Grand National Tomorrow

Admin

Was just wondering whether anyone was having a flutter?

I haven't even looked at the runners yet but have heard that they're not letting as many run this year.

Admin

I used to when I was younger but then one year I found out how many poor horses had had to be pts afterwards so I haven't watched it since. Sad

I even had to turn off an old episode of Top Gear earlier (and I love Top Gear) because they were pitting a Mazda MX-5 against a poor greyhound at a track... I might have started shouting at Richard Hammond on the tv!! Embarassed

Subject: Re: Grand National Tomorrow Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:21 pm

Nope, sorry but I really don't like it even though the horses seem to enjoy it. silent

OOps only my 3rd post Embarassed

I worry about the horses being injured to be honest. pale

I guess you don't have a contro section do you Whistle

Subject: Re: Grand National Tomorrow Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:22 pm

vickylizzy wrote:: I used to when I was younger but then one year I found out how many poor horses had had to be pts afterwards so I haven't watched it since.

I even had to turn off an old episode of Top Gear earlier (and I love Top Gear) because they were pitting a Mazda MX-5 against a poor greyhound at a track... I might have started shouting at Richard Hammond on the tv!!

Phew than goodness some one agrees with me. Thought I was going to be barred permanent on my 3rd post affraid

Admin

Of course you're not going to be barred. Everyone has opinions and I know the grand national is a very controversial race.

The thing is now I think its rare for a horse to be PTS on the track. I think its because they don't let as many run as they used to be I may be wrong.

Admin

redditchlady wrote:: Phew than goodness some one agrees with me. Thought I was going to be barred permanent on my 3rd post

Aww!

Nah, people will always have their own opinions and that's fine. Smile

Healthy debates can be interesting too; I very often come away from heard different sides of a discussion having learned something new! Very Happy

Admin

vickylizzy wrote:

redditchlady wrote:: Phew than goodness some one agrees with me. Thought I was going to be barred permanent on my 3rd post

Aww!

Nah, people will always have their own opinions and that's fine. Smile

Healthy debates can be interesting too; I very often come away from heard different sides of a discussion having learned something new! Very Happy

I completely agree. If you have the info then you can make your mind up but if the debate isn't allowed then you carry on thinking the way you always thought.

Admin

JennyC wrote:: If you have the info then you can make your mind up but if the debate isn't allowed then you carry on thinking the way you always thought.

Jenny, that's a really good way to think of it. Very Happy

Admin

but i'm right Wink

lol

Subject: Re: Grand National Tomorrow Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:52 pm

vickylizzy wrote:

JennyC wrote:: If you have the info then you can make your mind up but if the debate isn't allowed then you carry on thinking the way you always thought.

Jenny, that's a really good way to think of it. Very Happy

Exactly so long as it doesn't get personal Smile

Subject: Re: Grand National Tomorrow Sat Apr 04, 2009 7:41 am

There are more horses put down during flat racing that there is over the jumps but we don't see them because they don't fall. They are led back to the stables where they are shot. The racing industry keeps quiet about this.

There are a race tracks that are more dangerous than Aintree but they don't have high profile races. You don't see people shouting out about the Cheltenham Festive as much as the Grand National yet often more horses are killed there.

I am not saying I agree with racing, but I do think we need to see the whole picture of all racing and not just one race. The jumps are designed to make it as safe as possible for the horses, when there is no spruce on them they are only small, the spruce gives as soon as the horses touch them. They also have good ground lines which makes it much eaiser for a horse to jump.

i do think there are far too any horses bred for the race track, less than half make it for various reasons, those that do make their first race many don't have a racing career because they are not suitable.

Many of the horses bred to race do go into eventing, showjumping and dressage so have good careers but many are just sold on to anyone who wants them not matter how little experience they have.

Unlike Greyhounds which are often beaten to make them run faster you can't do this with a horse, if a horse doesn't want to jump it won't, if you beat it you will come worse off and so you should if you beat any animal.

Admin

Well said Mattie!!

Although I have read that they've made strict laws (dont know when) on the whiping of the horses and that if someone is found to be in breach of those laws then they can lose a BIG chunk of their winnings from it.

Admin

Poor HearTheEcho. Tissues

Subject: Re: Grand National Tomorrow Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:34 am

It is always very upsetting when an animal goes like that but I would have prefered my horse to go doing something he enjoyed than getting dementia and going blind. He was charging round into all kinds and was in danger of doing serious damage to himself so th decision had to be made to let him go sooner, before he done some serious damage and was in pain. That really was heartbreaking to see him like that. Cry Big Tears

Rescue Rep

glad I didn't watch it. Crying or Very sad

Admin

Maur - None of the horses were hurt whilel jumping, One collapsed on the way in apparently from heart attack. I didn't even know any had collapsed until they released the news after so I dont know where he collapsed or anything.

Admin

Poor horses. Sad

Rescue Rep

JennyC wrote:: Maur - None of the horses were hurt whilel jumping, One collapsed on the way in apparently from heart attack. I didn't even know any had collapsed until they released the news after so I dont know where he collapsed or anything.

Oh I see - thank you, I thought they'd been hurt in the race. Still - poor horses Crying or Very sad

Admin

Really is poor poor horses.
They really need to do stricter checks on whether the horse is well enough to be in the races in the first place.

Accidents aside there shouldn't really be any causes for them to get injured.