Have you ever rode a horse? Most people have probably some experience with the idea at the very least. Horse riding is a big part of our culture, as it used to be a popular form of transportation back in the day. Nowadays, watching horses race is very popular, especially amongst degenerate gamblers.
Riding a horse is fairly easy, especially compared to riding other animals. For those daredevils looking for something more challenging, you can’t get much more intense than riding a friggin’ ostrich. That’s right, there are maniacs out there that make a living off of riding these flightless beasts.
Ostrich racing doesn't always go to plan pic.twitter.com/2J8QfN2ood
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Originating in South Africa as far back as the 1800’s, ostrich racing has become a (somewhat) popular endeavor in certain spots in the United States. An ostrich farm was opened in Jacksonville, Florida in 1892, where racing and general ostrich related activities went on. Believe it or not, this served as a tourist attraction for the area. The farm existed until 1912, where they had to move locations due to unruly ostrich behaviour.
It’s hard enough to keep ostriches in a caged off area, so you’re probably wondering why on earth somebody would jump on their backs and ride them. People realize that ostriches hold the enviable title as the world’s fastest running birds, right? Due to their awkward bodies, staying steady while on top of them must be very difficult.
Where do these races happen, you ask? Anybody that is anybody in ostrich racing makes the pilgrimage to Chandler, Arizona for the annual Ostrich Festival, with 2024 being it’s 34th year. These festivals have many different carnival games and rides and what not.
Over the last few years, the races have come under fire for their inhumane treatment of the birds. Some locals view ostrich races as a random development, since ostriches were historically raised for their feathers in Arizona, not for racing. Many different organizations, especially PETA, have been clear about their desire to shut down the races for good. The point has been made that horses and camels have been domesticated and are more appropriate to ride compared to ostriches, who don’t exactly have the body for human riding.
Putting aside the abuse concerns, there’s no doubt that some of these riders get what’s coming to them for having the idiotic idea of riding an ostrich. At the Emerald Downs ostrich race of 2019, the first five ostriches to cross the finish line did so without a jockey on their back.
In the world we live in today, who knows how long ostrich racing will continue to be a thing. For now, if you’re interested in checking it out, feel free to book your tickets for the show this March.