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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate the Grand National

265 replies

Lucyinthepie · 09/04/2011 19:41

Well, I do anyway. To quote a discussion on another forum, here's why:
"A total of 35 horses have died at the Grand National since 1999. That means an average of 2.5 horses per year/race. This does not compare to any other equine event held in this country."
There is no other sinlge competetive equine event in the whole of the UK where the horses entered have such a statistically high chance of meeting their death, on the same day every year.
The stats for the whole of racing are bad enough, and there are arguably some callous practises in the industry, where the animals are largely treated as disposable commodities. But, leaving that aside for now - this race - not worth it.

(Don't tell me the owners love their horses, maybe some do, but in my experience working as a groom on a racing yard for a year, the majority think they have some great investment. If the horse is lame they are more worried about when it will race again than the welfare of the horse. They'd be lucky to be able to pick their horse out if it was in a field with 10 others and not wearing their colours).

OP posts:
dontcallmepeanut · 09/04/2011 19:42

YANBU at all! Couldn't agree more, TBH

cheesesarnie · 09/04/2011 19:44

totally agree

Panzee · 09/04/2011 19:45

I'm with you.

zukiecat · 09/04/2011 19:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Lucyinthepie · 09/04/2011 19:50

So, on the Horse and Hound forum, where I've been lurking, some "horse lovers" are justifying the race. They say "horses die" and that the horses are "doing a job they love" (which I personally think is rubbish, they are just trained to be running machines, how the hell can anyone know if they "love" it? The horses run from herd instinct and training, they wouldn't just stop if they weren't happy).

So apparently there are many people who love horses, and love their own pet horses, who think it's absolutely fine to place bets and sit and watch a race where they know there are very high odds that they will see one if nor more horses die. I can sort of understand members of the public who don't really understand the racing industry, or have a particular affection for horses. But "horse lovers" Hmm
I think the world's gone mad sometimes.

OP posts:
anonacfr · 09/04/2011 19:53

Ballabriggs' owner ran straight to his jockey to congratulate him before he went anywhere near his horse.
Who apparently was very dehydrated and not well after the race. I hope he's resting and recovering well now?

Original poster
Lucyinthepie · 09/04/2011 19:58

I don't watch the race, I can't bear it and don't want to support racing in any way.
I understand that Ballabrigg didn't go into the winners enclosure? If that was the case then you can take it that the horse was in a pretty bad way.

OP posts:
Skifit · 09/04/2011 20:00

I can understand your opinion and thoughts Lucyinthepie. It is a horrendous murderous race. I guess for modern day its really medieval..!
....people do all sorts to make a fast buck.!

zukiecat · 09/04/2011 20:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IslandMooCow · 09/04/2011 20:06

I worked in racing at two of the top yards for four years in the long distant-past. Now I watch very little, and find jump-racing a bit soul destroying really.

Today in the GN, the stupid jockey on the winner was bounding about once he'd jumped off, and couldn't give a f**k about the horse. Seemed to think he'd done it all himself. The majority of jockeys I worked with were unpleasant and didn't like horses very much, and this was one of the worst examples of that I'd seen. However, I have to say the stable staff are normally fantastic and really love the horses.

Two horses dead, for nothing at all - won't watch again, just had enough I think.

zukiecat · 09/04/2011 20:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

youretheoneformefatty · 09/04/2011 20:09

Hear, hear OP. Fucking barbaric. Sad

zukiecat · 09/04/2011 20:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LaWeasel · 09/04/2011 20:16

IME of living in a huge racing hotspot - racehorses are certianly not treated like shit. (most) Jockeys and stable staff are treated far worse to start with.

But I agree that it is stupid to have a race where horses regularly die for fun.

IslandMooCow · 09/04/2011 20:17

Well to be fair - he would go straight to the stable after unsaddling and you wouldn't see him again for several hours even if he was perfectly healthy. He'd be given that quiet time to unwind and relax prior to travelling home, to ensure he didn't become stressed in the horse box.

It's not uncommon to give a horse oxygen after such a long race, and I believe he walked well and went back to the stables without assistance. Doesn't mean it's right that he was put under such stress of course.

sharbie · 09/04/2011 20:18

horrible race.i'm with you op.

pink4ever · 09/04/2011 20:18

YABU unless you are a vegetarian imo. Do you also care about the hundreds of thousands of cows/pigs slaughtered every year? or fishing of the seas or battery hens? or is it only because horses are some how seen as "noble" beasts so deserve our attention more?.
I watch the grand national-its an occasion in my family.No I am not an animal hater at all.Was upset that 2 horses died and also shocked at the state of the winning horse at the end.But they are racehorses this is what they are bred for.What do you propose we do with them?. Send them all back into the wild(where they orginated from).Do you find other horse events cruel?(equestrianism for example?).

LunaticIsOnTheGrass · 09/04/2011 20:21

Totally agree Sad

YANBU at all.

FellatioNels0n · 09/04/2011 20:24

Agree. It should be banned. It's hideous. I'm not a loony sentimentalist animal rights person but this race is just horribly cruel.

jerURSULAmBuffay · 09/04/2011 20:24

Agreed, sickening.

DrNortherner · 09/04/2011 20:25

I think it's unreasonable to say no one gave a thought to poor Bellabriggs. The jockey and the owner both know that the horse would be well tended to immediately. I hope he is OK. A quick google says he was hydrated and needed oxygen but he quickly recovered. I hope so.

I would like to see a ban on whips, surely the horses will still run fast without being whipped?

FlaminGreatGallah · 09/04/2011 20:26

I had to cover my eyes right at the end when the jockeys were getting their bats out because the leading horses had all done so well to get that far.

I always feel sorry for the loose ones wibbling about with the runners too. They look so very keen to be joining in with the rest.

Original poster
Lucyinthepie · 09/04/2011 20:30

Other equestrian events do not have the same high statistical likelihood of the horses dying pink4ever. That is the point I am making.

I don't know what you mean by equestriansim. I've been involved with horses since the age of 3 and I have never heard of that competetive event.

I eat meat and am actually very careful where I buy it from. A few local suppliers who know what happens to their animals right up to slaughter. I don't eat a lot of meat because that makes it expensive and less accessible. Cows, pigs etc, they are bred to be eaten. I can see a purpose in that.
Racehorses do what they do purely for entertainment and for the huge amounts of money the industry generates. I don't think that purpose justifies the wastage and I find it hard to understand why anyone would enjoy watching a race when they know there is a high likelihood that they will see an animal killed or seriousy injured.

I think that many would be shocked at the sheer numbers of horses from the racing industry that end up on the scrap heap. I'm not disputing that the successful racehorses and those in training are treated well, and not "like shit". Although, having said that, the high levels of stereotypical behaviours demonstrated by racehorses, aht the high incidence of ulcers in their guts might argue against the long-term benefits of the way they are kept...

There is a huge discussion that could be had about the ethics of the racing industry, but I thought that might be another topic all of it's own. I really thought it might be simpler if I just concentrated on the Grand National. Grin

Oh, and winning racehorses are pretty much always seen in the winners enclosure. For that not to happen the horse was in a bad way, even if he has hopefully fully recovered by now.

OP posts:
ilovesprouts · 09/04/2011 20:32

hate the national poor horses :( needs to be banned asap .

DrNortherner · 09/04/2011 20:35

some sad statistics here

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