Ooh Media forced to withdraw anti-horse racing ad as watchdog confirms 150 complaints
A controversial anti-horse racing advert in Melbourne, which has sparked a flurry of complaints to the advertising watchdog, has been taken down after the land owner where the billboard is located objected to the content.
The ad was set to run for a month ahead of November’s Melbourne Cup. But billboard owners Ooh Media told Mumbrella it has been withdrawn following objections from the land owner.
“The display of advertising content on oOh! sites is subject to the land owner’s approval of the content,” a Ooh Media spokesman said.
“The land owner has notified oOh! today that it does not approve of the advertising content being displayed on its land. As a result we have acted on the land owner’s request to remove the content.”
It is unclear who the land owner is or whether they objected to the anti-horse racing stance or the image on the billboard.
The Advertising Standards Bureau (ASB) confirmed it has received approximately 150 complaints about the billboard on Melbourne’s CityLink freeway which shows a dead horse next to the words: Is the party really worth it?
The ASB said many attacking the image of a dead horse, complained it was too distressing, particularly for children.
Ward Young, a spokesman for the group, told Mumbrella the aim is to “raise awareness about what currently happens to racehorses in a number of different fashions”.
It was attacked by Racing Victoria’s chief executive Bernard Saundry who labelled it “distasteful”.
That view appears to be shared by members of the public who told the ASB it found the images on the billboard “upsetting” with children in particular likely to be distressed as seeing the dead horse.
Asked if complaints were still trickling in as ASB spokesman said: “It’s more like a flood than a trickle.”
The complaints will be heard by the ASB board when it next sits in two weeks’ time.
Ooh! Media said it did not let its own views dictate what advertising is displayed, adding the material was reviewed internally and by the Outdoor Media Association (OMA) who was satisfied it did not breach any codes.
Steve Jones
Question: do complainants to the ASB have to declare their interests?
As for “distressing to children”, that’s what parents are for. Ever seen how a horse sleeps?
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Pathetic!
Selfish money grubbing, horse killing racing fans enjoy the season wont you.
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I’d hope more than just children would be distressed. Shouldn’t adults be distressed by a dead horse? Isn’t that the whole point? People can’t handle such inconvenient truths.
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Sort of the point of the billboard…? If people can’t deal with an image of the reality then make a move to change the actual reality! Don’t just complain until the image goes away. Kids disturbed by it? For good reason. Tell them what it’s about, raise a generation that doesn’t just hide from what’s happening in the world.
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@ Blind Freddy: Yes I have seen how horses sleep having owned many of them. They mostly sleep standing up and occasional on their tummy. Rarely do they sleep on their side. And this is a distressing ad. I think it should have been placed in media touch points that were not All People.
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So much for free speech. 150 complaints could easily have been orchestrated by the racing industry, and probably include some where the billboard was not actually viewed in situ but are just reaction to the media coverage. TAC billboards have often shown highly graphic images of injured, potentially dying, humans.
The racing industry refuses to accept revelations of the simple facts about what happens to horses that can’t run fast enough to win or get injured. Most end up, via abattoirs, in tins of dog food, or languish neglected in outer suburban wasteland paddocks. Sure some go to pampered retirements, but sadly they are the lucky minority of neddies. Most are dog food before they reach double figures.
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Pathetic. Heaven forbid people be confronted with the truth. As for “distasteful” – somewhat less distasteful than the way the industry just throws away the “losers” in this game. And no, before someone starts, I’m not mad, vegan or an over excited animal rights activist. Just someone who likes to source their food from kinder places and who doesn’t think that animals should ever be used for “entertainment” in a way that is detrimental to their wellbeing.
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Name and shame the owner of the land upon which this billboard was located and can the VRC put its hand of its heart and say it did not place any undue pressure on the land owner upon which said billboard stood?
Horse-racing – and the interests of all concerned (and that, especially, relates to racehorses) is much more than fascinators and how much champagne is consumed on any one day!
