Because no horses have reportedly died during the Omak Suicide Race in the past few years, it has been put on the back burner while horse activists focus on what appear to be more threatening issues. Please read this post and take action.
K C Mahaffey reporting for Wenatchee World writes:
Horses charge down a steep hill at the beginning of the Omak Suicide Race in Washington State. Horses are crippled and fatally injured during the four day event that takes place during the day and night. World file photo/Mike Bonnicksen. World file photo/Mike Bonnicksen
OMAK, Wash. — (Aug. 6, 2012) A horse trying to qualify for the Omak Stampede’s World Famous Suicide Race died Friday when it was unable to get out of the Okanogan River after injuring its leg at the bottom of Suicide Hill.
The horse, Little Big Man, was owned by Jerry Ford and ridden by Jason Meusy, both of the Spokane Indian Reservation.
It’s the first time in several years that a horse has died during an official Suicide Race practice or competition, said Pete Palmer, spokeswoman for the Suicide Race Owners and Jockeys Association.
Palmer said the Okanogan River is a foot higher than it was last year, so when Little Big Man fractured his front leg and then hit the water, he had difficulty in the current. Continue reading >>
Omak Suicide Race horses plunge into river at the bottom of Suicide Hill. Image / Fark.
CULTURE AND TRADITION
The Omak Suicide Race is not about culture or tradition, Native American or otherwise.
The race was devised in 1935 by an Omak furniture saleswoman — who also happened to be the Publicity Chairman for the Omak Stampede rodeo — to bring tourist dollars to the flagging event.
The 12 local tribes comprising the Colville Confederated Tribes have never in their long history held a race in Omak running a group of horses repeatedly over several days and nights in perilous conditions down a treacherously steep hill across a river then up a steep bank and into the arena for the finish.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
There’s little point registering your disapproval with the City of Omak or Suicide Race sponsors.
The Omak Suicide Race had a number of high profile national corporate sponsors who cut their ties with the event following a grassroots campaign led by the Int’l Fund for Horses in 2007, leaving only local unions and businesses to keep it going.
However, the State of Washington prides itself on offering wonderful experiences for tourists. Let them know that the Omak Suicide Race is murder for horses and a black spot on their State’s reputation.
Washington State tourism has a magnificent new website. They do not have the Omak Suicide Race featured on the city of Omak’s listing although they mention its rodeo features a “wild horse race”.
Here are suggested ways you can help.
USE SOCIAL MEDIA!
1. Register your disapproval (especially Americans and Canadians) on their Facebook page.
2. If you are on Twitter tweet something like: @ExperienceWA Horse killed in Omak Suicide Race practice. Please end this murderous event. #WAstate #HorseAbuse
3. Send a strong but politely worded message to them via email at tourisminfo@watourismalliance.com.
While this may sound simple. It is … and quick too. But it is effective especially if we do it in huge numbers. Be sure to share.
RELATED READING
– The Race Where Horses Die; Tuesday’s Horse; Aug. 14, 2007
– See video on YouTube >>
A horse never tries to qualify for anything this suicidal. It’s always the people who decide. This is very unfortunate and should be stopped. Will contact them on FB.
Thank you Chris!
I will do the same, cotacting fb.
So very sad, I contacted FB as well.
Thank you Bev and Donna. Not much activity now but hope there will be more this evening.
A correction to the original article- The Omak Suicide Race IS a cultural/traditional activity. There are many races similar to this in neighboring areas that have been competed in for many decades. As a test of endurance and bravery, Native Americans have engaged in races of all kinds for centuries. While this race has received scrutiny from media due to its popularity, it is by far not the most dangerous to animals or man when compared to other sports. Authors should certainly check their sources prior to writing slanderous statements, or better yet, buy a ticket and learn first-hand about the intricate training programs, feeding regimines, and vet checks that ensure the safest environment possible. Can you say that any other horse sport requires every contestant to undergo such careful considerations?
The Omak Suicide Race is NOT a cultural/traditional activity. The concept originated with a PR woman who sold furniture for a living who claimed she was ‘inspired’ by tribal races. What a misrepresentation by her.
We have covered this event for nearly a decade. We have spoken with several (older) members of the Colville Tribe over that time who assured me they had distance races over varying terrains, but NOTHING like the Omak Suicide Race. They do not claim it as their own. They even boycotted the race back in 1999.
That you come here and defend it makes you highly suspect concerning your understanding of or caring for equine athletes. We observe and cover all sorts of events that horses participate in, and this is just another example of an American ‘sport’ they are cruelly exploited for, to the point of crippling and death.
I would not buy a ticket to your grotesque event; I would not attend it for free. So we have regularly hired disinterested investigators to attend the Omak Suicide Race and document what goes on.
Vet checks? What a joke. In too many instances they are little more than medical tarts for hire who betray the horses they took an oath to take care of, declaring them able to take part while keenly aware of what they are sending them into. This sort of betrayal occurs as a matter of routine all across America and is tragically not unique to you.
Not even PRCA approves of the Omak Suicide Race, and their track record in the use of horses is not an enviable one.
Well said, Vivian….
One can only assume that the author is a happy person, as ignorance is bliss. It is easy to believe that you know something from a great distance away, as you said in your article, which provides enough false information to give reasonable suspiciion as to the entire content. To clarify some random attempts at presenting facts, the race was not boycotted by tribal members for the reasons stated in your article, in FACT, it had nothing to do with it. You also claim to cover “all sorts of events that horses participate in” leading one to deduce that your fact-proving energies are not focused on this race in particular and therefore cannot possibly be entirely corrent… or even partly. The one thing this article and subsequent response did provide, while failing at providing facts, is a useful work of fiction and entertainment. Perhaps you will be more successful in the future covering events that are within your realm of expertise. I suggest dog shows as there is little danger to be found there.
It is quite common that an organization or even an individual can work on more than one subject at a time and do it correctly. That is not the point, is it?
You seem determined to defend a cruel and unnecessary event that injures and kills horses. If you do not agree with that, that is one thing. To say that anything anyone else says or reports is false simply because you do not agree with it is quite another.
Kate
I happen to live in WA state and there has always been complaints about the cruelty of this insane race, it’s had boycotts called on it and sponsors leaving after they were told about what these horses are put through. I saw a photo of a horse that had to be euthanized at the bottom of the hill because of a broken leg. The owners also use this same hill for training and there has been many injuries over the years. It needs to be stopped. The horse with the broken leg was washed down river to drown,what a horrible way to a horse to die all because of a A-Hole that wanted to make a name for himself. What a pitiful joke.