"They are a collection of artificial, high-pressure events designed as low and sensational entertainment in the 20th century. The result is an inhumane spectacle.

The same "they love to run" argument is made by dog racers and dog-sledders and repeated in the media, especially by the CBC which is notoriously dumbing-down all its content in an attempt to appeal to more viewers and listeners.

Of course horses and dogs naturally love to run and will run for humans if shackled or ridden, especially if being shackled and ridden are the only times they are allowed any freedom of movement. Sled dogs are chained almost year-round, or kept in crates. Horses are kept in tiny stalls.

It is the "low" who love "spectacles" who use the "they love to run" argument. It is the same argument used by the aquarium industry when it says its captive whales love to perform.

The people who watch events like dog fights, cock-fights, bull-fights, rodeo, horse racing, pig-racing, dog-sledding etc (and used to love watch humans being thrown to the lions), love to watch animals being forced to entertain them. They defend the blatant cruelty by saying it is the animals that love to entertain.

It is very 'low" to be entertained by animals forced to perform -- or to defend that.

If an animal welfare organization does not have clear statements of condemnation of all uses of animals in entertainment or sport, we have to wonder why. The people who are amused by cruelty seem incapable of learning from logical arguments, so it is the duty of all animal advocates to set the example that the masses will eventually follow. Unfortunately, animal welfare organizations that profit from the use of animals in entertainment or sport actually exist. That participation means the cruelty will persist.