Oh – by the way – just how many of the reported 150 complaints were from VRC members?
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@Blind Freddy
Parents shouldn’t have to scour the skyline in order to protect their children, nor should i have to do it for myself.
I have seen how horses sleep and it looks a far sight different than a dead one.
http://wonderopolis.org/wonder.....anding-up/
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Sleeping horse –
http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs7.....51rjsr.jpg
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@ Horse owner – I’m making the point that a parent could correctly pass the image off to a young child as a sleeping horse. As you concede, horses are known to sleep on their side, as a quick Google search will reveal.
Then again, a parent may also choose to enlighten their children on some of the world’s truths – instead of pretending it’s all champagne and roses.
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“Distressing”?
That’s the point. Make an emotional reaction.
Well played.
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An intrepid journalist could pay 30 bucks or so for a land titles search. But is that too much to pay for some in depth journalism. Perhaps they don’t want to flog a dead horse ha ha.
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Unsurprising that commenters don’t know the reality of racehorse treatment.
The ad was offensive and untrue.
Complainants included the truth, which shows that very few horses are killed per year in Australian racing, especially when compared to how many race. There have been many studies into the subject including a very recent one.
Truth won out in the end over the emotion and lies of the anti-racing brigade.
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Great to see this taken down , sick of this CPR mob telling blatant lies about the racing industry ! PETA Vegans who want to shut the industry down & that will never happen.
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I can’t believe this! No, wait, of course I can. Money-grubbing bully boys always get their way. What I don’t understand is where this disturbing belief that animals exist for the entertainment and profit of humans comes from? Children NEED to see that billboard. They need to know the truth about what happens to these beautiful creatures behind the scenes (or screens, as it happens) so they realise that, beneath the surface of all the so-called “glamour” and “excitement” of this so-called “sport”, there is just cruelty and waste. Then they might grow up to be more compassionate than the current generations in power. Let’s hope that removal of this billboard makes the news so that even more people become aware of this important issue.
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@ Robert Parsons seriously? the minority go to good homes? um.. wrong! the majority go to good homes. in Victoria alone 90% of the horses used for recreational use be it trial riding to eventing are thoroughbreds and that’s only one state! go to any pony club or EA run event and you will see the majority of horses there are retired racehorses. go check your facts please.
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Our facebook page: REMOVE THE BILLBOARD attracted more than 6,000 supporters in less than 24hrs!
Thank you to the land owner and to everyone who voiced their opposition!
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Not only was it distasteful but also incorrect! There needs to be some sort of proof before they can display these lies!
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And the petition on our page to remove the billboard has almost 1000 signatures in less than 24hrs!!
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People who think this sort of propaganda represents the racing industry are ridiculous, informed, ill-educated people. CPR CANNOT back their claims with evidence, because their claims are lies. Hence billboards like this, scare tactics aimed to shock people. If anyone has half a brain, check out RVL website which addresses these ridiculous allegations, check out a Facebook page called coalition for the protection of racehorses – exposed for REAL PROVEN EVIDENCE this group are a bunch of money hungry scaremongers. Or even better, go and find a racing stable, work there for a week, then tell me the racing industry is cruel. If you choose to believe CPR and the silt stories they make up with not a single credible bit of evidence to back themselves, then you might as well believe in Santa.
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Do gooders, do gooders everywhere!
