Anyone watching the Grand National?

[PinkLemonadee]

Just put it on to see protesters being dragged off the track. Feel bad for the horses in the ring, it looks warm and there's so many people about.

Read my reply to @Florenz.

This!

The hounds were re-trained to follow scent. They weren't just disposed of as generations of breeding goes into each pack

Oooo battling to win an argument as so many are shaming you.
All lies here
Classic MN tactic,, seen it all before

I didn’t say they would be - I said there wasn’t a market for them. By that I meant they weren’t bred in the same numbers, as will happen with race horses.

@Instructionmanual is correct in much of what they say (but so are others with some differing views) - there are issues in racing, two year old horses shouldn’t be ridden like they are let alone at a competitive level and yes this does lead to issues like kissing spines and other physical issues. Horses do need to be turned out not cooped in stables - more trainers are doing this now, as it’s in their interests to have happy horses - but it’s not always been as it should be.

Many retired racehorses go on to other disciplines and new lives, but there ought to be more investment in and monitoring of this.

That isn’t what’s being protested though.

On the other hand, a lot of horses do have fantastic lives and are extremely loved and well cared for, a lot of horses do genuinely enjoy their racing, investment in welfare by the industry has brought about veterinary improvements for all horses to benefit from.

It isn’t where it could be, but it’s not as bad as others say.

But that's a positive thing because breeding gets better if fewer are bred. TBs are in high demand across all Equestrian disciplines so the breed is in no danger. All that will happen is that with more selective breeding, the number going for live export for meat will drastically reduce.

:Look over there" is never a viable argument.

@Rosula it is the only argument they have!

Interesting - none of my younger colleagues, or those at DH’s workplace, or our young adult children or their friends are interested in supporting, watching or betting on this ‘sport’.

And fewer will race

You really think he loved it? Dying in pain and terrified? Have you read @Instructionmanual's post?

Which again is a good thing

He broke his neck in a scrum at the first fence. There's a video from the stands on twitter, would you like to see it?

Definitely

@Florenz
One would think/hope that it would be gradual.... and so, rather than racehorse being needlessly killed, or placed into possibly unsuitable homes etc etc, they would no longer be bred.
(In the same way that a lower requirement for meat would - hopefully - result in fewer animals actually being created.)

As most people on here are aware, the future for unsuccessful racehorses - and even successful ones - can be very bleak.

I was lucky enough to come across an ex-racehorse, who had had a very short career (due to his owner and jockey and some funny goings-on) - and he was the most lovely horse to have for our family, and enjoyed a long retirement with me when no longer safe or comfortable (for him) to ride. I think he had six full years just being a horse, but getting all the love and care I could give him. (A grey, so probably a couple more baths than was necessary, and certainly much focus on keeping his mermaid-hair tail sparking.)

Also though, I spent some time going to the "Sales" (not Bloodstock, although it happened there as well), and the cattle trucks/meat wagons were lurking off in the background for those who didn't reach their reserve.

In any area of the horse world, there will be cruelty, as there are cruel and evil people who want to dominate a powerful animal. I worked for top level dressage rider/trainer (and now judge I believe) - even then a middle-aged lady, who thumped and screamed and shouted at her quarter of a million pound Grand Prix prospect, just because he walked into his stable in a away she didn't like.

We - humans - can be very ugly when we seek control and domination over our fellow earthlings.

I'm not a fan of racing or The National, especially the young starting ages and the way they're kept. In fact in recent years I've questioned a lot about how many horses are kept and 'used' - the ceremonial horses, police horses, other disciplines etc.

But I do wonder every time I read a thread like this (every year!) How many people that are so very vocally against it still go and feed random horses in fields or in places like the New Forest, or pass them on the road in a dangerous way, or don't even register the ponies tethered at the side of the road in all weathers, or who think grazing muzzles are cruel, who let their dogs run around horses fields and chase them or up to horses in the countryside because they're 'just playing'?

I get The National is high profile and therefore attracts attention and may get people talking about it - but so many horses are put at risk or die every day and because it's not high profile, it's not really registered. I'm cynical about the actual motive behind these types of protests.

What argument? Most people like horse racing. The grand national is the most popular race of the year. Some people don't like it. But they are a small minority.

Honestly, the best way to get rid of horse racing is to promote other sports to take attention and revenue away from it. Not to try and ban something that is wildly popular.

I find it a disgusting “sport” and do not support it at all. And I do judge people who enjoy and support it, it makes me wonder how cruel and ignorant they are.
Yes, some non racing horses are also treated badly. I also care about them. There is plenty of evidence on how these animals are treated and a few anecdotes on someone who knows someone has a field where all these retired horses are living the life of riley 🤨 the whole thing should be stopped. No ifs or buts.

Presumably people would continue to keep them for leisure riding and similar. Racehorses would no longer be bred as such, which can really only be a good thing.

Did any horses die this year?

A horse has died.

Apparently they had no intention of trying to do that.

@Florenz you are very ignorant and have an extreme lack of compassion. Thankfully there are less and less people like you, and when people like you go in extinction, so will these cruel “sports”. Horseracing is not at all as popular as ever, there is less and less interest in it and also open opposition - thank goodness. Things need to change.

I've been involved with horses all of my life.

I have lost count of the number of horses that myself and friends have owned that have died or had to be put down in their field because of random accidents or colic leading to a twisted gut.

They are big, big animals with a very, very sensitive gut that can be 70 feet long. If something goes drastically wrong they very rarely recover.

A friend lost a lovely showjumping horse because he did a silly 'spook' at something while they were just walking along a road minding their own business. He somehow managed to shatter a bone in his lower leg.

We horse folk love our horses and would walk over broken glass for them but we are also practical because we simply have to be. Horses sometimes die regardless of what we do and I would rather that happened doing something that they love. None of them would thank us/be happy stuck in a stable wrapped in cotton wool for their entire lives.

There are many, many ex racehorses in 'pet' homes now. It's a really big thing as a quick Google would show but that doesn't tie in with the rhetoric from the ill informed eejits that just want to stamp their feet, whine and talk shit about things they haven't actually bothered to research.

I'm not going to do all of the actual work for the lazy azzes that can't be bothered to do their own thinking/research but here's just one link to hopefully start educating the clueless.

https://britishthoroughbredagency.co.uk/ottbs-for-rehoming