Equestrian enthusiasts, sociable animals and animal lovers: the short track trotting race in Hoofddorp is a feast for everyone, although some would rather see the tradition disappear: the horses would suffer too much pain when pulling the cart.
Short track harness racing in Hoofddorp – NH News
In the middle of the center, on the Kruisweg, a course of approximately 300 meters has been cordoned off. The horses are hitched in front of a light cart in which the picker sits. Hundreds of people are standing behind the fences: some with a match form in hand, others with a beer. “It really is a folk festival with a lot of village cosiness,” says Hans Kas, the organizer of this event.
Village coziness
A little further on, at a standing table, Marcel is drinking beer with his friends. “I don’t know anything about horses, but it’s always fun. You always meet acquaintances,” he says. “It’s the nicest thing there is. So nice to see those horses like this.”
“It really hurts me to see the animal like this”
Not everyone is happy with this tradition. Frederieke Schouten points to a horse that has just finished the race. Foam flows from his mouth. “It really hurts me to see the animal like this,” she says. She is trained as a veterinarian and works as a director at animal rights organization Dier & Recht. “The horses suffer unnecessary stress and pain from the bits and rein pressure.”
At the request of NH, Schouten came to the short course in Hoofddorp. “In my studies, there is now more attention for the negative sides of this sport, but people are not aware of it in everyday life. We hope that people will look at the horses with different eyes.”
She explains why she thinks the horses are in pain. “When they start racing you see the head all tightened up and the nostrils getting big. Everything is pulled into that position.” The fact that the tongue is tied and the earplugs are sometimes pulled out halfway to give the horse one last impulse also worries her.
Horse welfare
The organization ensures that the horses are well cared for. “We are also in favor of horse welfare,” says Kas. “The horses are top athletes and are well cared for. There are horse masters and vets who monitor horse welfare and regulations.”
Visitors familiar with equestrian sports know about the criticism. “The horses are treated very nicely and they are well cared for,” assures Gerard, another visitor to this event. He comes from a trotter family and has been going to trotting events since he was fifteen.
The horses have a bit and that, according to Gerard, is not for nothing. “The rider has to stay in control. But that’s also something the horse wants. A horse wants to walk for someone who is good to him. It is an interaction, with give and take. It’s kind of like a relationship, really.”
“It’s Really a Party”
Rick Wester is a picker and shows the horse’s bit. “The bit is really custom made, so it doesn’t bother them,” he says. “They are sometimes stressed, but you can also see that in the pasture if, for example, a strange horse comes to stand next to them. It is actually normal. Tying the tongue is so that they are not hindered in breathing.”
Wester himself comes from Hoofddorp and today he performs his beloved sport in his own village. “You drive among the people. It’s really a party.” The critical expressions of Dier & Recht should not spoil the fun. “Criticism is not a bad thing, because we also want the best for the horses.”