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Can’t believe how many of you are against horse racing,we treat our horses like kings and far better then many of the pleasure riders,our horses get the best of the best and when they have finished most of them go on to other things and good homes,if the horses didn’t want to run then they wouldn’t,they were breed to do it and they love it,
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Very kind words, I don’t feel anger towards the billboard, owners are aware of the risk as many have insurance to protect their horse and provide surgery as many horses purchased as colts or fillies are used later in life to breed as an investment!! The anger you sense that was displayed by the racing industry is not anger, Its passion and love we as an industry have for horses and horse racing. $60,000 on a billboard and a direct hit at our industry was never going to be achievable!! If the CPR wanted to work with the industry they would go directly to Australia Racing Board and use the very money they received through government funding to “start” to make a difference!! My children are passionate about horses and their love is second to none!! A dead horse on a billboard is confronting to everyone in the industry, as that is the very thing we try protect our horses from with constant love and care. They are like our children and as we are aware we can’t wrap them in cotton wool but do everything to protect them. Galloping is natural to a horse and the will to survive is also natural as it is in humans!! Horses fought in wars to help protect and give you the opportunity “freedom of speech”, they gallop from prey, they live in the wild, they are the most versatile animal and my biggest love! I can safely say the first love of at least 90% of our industry, not for monetary value but for the passion and love we hold in our hearts for horses and racing!! Thank you but remember they started the war and to find peace you must work together to achieve an outcome!! I would happily help the CPR protect ex racehorses and give them life after racing and I can assure you with government funding and open arms if the CPR are serious I could comment on everyone involved in our industry we would help if a different approach was taken!!
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Just curious, all you people jumping on do gooder bandwagon, do you have any knowledge on how the horse racing industry works? The amount of horses cared for? The amount of money spent on each horse? The amount of deaths to the amount of horses that are in work?! Please do your research before you open your mouths and come off looking like fools.
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http://rv.racing.com/news/2014.....-billboard
Racing Victoria (RV) Chief Executive, Bernard Saundry, has issued the following statement after the removal from CityLink of a billboard which depicted the image of a dead horse;
“Racing Victoria and the Victorian thoroughbred racing industry welcome the news that the billboard has been taken down,” Mr Saundry said. “We have been advised by the billboard company that this was the decision of the land owner.
“As those behind the distasteful billboard admitted publicly this week it was distressing and offensive, so we are pleased that a sensible outcome has been reached.
“The health and wellbeing of our equine athletes remains at the heart of our industry which is committed to ensuring that the outstanding level of care they are afforded continues.
“We are proud of our efforts in leading horse welfare initiatives and will continue to challenge ourselves and our 70,000-strong participants to maintain the highest of welfare standards.
“With over $300 million spent annually in Victoria alone on the training, care and welfare of our racehorse population, we see first-hand the love and care that is given to our equine athletes.”
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The reaction come from people who are fed up with the blatant lies and mock ups of this group cpr.
A lot of the horses that are deemed ‘losers’ do not end up dead. They are placed into homes within t jg e wider horse population and become riding horses. The very few that are euthanized are done so due often on veterinary advice.
I have five ex racehorses here. Now cpr where are your ‘statistics’ for that?
Maybe the racing and larger horse community would entertain cpr if they put their money where their mouths are. Under $1000 of you poor suckered donations was spent on actual horses. The rest including the over $30,000 for the billboard was spent on their camera equipment, advertising and their salaries.
That $30,000 would have been a great donation to anyone of the racehorse groups that retrain the horses for their new jobs…..
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I don’t have kids, but I am pretty appalled by this. I am heartily sick of the bleeding hearts mentality that is slowly taking over our wide brown land. Last time I looked, the racing industry contributed circa $3 bil to our economy and employs thousands of people. This confrontational ad style is nothing new – the anti-fur folks did this 25 years ago. Shock for shock’s sake. I don’t belong to any race clubs, don’t own any racing animals, and don’t work with any gaming companies. I respect oOh! but I think this time, they’ve fallen for the three card trick. Any number of low rent shock jocks will happily discuss this on AM radio if this organisation have an agenda to push. Not good.
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Good stuff! How dare someone or an organization try to make me feel guilty of trying to make a living out of my PASSION! Horses. These horses are my number 1 priority. They are the only reason I get out of bed every day of my life. And ALL my horse find loving homes once they finish their time with me. Check out this Facebook page and see for yourselves the truth.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/After-racing/1377502512494703?fref=ts
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Robert parsons… And where are u basing these “facts”?? You’re just like all of them. Just jumping on the band wagon with doing any actual research first. Why didn’t they spend any money on the so-called dogger horses that are left to die, instead of spending it and wasting it on this title false billboard???? I work in this industry, and pretty sure the level of care we give to our horses is bloody high. They are not treated as if they are nothing but money, we all treat them as if they are our own horses. Pull your head in mate and find some facts before jumping on the bandwagon and being a big keyboard warrior.
