To many outside influences, IE: PETA and other animal protective organizations have way more traction now.
This is spot on and the Industry needs to fight back. You do this by educating the public and PETA---the people to do this should be the leading Veterinary establishments in the USA.
It seems to me that NON Scientific members of horse racing for eg SCM--get more publicity than experts in the Industry with more experience. We need more information to relay to the public to keep them properly informed.
SCM --while he means well--is no expert on anything in horse racing especially when it comes to welfare. What he is however is a purveyor of anything shitty. Not a word about anything positive like he should.
My Vet told me that horses are FAR more adaptable to cold weather than Humans. I recently saw a video of Mustangs in Montana that survive winters of unbelievably cold weather-and live in the snow-no problems. Horses breathe through their nose and have a long large head and windpipe warming the air before it hits the lungs.
Horses race on Ice in Europe and the Horses have no issues--they have more problems in excessive heat.