Grand National- horrific

[petal]

I just cannot abide horse racing- this race in particular makes me so sad- I love animals and hate cruelty based on greed in particular. How can we accept this and not do something about it, as a civilised nation?

[chris]

Well. You said it in your post.... Greed.

[VirginVegGrower]

My cousin was a nanny in a very well known race trainer's house. The money they had and lavished says it all.
As a now ex rider of horses some of these jumps defy logic. I have been to eventing where a lot of ex-racehorses end up and I've ridden out a friend's horse alongside an ex-racehorse. They can be rehomed and live a great life after. If they won't limit the number of horses taking part and modify the jumps to a sensible standard, plus ban the crop - no rider would ever use it with the same gay abandon, then it should be banned until they conform. It isn't just the national though, it's any major race meet.

[Helgalush]

I have to agree with you - I've avoided reading anything about the Grand National today as I find it just awful.

[Thelma Sanders]

They had already made alteration to some jumps to make them safer as well

[VirginVegGrower]

They had already made alteration to some jumps to make them safer as well

Clearly not enough. I've stood alongside a steeplechase course and some of the drops and spreads concerned are extreme. In Australia they've pretty much outlawed steeplechase races. Or so I'm led to believe.

[Bigmallly]

I wasn't aware of this until I read the thread......sad day.

[veggiechicken]

Its barbaric! I wish they'd make the owners and jockeys run the course with a pack of mad dogs at their heels. As long as the dogs survived I don't care two hoots about the other lot.

[di]

Apparently...'It's what horses were born to do'...in that case why do A) they need so much training and B) so many die?

[piskieinboots]

The 'winner' should be thrashed for his excessive use of the whip

[lizzylemon]

i'd just like to point out, jockeys get paid terrible money (unless they're a top one of course) and they take their life in their hands when they ride (which of course is their choice). This is not an easy 'sport' for the riders or the horses as believe it or not, most jockeys adore the animals they ride.

[VirginVegGrower]

Apparently...'It's what horses were born to do'...in that case why do A) they need so much training and B) so many die?

C) why do they need the whip to guarantee that they do what they love doing?

[Pa Snips]

Apparently...'It's what horses were born to do'

Well of course...that explains why wild horses are so keen on having stetson wearing hillbillies on their backs.

Grrr, animals are not sport or transport.

[Shadylane]

I used to go riding when I was a young un and I do believe that horses love to run. However I do not believe they are informed of the the risk they take with their lives when they partake in this race. Also if the owners love and honour them so much, train them, depend on them to bring them success, then why can't they then assure them of a guaranteed recovery scheme should they injure themselves whilst in their service? Oh because killing them is the 'kindest' thing to do. Kindest for whom? The animal or the owners pocket?

Two dead this year and two last year? That's not acceptable.

[Two_Sheds]

I don't bet on the National now that I'm aware of the deaths that occur every year. I hate it, and I also hate that the TV coverage doesn't show you what happens: the cameras obligingly slide away from the fallen horses so you could be blithely unaware of what's happened.

I hate it.