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I also want to say that as a person that makes her living selling Racehorses and off the track horses, which I have sold HUNDREDS. I can honestly say that I have only ever known of 3 horses that their owners were forced to sell to an abottoir. All 3 were a danger to themselves and the people around them and was made purely as a last resort for safety.
The racing industry, from the Trainer to the owner, to the stablestaff and track riders just about everyone who chooses this industry as their career have a LOVE and passion for the horses that are in their care.
I am DISGUSTED that the CPR chooses to “help” the horses with this insulting propaganda, which from what I hear cost $60000.00? Do you realise what sort of set up you could have helped facilitate with that sort of money? I am also at a loss as to how they managed to get Government Funding? That just blows me away.
I am also confused about what they are trying to achieve……
You complain that its not fair to race a well fed, well taken care of animal for financial gain?! Go to a Stud and watch what a horse does, he will Gallop from one side of the paddock to the other, he is doing what comes Naturally.
The same with Jumps Racing… How often does a jockey fall off and the horse doesnt stop, he keeps jumping the damn fences!! Why? Because he is doing what comes naturally!
Do you think horses don’t manage to injure themselves alone in the paddock? I assure you they do!
Perhaps you should turn your efforts to the CATTLE inudstry or the PIG industry, perhaps all those caged CHICKENS might want you defending them, but horses? They are doing what they love to do.
Sure there are risks involved, but there is with anything!! But we do EVERYTHING in our power to protect them as well as can be.
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If you did some basic research, you would find that the amount of horses that get injured in the course of the sport or die, is way way way way way way way way less than workplace injury or death.
And truthfully, horses in the racing industry get treated a hell of a lot better than most people.
Go back to your bowl of tofu.
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CPR spent 60 grand on this billboard, not on horse welfare. Their books last year account for $300 spent on horse welfare, just $300.
All my racehorses stay with me forever. They are spoiled, loved and are happy. They love racing, and they all will retire and stay with me.
There is so much good in our industry, but lies and grandstanding is not the way to help change the bad.
A lot of people that make ridiculous claims and statements have never been to a racing stable, or even know anyone with racehorses. We are not all bad.
Go and look at the sales – the home bred ponies, paints, stock horses generally out number the ex-racers. Do these activist not care about these horses being dogged??
And if they get racing banned (which won’t happen, be realistic), where do they think all the racehorses will go? Do they even really think or care?
Most racehorses are treated with a level of love and care that many other kinds of horses don’t get.
Do you think there is do death, danger and injury in other horse sports? Eventing, jumping, cross-country etc???
Educate yourselves before making up your mind one way or another.
CPR are liars, do you homework and check the FACTS. Put you time and money into horse welfare and thoroughbred re-homing, not into CPR’s pockets for lunches, jumpers shirts and stupid offensive billboards.
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……..and yes blind freddy, Google is such a reliable source lolz
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The truth hurts doesn’t it. I find all the advertising for the cup distressing & offensive as to me it translates into grose human exploitation of animals – can that be removed too ? Appalled that both sides of this story dont receive an equal voice. Censorship at it’s best.
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$30,000 for a bill board against $300 donated towards animal welfare. Way to go CPR, easy to see where your priorities lie.
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People die but we don’t put up pics of dead people do we fuckin get a life
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Bunch of ranting nut jobs….that’d be the pro horse racing lobby who’ve found their way to Mumbrella.
Try being transparent about what goes on in your industry and then you wouldn’t be challenged. Allow people to see what goes on. And no I’m sorry, a Facebook page run by racing staffers doesn’t quite cut it as agenda free fact. How gullible do you expect people to be?
