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Original poster

Anyone watching the Grand National?

640 replies

PinkLemonadee · 15/04/2023 17:06

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.

OP posts:
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22
MooseBeTimeForSnow · 16/04/2023 02:45

Florenz · 15/04/2023 17:17

The horses run the course on their own, even if the jockey falls off. They love running and jumping, it's in their blood.

In a similar vein I’m sure Burghley used to do a cross-country running race on the course after the Horse Trials.

ZeroWorshipHere · 16/04/2023 04:22

DrPrunesqualler · 16/04/2023 01:06

Here

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The grand national is one race. 3 dead horses is awful but lying about the facts makes you less credible

Darker · 16/04/2023 05:30

Mindovermatter247 · 15/04/2023 23:21

Most of these people just like be part of a cause, cause havoc, they have absolutely no interest in the cause whatsoever.

And your evidence for this is?

Hellsmovie · 16/04/2023 08:39

ShowUs · 15/04/2023 20:31

Horse racing exists because rich white men enjoy it.

1 female jockey is a joke.

The entire sport is an absolute farce made to make rich people richer off of the ill treatment of animals.

You can guarantee that most of those that take part in/support horse racing also support other animal sports like hunting.

Lol. Racebaiter

TizerorFizz · 16/04/2023 08:43

I love racing. I’m not going to stop. It’s not going to stop. Race horses are bred to race. They are not bred to be pets. They also love racing. There’s a risk in lots of sports where there are unpredictable factors. However horses and all those around them thrive in each other’s company and the excitement of competition.

By the way, if anyone wants an ex racehorse, go and ask for one. Stables will try and accommodate you. It takes a while to retrain them but it’s obviously very possible. It’s better to do this rather than protest if racing worries you.

ArseMenagerie · 16/04/2023 08:51

Darker · 16/04/2023 05:30

And your evidence for this is?

Show quote history

Exactly. That’s such a lazy argument.

brooksidebackside · 16/04/2023 08:58

Race horses are bred to race.

I don't want to have to point out the obvious here, but that is the problem Confused

Rosula · 16/04/2023 09:00

TizerorFizz · 16/04/2023 08:43

I love racing. I’m not going to stop. It’s not going to stop. Race horses are bred to race. They are not bred to be pets. They also love racing. There’s a risk in lots of sports where there are unpredictable factors. However horses and all those around them thrive in each other’s company and the excitement of competition.

By the way, if anyone wants an ex racehorse, go and ask for one. Stables will try and accommodate you. It takes a while to retrain them but it’s obviously very possible. It’s better to do this rather than protest if racing worries you.

Have a read of posts from people who actually know what goes on in racing stables, e.g @Instructionmanual.

How does adopting a retired racehorse help horses like the three who died at Aintree this week? To say nothing of the young horses currently developing ulcers, back and limb problems and major stress syndromes in racing stables currently?

twistyizzy · 16/04/2023 09:02

TizerorFizz · 16/04/2023 08:43

I love racing. I’m not going to stop. It’s not going to stop. Race horses are bred to race. They are not bred to be pets. They also love racing. There’s a risk in lots of sports where there are unpredictable factors. However horses and all those around them thrive in each other’s company and the excitement of competition.

By the way, if anyone wants an ex racehorse, go and ask for one. Stables will try and accommodate you. It takes a while to retrain them but it’s obviously very possible. It’s better to do this rather than protest if racing worries you.

"They love racing" is the comment that highlights that you know nothing about horse psychology. They run because they are herd animals not because they love racing.
If they love it so much why do 90% of racehorses have painful stomach ulcers? The answer is stress + highly unnatural management regimes.
Educate yourself and then try to justify it in any way other than you want to earn a bit of money off animal abuse.
Also look up the live export of ex-racehorses for meat.

twistyizzy · 16/04/2023 09:03

@TizerorFizz I have 30+ years of having ex-racers, they are the lucky few. Only a tiny % of racers get re-homed and re-trained, the majority do not and their fate is awful.

VincentVaguer · 16/04/2023 09:07

I have ridden all my life, own horses and compete, my dcs event. I enjoy watching racing particularly NH racing and have lots of friends involved in it. I think the National is an absolute disgrace and should be brought to an end. Too many horses and the fences are too big. Also, horses aren't racing for the fun of it when they unseat their rider, they are doing it because they think that's what they are supposed to do and they are willing, trained animals. That poor horse at fence 1. Absolutely disgusting.

Tealsofa · 16/04/2023 09:20

TizerorFizz · 16/04/2023 08:43

I love racing. I’m not going to stop. It’s not going to stop. Race horses are bred to race. They are not bred to be pets. They also love racing. There’s a risk in lots of sports where there are unpredictable factors. However horses and all those around them thrive in each other’s company and the excitement of competition.

By the way, if anyone wants an ex racehorse, go and ask for one. Stables will try and accommodate you. It takes a while to retrain them but it’s obviously very possible. It’s better to do this rather than protest if racing worries you.

It’s better to do this rather than protest if racing worries you.

