Page 13 | Anyone watching the Grand National?

PinkLemonadee · 2023-04-15T16:06:50+00:00

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.

IClaudine · 15/04/2023 19:39

The Grand National is a cruel anachronism which puts gambling above the welfare of horses. Time for it to either end or at the very least to be seriously reformed to mitigate the danger to horses.

ActDottie · 15/04/2023 19:41

Nope it’s cruel for the horses absolutely not watching

Twinstudy · 15/04/2023 19:41

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Umm well greyhound racing is pretty cruel. Some of those dogs suffer a terrible fate (some not so much, I've got a rehomed one snoring next to me on the sofa)

I don't really disagree with you in general but dogs die on the track and are disposed of when they're useless too

malapast · 15/04/2023 19:41

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 15/04/2023 18:23

I totally agree with you and I find it interesting that so many people have conveniently ignored this point.

Horses need turn-out. They need to graze and run in the fields and live naturally but race-horses never get that chance - it's so sad.

I ride and care for horses and the happiest ones by far are the ones who get to live as naturally as possible - which generally means living out, with rugs in bad weather, and being able to just "be horses".

Show quote history

👌🐴❤

Inkypinkee · 15/04/2023 19:42

A lot of people have dogs, and I think with horse racing it’s good to try and think about how this would equate to your pet dog.

my dog would walk over broken glass for me if asked him to, he would run through flames.

would you like to place a bet on which of our dogs would finish first in my flames and glass race?

I have worked with race horses, and due to the way insurance works they don’t all even die on the track, the figures are much higher if you included ‘accidents’ in the field.

AbbaG12 · 15/04/2023 19:43

A strong but fragile animal that can get injured jumping about in a field. So the sensible thing to do to make it gallop at speed and jump over fences/hurdles, alongside other galloping animal?

I do not agree withe what the protestors did but I really struggle with horse racing. I went to a racecourse as a youngsters and watched as a beautiful horse came over a and snapped it's leg right infront of us. The leg literally flapped around as the jockey dismounted and held the poor horse steady, trying trying calm it. The animal was terrified and in shock. I watched as they bought the green screens around it and then the tractor came over. He was shot behind those screens and then winched with no dignity Into the back of a horse trailer. I vowed to never to support/go again at a young. I still remember it very vividly now.

Riapia · 15/04/2023 19:45

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Tealsofa · 15/04/2023 19:46

SwedishEdith · 15/04/2023 17:24

Well, how can it turn your stomach if you never watch it?

Show quote history

I dont watch horror films like Saw as torture porn makes me feel sick. I don't need to watch it to know what it is about.

I have never watched the grand national but I know horses have died racing, I mean died! How that doesn't make you sick I don't know.

(And I adore being facetious thanks @PinkLemonadee )

CremeEggThief · 15/04/2023 19:46

So being vegan is an insult, Riapia?

Rather a vegan than someone who doesn't care about animal welfare any day of the week.

Scouserlicious · 15/04/2023 19:46

Locals now helping the police get rid of the protesters

I had to laugh at this. I grew up 1 mile away from the Aintree racecourse and have been to more nationals than I can remember. Scousers are very passionate about it. Also, Aintree is not a place full of snowflakes. They will be apoplectic with rage, believe me.

I have visions of middle-class ex-private school 20-somethings getting the shock of their life when an angry Scouser comes out "helping the police get rid of the protesters" and they are dragged away by their hair whilst the police stand by and let them. Also, nice to see the police carrying them away, in contrast, to how spineless London police deal with them.

IClaudine · 15/04/2023 19:46

A strong but fragile animal that can get injured jumping about in a field. So the sensible thing to do to make it gallop at speed and jump over fences/hurdles, alongside other galloping animal?

Exactly.

SomethingInTheOrange · 15/04/2023 19:47

user1471517095 · 15/04/2023 17:17

Instead of protesting about probably the best looked after Horses in the world why don't they go after the owners who leave those poor Horses in fields all winter with no coats and a bucket of water? You know, the ones tethered up at the sides of main roads.

Race horses have a horrible life, just a different horrible life to the ones you’re talking about.

Humans can protest and campaign against both, it doesn’t have to be just one.

Daydreamer123456 · 15/04/2023 19:48

Scouserlicious · 15/04/2023 19:46

Locals now helping the police get rid of the protesters

I had to laugh at this. I grew up 1 mile away from the Aintree racecourse and have been to more nationals than I can remember. Scousers are very passionate about it. Also, Aintree is not a place full of snowflakes. They will be apoplectic with rage, believe me.

I have visions of middle-class ex-private school 20-somethings getting the shock of their life when an angry Scouser comes out "helping the police get rid of the protesters" and they are dragged away by their hair whilst the police stand by and let them. Also, nice to see the police carrying them away, in contrast, to how spineless London police deal with them.

Yep, me too!