Bottom line is…if you loved horses you wouldn’t be making your living off risking their lives for entertainment and gambling. End of story.
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You have to question the intentions of these people when they spend thousands on advertising rather than directing it toward animal welfare groups making a difference.
I’m sure they’ll be around again protesting in Federation Square with the same posters and placards they used last year and the year before and the year before that. I’ve asked them where the images come from, when was it taken, what is the horse’s race name and guess what…they can’t tell me the answers to any of these questions.
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Using animals for entertainment? Ummm. – well open your eyes, that has been happening for years and as for racehorses – people should get their facts right before jumping on bandwagons. Most racehorses do get rehomed unless they are injured or of not right frame of mind to go on and go and check your auctions that are going on all around australia and see just how many of these poor animals are actually thoroughbreds that are put up for sale there. I am sick of the general public (the same people that are quite happy to place a bet on melbourne cup day – whether it be a work sweep or not) jump up and down about things they know nothing about and the truth of the matter is that 98% of the population DO NOT know what goes on in the raciing industry only what they hear or see from people that have got nothiing better to do than try and take them down. These same people should start looking in everybodys backyards and see just how the animals at home are getting treated if they really want to help….
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I hope the people here supporting this group aren’t taking part in Melbourne Cup celebrations such as the office sweep or lunch or god forbid taking advantage of the public holiday in Vic! Shame on you.
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Now if only the dead horse was on a meat pie …
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As someone who works in the racing industry on equine welfare and is actively involved in the equestrian and pleasure horse industry, I am keen to set the record straight on behalf of the thousands of participants.
When racehorses retire from the track the vast majority of owners and trainers go to great lengths to transition their thoroughbred to a life after racing and demonstrate a great love of the animals in their care.
Australian racing has recently introduced a new compulsory retirement rule and the early results show that more than 90% of retired racehorses are re-homed to the equestrian, pleasure or breeding industries.
A recent Melbourne University study confirmed this, showing that thoroughbreds with a link to racing are the most represented breed among Victoria’s 600,000 pleasure horses.
I would encourage people to read this section on The Thoroughbred on the Racing Victoria website to help their understanding of the care afforded horses and the programs and initiatives in place – http://rv.racing.com/the-horse
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I notice none of those supporting this billboard have addressed the huge amount CPR spends on advertising and salaries vs actually doing anything for animals.
It’s also not surprising all that exists here are wide sweeping comments with no basis or facts included. Just inflammatory rantings.
Go down to a stable you lunatics and look at the health of these horses. Have a look at the grooms who fuss over them and care for every need.
Then go to a chicken or pig farm or better yet get on a live animal export boat and tell me how many of those animals are being patted, scratched and fed a carrot.
Get your priorities in order and stop trying to make a name for yourselves!
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I hear some of you saying how your finished race horses are not bound for the slaughterhouse and that it’s all a pack of lies. I say … yes it’s not hard to sell of these horses cheap – lovingly hand them off to their new forever home – embracing the next phase of their life. Then … the poor animal…which has only ever known speed and the fine art of schizophrenic brain eruptions when a human gets on, ends up hurting, maiming and nearly killing their unsuspecting new rider– and so it moves on to its next home — and then another — each time getting a little better at relieving itself from the insistent confusion people inflict on them as they try to ‘fix’ the ingrained teaching – their damaged minds … until ultimately the poor animal is that confused that its next stop is you know where – the slaughterhouse. It’s all too convenient for those who breed them to take responsibility. They are long gone – no doubt bred many more since destined for the same journey. I have a couple pf these off track race horses. I hate your industry. I loathe your excuses. My horses were lucky … but there are only so many homes who will offer the resources to care for these horses. If they’re safe enough to ride they’re often lame and broken from the torment on their young bones. That billboard is brilliant. May the public’s eyes open wider every year.