So we should adopt ex race horses rather than protest the treatment of current ones??
I'm going to ask, are you on glue?

It's hardly like taking in a greyhound is it? Slightly more work and time and money require

Hmm
VincentVaguer · 16/04/2023 09:25

"If anyone wants an ex racehorse go and ask for one"

Wtf. Yeah right.

VincentVaguer · 16/04/2023 09:27

I agree that racehorses are treated extremely well. I see them often. But that doesn't excuse the National. It's just wrong.

A horse fell at Badminton last year and crippled itself and its rider and they immediately took that fence out of the course.

ShowUs · 16/04/2023 09:27

TizerorFizz · 16/04/2023 08:43

I love racing. I’m not going to stop. It’s not going to stop. Race horses are bred to race. They are not bred to be pets. They also love racing. There’s a risk in lots of sports where there are unpredictable factors. However horses and all those around them thrive in each other’s company and the excitement of competition.

By the way, if anyone wants an ex racehorse, go and ask for one. Stables will try and accommodate you. It takes a while to retrain them but it’s obviously very possible. It’s better to do this rather than protest if racing worries you.

Do you also agree with organised horse fighting?

Because they’re bred to fight too.
They’re definitely not bred to be pets.

They fight when they get in the ring so they must enjoy it, else they wouldn’t do it surely?

There’s of course the risk that your horse will die but that’s all part of the fun.

All of the people betting on them thrive in each other’s company and the excitement of the competition too.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/04/2023 09:30

Do you also agree with organised horse fighting ?

Aaaaahhhh d'you mean dog fighting ? (I cannot imagine organised horse fights )

ShowUs · 16/04/2023 09:30

VincentVaguer · 16/04/2023 09:07

I have ridden all my life, own horses and compete, my dcs event. I enjoy watching racing particularly NH racing and have lots of friends involved in it. I think the National is an absolute disgrace and should be brought to an end. Too many horses and the fences are too big. Also, horses aren't racing for the fun of it when they unseat their rider, they are doing it because they think that's what they are supposed to do and they are willing, trained animals. That poor horse at fence 1. Absolutely disgusting.

Absolutely this!!

It is very obvious who loves horses and cares about animal welfare on here and who doesn’t.

Protestors have been asking for years to lower the fences and to have fewer horses in each race (they could even stagger the start times and time each horse).

But they don’t do that as part of the fun for those watching is obviously the risk of injury or death.

VincentVaguer · 16/04/2023 09:31

Tbh I'm not sure my horses are bred to fight 😅 if you'd seen them yesterday desperate to come into their warm stables out of the rain they are most definitely pets

Farmerama1 · 16/04/2023 09:31

😂😂😂😂 Sure, I’ll stick an ex racehorse in the back garden.

In seriousness though, racehorses are also broken in too young and often develop musculoskeletal problems if rescued, even if they are well treated.

My main gripe is with the National but it’s the tip of a horrible iceberg and the whole industry needs cleaning up.

ShowUs · 16/04/2023 09:32

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/04/2023 09:30

Do you also agree with organised horse fighting ?

Aaaaahhhh d'you mean dog fighting ? (I cannot imagine organised horse fights )

No horse fighting.
It’s a thing.

There is also dog, bear and cock fighting, and I’m sure many others.

VincentVaguer · 16/04/2023 09:32

ShowUs · 16/04/2023 09:30

Absolutely this!!

It is very obvious who loves horses and cares about animal welfare on here and who doesn’t.

Protestors have been asking for years to lower the fences and to have fewer horses in each race (they could even stagger the start times and time each horse).

But they don’t do that as part of the fun for those watching is obviously the risk of injury or death.

Show quote history

Yes. There have been plenty of NH races this season where there have been no fallers or accidents at all. Part of the appeal of the National is the fallers and its totally wrong.

Farmerama1 · 16/04/2023 09:34

Just googled, it’s an organised fight between two stallions 😔

ShowUs · 16/04/2023 09:34

VincentVaguer · 16/04/2023 09:31

Tbh I'm not sure my horses are bred to fight 😅 if you'd seen them yesterday desperate to come into their warm stables out of the rain they are most definitely pets

No your horse isn’t bred to fight that’s the point.

Someone saying a racehorse is bred to race is correct but that’s the same thing as a fighting horse is bred to fight.

They are bred for that purpose.

IClaudine · 16/04/2023 09:36

Farmerama1 · 16/04/2023 09:34

Just googled, it’s an organised fight between two stallions 😔

I didn't know such a thing existed. How absolutely horrific.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/04/2023 09:44

ShowUs · 16/04/2023 09:32

No horse fighting.
It’s a thing.

There is also dog, bear and cock fighting, and I’m sure many others.

Show quote history

I had no idea , and it's not something I want to search .

This isn't in the Uk though ?
(I 'm thinking the bear baiting wouldn't be , cock fighting possibly though illegal.
Dog fighting unfortunately is a definate thing that goes on , money is a huge drive , if it gets stopped somewhere it'll spring up elsewhere .