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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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MandyMotherOfBrian · 15/04/2023 18:05

Backtobed · 15/04/2023 17:45

A horse died?

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Two before this race was even run died at this meet..
Envoye Special on day one.
Runner Dark Raven earlier today.
Still, that all good, apparently.

Notsa · 15/04/2023 18:05

Genuinely never seen protesters at any other equestrian event I have been at over the years. Presumably because horse fatalities anywhere else don't get them social media clout.

Americano75 · 15/04/2023 18:06

Enfys1982 · 15/04/2023 17:16

Two horses have already died this week at Aintree. One only this afternoon. It’s fucking cruel and people need to wake up. The irony of worrying about the horses in the paddock but being forced over Beachers Brook is laughable.

This. Let's face it, if there wasn't so much money to be made out of the horses then they'd all be off to the glue factory.

Original poster
PinkLemonadee · 15/04/2023 18:07

Notsa · 15/04/2023 18:05

Genuinely never seen protesters at any other equestrian event I have been at over the years. Presumably because horse fatalities anywhere else don't get them social media clout.

There was a big uproar about event horses dying fairly recently.

OP posts:
CornishGem1975 · 15/04/2023 18:08

CremeEggThief · 15/04/2023 18:04

That's not true that protests don't achieve anything, 3dogsandarabbit. It can be a VERY slow process, admittedly, but nothing in society would have ever changed, if everyone had stayed home instead of taking to the streets when they're angry!

Protests are fine. Acting like a complete dick and endangering others is not.

twistyizzy · 15/04/2023 18:08

@Backtobed over 220 horses die every year on UK racecourses

Radi0noise · 15/04/2023 18:09

This is the whip they use. It's padded and used as an aid with the jockeys riding so

Oh that's okay then, are you okay if I hit your child with a padded whip? Or maybe a boxing glove?

BillyAteMyChips · 15/04/2023 18:09

This reply has been deleted

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

eatdrinkandbemerry · 15/04/2023 18:09

Attention seeking nobs 🤷‍♀️
Don't give them their five minutes of fame and they will soon get bored

twistyizzy · 15/04/2023 18:09

PinkLemonadee · 15/04/2023 18:07

There was a big uproar about event horses dying fairly recently.

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Yes and it has prompted a massive review within Eventing. The fact remains that there are 200 fewer horse deaths per year in eventing than racing. Riders are more likely to die or get injured in Eventing than the horses.

Radi0noise · 15/04/2023 18:10

eatdrinkandbemerry · 15/04/2023 18:09

Attention seeking nobs 🤷‍♀️
Don't give them their five minutes of fame and they will soon get bored

How sad, some people actually care about stuff. Thankfully

QuestionableMouse · 15/04/2023 18:10

Wish they'd update us on the fallers. (I know it takes time for vets and such)

Original poster
PinkLemonadee · 15/04/2023 18:11

twistyizzy · 15/04/2023 18:09

Yes and it has prompted a massive review within Eventing. The fact remains that there are 200 fewer horse deaths per year in eventing than racing. Riders are more likely to die or get injured in Eventing than the horses.

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Oh yeah, it's absolutely a good thing. The national should have fewer horses running.

OP posts:
SirChenjins · 15/04/2023 18:12

eatdrinkandbemerry · 15/04/2023 18:09

Attention seeking nobs 🤷‍♀️
Don't give them their five minutes of fame and they will soon get bored

They said things like that about the hunt saboteurs. Unfortunately it didn’t work out too well for the hunt supporters.

Rosula · 15/04/2023 18:12

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 15/04/2023 17:12

Everyone knew about this. Why wasn’t the fence electrified, not to kill anyone, but enough to make climbing a metal ladder unpleasant.

How would that work out if a loose horse ran into the fence?

Notsa · 15/04/2023 18:14

PinkLemonadee · 15/04/2023 18:11

Oh yeah, it's absolutely a good thing. The national should have fewer horses running.

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I think that will happen eventually and a whip ban except for safety will be introduced before too long, it will happen in stages.
Hopefully SJ will get some light shed on it soon and lead to some changes too at the top level.

Florenz · 15/04/2023 18:14

There's a lot more people who watch, bet on and enjoy horse racing than there were who did Fox hunting.

Isiteveningyet · 15/04/2023 18:14

That was fucking brutal. 39 started and only 17 finished

QuestionableMouse · 15/04/2023 18:14

Hill Sixteen is still being treated on course. (Faller at the first fence)

Mojoj · 15/04/2023 18:15

PussBilledDuckyPlait · 15/04/2023 17:15

Quite. Race horses are very well looked after - why don't they protest against animals who really are ill-treated?

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Ah that's okay then eh? They're well looked after so who cares if they're made to race an extremely dangerous course where horses are injured or die every year? Ah but they're well looked after...

Florenz · 15/04/2023 18:15

Just because they didn't finish doesn't mean the horse is dead or even injured. It just means they unseated their rider.

ShowUs · 15/04/2023 18:15

Today was the first time I watched it as I don’t support using animals for sport but I was in a waiting room and it was on.

Omg!
I did not realise it was so cruel and I think it’s absolutely disgusting that in this day and age that is still acceptable.

I’m sure they’ll blame the protesters for any deaths of horses but although I don’t think they acted in the right way, I definitely support them now.

Rosula · 15/04/2023 18:15

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.

Why does it have to be either/or? Do you know that they don't object to both?

twistyizzy · 15/04/2023 18:15

PinkLemonadee · 15/04/2023 18:11

Oh yeah, it's absolutely a good thing. The national should have fewer horses running.

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Or no horses running! So you support racing but acknowledge that it is not good for the horses involved (fewer horses should run). Could you please explain why exactly you support racing apart from the fact it provides jobs? From a horse welfare point of view how is it acceptable?
I am really genuinely interested in how someone who supports racing justifies the cruelty to the animals involved. If I could understand the rationale for keeping racing going from the horse's point of view. Thanks 😊

Notsa · 15/04/2023 18:16

Isiteveningyet · 15/04/2023 18:14

That was fucking brutal. 39 started and only 17 finished

That's not necessarily a bad thing (although I get the point). Forcing a horse to continue when it is injured, tired or not jumping with enthusiasm just to increase the number of finishers would be wrong.