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Well the racing industry has clearly received the memo to visit mumbrella with their completely unbiased opinions that don’t reflect their desire to keep making as much money as possible out of this cruel industry. An industry that commands $20 BILLION in gambling per year are clearly motivated by the financial aspects, not a great love of the animals. There are the claims that horses love racing – in fact horses love racing so much that they must be whipped to run as fast as they can. Up to 80% of horses bleed in their lungs due to the immense pressure put on their bodies by racing that hard. Horses are herd animals yet racing horses are mainly kept in stalls and are denied the companionship of other horses and grazing. Most racing horses develop skeletal issues, particularly the 2 year olds. The statistics are very hard to come by about the actual wastage numbers of horses due to the racing industry’s lack of transparency but the figures are believed to be high based on studies by the University of Sydney, the RSPCA, Animals Australia and many other bodies. Yes the champion horses are doted upon (but still live an unnatural lifestyle for a horse) but the horses that are actually successful are very few (like the 1% of actors who actually make it), the rest go to riding schools and at least 10,000 per year end up as dog food. Less than half of mare pregnancies eventuate in a live foal. This is an industry that has fought to continue jumps racing even though it is highly dangerous for the animals. There is also the human cost in all this – the gamblers who fritter all their money away – this industry is promoting animal cruelty and human misery. I would be very happy to see horse racing be outlawed and if it takes shock campaigns like this to do so then I am all for it. Why is the horse racing community so outraged by this billboard if they consider their industry completely moral – death is a fact of life and premature death a fact of racehorses, sometimes the truth hurts! And no, I don’t watch the Cup, celebrate it in anyway or gamble on it, or have a anything to do with the industry, the whole thing makes me sick.
PS – I used to be involved in the racing industry so please don’t accuse me of a lack of knowledge.
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As this is a media and advertising forum, let’s get back to the topic.
Do the billboards meet advertising standards?
Should media companies be influenced by interest groups?
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Finally some sense over these daft comments pretending to have animal welfare in mind… http://www.smh.com.au/sport/ho.....13r0c.html
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Surely, Ooh Media would make damn certain that land owners provide written approval of specific ads before the real things are put in place?
If the owner, in this case, didn’t bother to check the ad before it was installed and / or didn’t provide the billboard company with written guidelines in regard to what isn’t acceptable then… stiff cheddar.. that’s the owner’s problem.
How long was this particular ad on display before the owner of the land decided to become so outraged ? Wouldn’t it be much easier all around if they simply insisted on being supplied with copies of all proposed billboard content beforehand ? It would take fully ten seconds to have a glance and say “yes” or “no” . Why so vigilant all of a sudden?
Perhaps the owner received a better offer… or someone high up at Ooh Media got an “offer he / she couldn’t refuse”
Had the misfortune to be involved with the racing industry when I worked in broadcasting. Utterly dreadful people, most of them….. just one big ethical dung heap of hideous twilight zone shysters and at best and downright criminal types at worst. An extraordinary number of them seemed to die of lead poisoning. Charming business.
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OK I have first hand knowledge of mistreatment of racehorses by a trainer. I have seen them come back to the stables with bleeding nostrils because of the drugs that they arent supposed to be able to give them. I have been told to shut my mouth about it. And yes they do end up at the sale yards where the doggers pick them up to take to the nackery (thats the abbatoir for the lay person) for dog meat. A lot of trainers push the horse well beyond what its natural love of galloping is. They break them in at two years old and they havent even finished growing at that age. Its like putting a weight on a childs back while the child is working. there are all sorts of underhanded things that go on and the horse will never triumph over human greed for the dollar. Unless you horse people who “dont know’ what is happend want to join the rest of us in realising that it is happening and DO SOMETHING about it. How dare you petition to take this TRUTHful bill board down! If humans perpetrate something they at least can see the end result! if you dont do anything about this, at least look at it square on and face up to it. Own it. Be accountable for it.
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Good to see the withdrawal of the ad. Perhaps it should be written into the advertising codes that animal liberation groups are forbidden from advertising. When 2UE allowed militant animal libbers to advertise on the station in 2005 it caused such a severe backlash that 2UE’s ratings completely collapsed and have never recovered.