And I thought exactly the same thing

MissMaple82 · 15/04/2023 19:48

PinkLemonadee · 15/04/2023 17:11

They claim animal rights but seem to have no consideration for the actual animals involved. I knew a women who protested racing but lived in the middle of London and had never even touched a horse.

What the fuck has that got to do with it??

dinkytoon · 15/04/2023 19:49

twistyizzy · 15/04/2023 18:43

For those who support racing I have yet to have an answer to how the following is acceptable:
-the number of deaths on UK racecourses per year compared to any other equine discipline

the number of failed racehorses who are live exported for meat
the unnatural state that racehorses are kept in which creates physical and psychological issues

But yeh racing is fine 🙄
It's funny but those who support it generally have zero clue about horses ie good welfare/management standards and what happens to the horses after racing.

Basically they don't give a shit a few on this thread have made that abundantly clear and see the protestors as professional malcontents with thwarted lives. Those that don't care about animal welfare are usually shits and I do my best to avoid them.

MissMaple82 · 15/04/2023 19:49

PinkLemonadee · 15/04/2023 17:18

Don't be facetious- protesting stuff you only have limited knowledge of, regardless of what that thing is, is stupid.

Show quote history

I think you'll find, it's your own comment that is stupid!

twistyizzy · 15/04/2023 19:49

@dinkytoon agree

malapast · 15/04/2023 19:51

Scouserlicious · 15/04/2023 19:46

Locals now helping the police get rid of the protesters

I had to laugh at this. I grew up 1 mile away from the Aintree racecourse and have been to more nationals than I can remember. Scousers are very passionate about it. Also, Aintree is not a place full of snowflakes. They will be apoplectic with rage, believe me.

I have visions of middle-class ex-private school 20-somethings getting the shock of their life when an angry Scouser comes out "helping the police get rid of the protesters" and they are dragged away by their hair whilst the police stand by and let them. Also, nice to see the police carrying them away, in contrast, to how spineless London police deal with them.

Ha ha ha aren't you just the clever life and soul.

MissMaple82 · 15/04/2023 19:51

Anyone who thinks horse racing is ethical is a really really dense and really really ignorant! End of.

VegetablesFightingToReclaimTheAubergieneEmoji · 15/04/2023 19:51

Cannot fathom why it’s still allowed to go ahead. They’ve made it safer yet animals are still dying for a sport. It’s wrong.

IClaudine · 15/04/2023 19:51

MissMaple82 · 15/04/2023 19:48

What the fuck has that got to do with it??

Show quote history

Yeah, I can't see the logic either. Can we only care about things we have personal experience of?

CremeEggThief · 15/04/2023 19:52

You seem to think this is something to be proud of, Scouse, but I'm not really sure why.

Instructionmanual · 15/04/2023 19:53

TheFireflies · 15/04/2023 18:57

@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.

I said I wouldn’t engage… but… they are not well cared for. They are hot-housed, washed, polished, kept in stables for disgracefully long periods of time, not allowed proper socialisation. Us people appreciate that sort of stuff, as hard animals horses do not.
This results in stereotypical behaviours such as weaving, cribbing and wind sucking. Zoo animals exhibited similar behaviours and the cruel conditions they lived in were recognised and improved. The stress these horses live with manifest physical problems such as ulcers.
As I said, if people truly love animals they educate themselves. Ignorance is no excuse. People involved in the industry can kid themselves that the horses have the best of care, but in ethological terms that is simply not true.
Next - the argument that if people really cared they would be protesting and speaking up about road races, eventing, 24 hour stabling… it doesn’t stand up. It’s possible to speak up on more than one issue at a time. There’s a very dark side of racing, as there are in other aspects of horse care and their use.

twistyizzy · 15/04/2023 19:54

@Instructionmanual yes this!

foxlover47 · 15/04/2023 19:54

twistyizzy · 15/04/2023 17:24

Anyone saying that racehorses are well looked after, they may be but they aren't treated like horses!! 90% of racehorses have ulcers due to lack of turnout, too little forage etc.
Major skeletal issues (kissing spines etc) due to to being backed so young.
Nothing about racing is to the benefit of the horses, I say this as someone with 30 yrs of having ex-racers.
Yes they are loved by the lads and lasses looking after them but this doesn't make up for the highly unnatural way they are kept which can cause major physical and psychological issues.

The national living brigade won't hear of this !! They believe the carry on racing and jumping because "they love it " rather than realise it's what horses do ... run with the herd!
I have two ex racers , hock injuries and one was too slow , both full of ulcers, underweight , stressed .... live out 24/7 ... no ulcers and happy
Yes a lot of top yards feed the best feed and supplements , have the best gallops and horse walkers but racers live a cooped up life in the stables most of the day when not exercising / training , they are treated like athletes as that is essentially what they are!
Like a jockey once told me , there are too many being bred each year , many don't make the cut then the lucky uninjured few might go on to be found a home ... what about the rest
But while people keep gambling they will keep the "sport " going