster and make money for their owners and the gamblers). Why are horses forced to run in the so-called "sport" of horse racing in the first place, where they're drugged, whipped, generally mistreated, and then unceremoniously dumped or killed when their racing days are over?(some get to go to stud for awhile, but not many). Why do so many of them, who've earned millions for their owners, end up as horse meat for the overseas market and in pet food? Horse racing is another absolutely disgusting animal-cruel spectacle.