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i was one of those people who go to the thoroughbred studs and backyard breeders to ‘trial’ these unwanted slow horses and hacks, dressage horses, show jumpers..
We would take very few a year for re-training as it would cost too much time and money to re-train them out of there particular style of training… which was pretty much go stop, go stop..
it can take up to 6mths for a ‘slow’ horse to be any where near ready to sell on or use for trail riding, novice pony club etc… So NO that would be a big fat lie.. most of these slow ones were taken to the sale yards where the doggers’ would pick them up for $50.00 or the doggers would come directly to you…
don’t kid yourselves… there is only so many riding schools, beach rideskids and sanctuaries who can take the unwanted, the rest end up killed…
So what!! the racing industry spends millions on looking after these horses while they make money or trial them hoping to make money…
what happens when the party ends!!! all you bleeding hearts about how much you care for these horses why don’t you take the time to re-train them and re-home them….!!!
why not!!… cause it would take too much time, effort and expense..you won’t be financially rewarded when you might get only 1k – 2k instead of the 20k you spent on re-training!!!
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to answer your question should media companies be influenced by interest groups??? WHY YES blind freddy YES!!! if the diary industry, pork, beef etc industry can advertise daily about how cows ‘give mild’ chickens ‘give eggs’ there goal is money at the expense of the welfare of the animal… interest groups interested in the welfare of animals should have equal say…. then i say YES… millions pass through the hands of vested media interest about why we should exploit animals…. then why not the bill board show why we shouldn’t!!! I didn’t think it was a bad thing to show mercy and care to animals…
should be billboards like like it….much more of it… more truth and reality in exposing the dirty little truths of the animal exploitation industry… isn’t that what everybody wants truth in reporting?? Great question by the way…really got me firing
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As many people have said if the group really cared about the welfare of the ex racehorses why not put the money towards helping rehome them? Many more lives saved that way. But I guess that doesn’t attract media attention…
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How boring is horse racing?
Put down that chardonnay, kick off your silly stilettos and run around the oval yourself!
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Perhaps the money spent on promoting the cruelty inflicted on these animals, will save thousand of them from being harmed in future – good investment!
Racehorses are bred too thin and are cruelly trained until the point of exhaustion, all this crap about we love our animals… is bullsh*t.
If you love them, youd leave them to run through open pastures and not force breed them to create thin boned over muscled creatures capable of little more than being exploited for your greed.
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Comment 56. You’re an Offal Spokesperson? Isn’t it hypocritical that you are against horse racing but you are a spokesperson for offal? I didn’t even know offal had spokespeople.
🙂
Maybe if horses don’t want to be raced they should run faster…….
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My horses lay on their side to sleep because they have a trust with me. The ad is for the people who do not take care of their horses at the end of their time. Many people give their horses a place to retire, but there are many who are too greedy for money and don’t care about the horse unless they are making them money. I commend the people who treat their horses humanly when it is the end of their time.
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Interestingly, no one in this comments section of the pro-racing crowd has addressed the central ethical question – what gives you the right to use a horse for entertainment? This question will forever be dodged.
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Steven S, I am curious, What would you use a horse for???
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Dani, I shudder to think!
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Hi Dani,
The answer to your question: nothing. Human’s don’t have any right to ‘use’ horses for anything. As no person can demonstrate a knowledge of thoughts/feelings of an animal, they’re not in a position to actively interfere with the life of an animal.
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So, 150 people complained about a picture of a horse laying on its side on a billboard.
I wonder how many will complain about yet ANOTHER DEATH AT THE MELBOURNE CUP????
Well, another Melbourne Cup another DEAD HORSE!!
All that love and attention must have made it feel just wonderful as it collapsed and died as a resullt of selfish horse racing fans.
That 2 dead horse in the Melbourne Cup in two years (you may not know that one died after last years race as well)
Oh.. and another horse is fighting for its life after the race. Thank goodness those trainers and owners are so full of love and compassion.
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