To hate the Grand National

[Lucyinthepie]

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).

Just to reply to a few comments:

"I'm not defending it at all (I'm a horse owner) but those horses wouldn't exist if it wasn't for the racing industry as is the same in Spain with the bull fights."
Yes, of course the horses would exist if it wasn't for the racing industry. Thoroughbred horses do many jobs other than racing don't they? The majority of racehorses don't even live their lives out in the industry, if they are the lucky ones they get rehabilitated to become normal riding horses.

"afraid we love the National in our house. DH is an avid fan of the Nags both from a gambling and watching point of view. We all had bets today even the kids."
That's fine, I hate to see horses die live on the screen, but I understand that many think it is an acceptable price to pay for the enjoyment of the race loving public. It's time for a documentary to show exactly how the racing industry works and the price that the horses pay.

"From what I saw the jockey was still holding Ballabrig when the trainer ran up to congratulate him and the decision not to lead him into the parade ring was done in the horses best interest as it was more important to rehydrate him and get him somewhere calmer."

The winners enclosure is the little area where they take the horse to stand after the jockey has got off. The place where the owners and trainers and jockey pose next to the horse while he has his sweat rug chucked on etc. If the horse doesn't go there it is in a pretty poor condition, how often to you not see the winner in the enclosure? All racehorses need to be rehydrated after a race, thankfully not many need to be given oxygen! Basically, Ballabrig needed emergency treatment.

I'm not a horse lover or particularly voiciferous animal lover either. I eat meat. But if we can ban fox hunting on the grounds of cruelty (I am in favour of this) then ...

DrNortherner's link is sobering. I think it's utter bollocks to say that the horses enjoy it. I have owned and worked with horses (not racehorses) in the past, and whilst it's true that if a horse doesn't want to do something it won't, this is usually on it's own.

Racehorses (all horses) are pack animals and will follow each other regardless (usually) of whether they want to or not.

A terrible outcome for 2 (and possibly more) horses today

YANBU. I have said my piece on the Sweepstake thread, but the majority of the posters over there seem to not care.

I can't bear it either

Horses are such beautiful creatures. But they are so fucking willing to get ridden to injury and death! Wish they weren't so stupid.

There were clearly 2 dead or dying horses on the track - one was shown briefly on camera when they missed the first fence they bypassed and the other was covered by a screen when they bypassed the second fence. It made me feel absolutely sick. I won't be watching it again.

YANBU. It's vile, utterly barbaric. Can't say any more or I will say something I regret.

YANBU at all! This sort of 'entertainment' should be consigned to the history books.

I live next to Cheltenham racecourse. This year at the Festival I saw Lush Life being taken away to be shot.

It's not just the racing I object to, but the whipping too.

This is worth a read: www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/CAMPAIGNS/horse/ALL///

Unlike I suspect the vast majority on here, I've worked at several racing yards (during the university holidays) and actually rode a one time Grand National favourite, Man on the Run, when I was at Reg Akehurst's. (although he didn't run because he went unsound before the race and they couldn't get him fit enough in time).

Racehorses are treated far better and by people who actually know what they are doing than the vast majority of competitive horses in this country who have unbalanced riders bouncing around on them and jagging them in the mouths at best, and at worst, swinging crystals around their heads and treating them like substitute children.

The Grand National is one of the few long distance steeplechases, nowadays the emphasis in racing is on producing fast maturing 2 and 3 year old flat horses who bring in profits at the sales for their breeders. Of course racing 2 and 3 year olds and emphasising speed and early maturity at the expense of stamina and longevity brings its own risks, which I note have not been mentioned on here. It takes years to produce a Grand National runner and I hardly think it credible that you claim the owners barely know their horses. They have little resale value and generally only race around 1/3 of their lives. You are targetting the wrong side of the industry completely.

I do wish so-called animal lovers on paper would actually do more than moan about what they percieve to be cruel but know very little about. Keeping large dogs indoors most of their lives, killing badgers on country roads while you race about them in cars, living in little modern housing estates built on what used to be animal habitats is far more cruel but takes far more thinking about.

Long distance horse races such as the Grand National and indeed steeplechasing is one of the few links this country has left to the natural country pursuits that used to form the backbone of this country and if you are ignorant of the skills involved in preparing and riding one of these highly tuned animals, then its very hard for you to comment sensibly. If you want to do something pro-active, support a charity involved in the retraining of racehorses.

I hadn't realised until this year just how bad some of the practices are / situation is.

Before today it just seemed like a horse race.

What has changed this year (I mean in terms of publicising events)

"Thoroughbred horses do many jobs other than racing don't they? The majority of racehorses don't even live their lives out in the industry, if they are the lucky ones they get rehabilitated to become normal riding horses."

Oh dear, you really need to research your subject. The reason they sometimes do jobs after racing is because of the education they receive from racing professionals. Very few people outside racing would want pure TBs as they are too narrow, too fine boned and too thin skinned for the average rider. People generally want warmbloods or cobs, so there would be no TBs if there was no racing. That why they've been bred for over 400 years for a specific purpose.

Racing is not going to stop anyway. Its one of the biggest employers in this country. Thankfully we still have animals which can lead a useful working life. If I were an animal, I'd far rather be a working animal than an overfed house pet with inadequate exercise. Thats real cruelty, placing human traits on animals and then wondering why they have behavioural issues.

I do not know much of horse racing, but do watch the grand national, and although it is sad to see the horse die, it doesn't stop me watching it again.

It seems to me nijinsky seems to have a real inside view on this kind of sport and i find myself siding with her on this, and all those who support her views.

nijinsky, what utter horse sh*t! It's ok to do because there are other activities which harm animals too.

I do work for a charitable equine rehabilitation service. Of course, not all ex-race horses are as lucky as those who are signed over to us (which is funded entirely by public donations).

nijinsky,i don,t think many on here are questioning wether the horses are well looked after,more the race itself!!!

Well, it may be the Daily Mail, but that camera doesn't lie. Maybe go and have a look at the photos on their front page and see what everyone thinks. Every year similar pictures.

Nijinsky, easy to try to talk down to people, but I have worked in the racing industry, and I do support a racehorse retraining charity. One of my close friends is regularly given the rejects by a couple of the kinder trainers - yes, given, she doesn't buy them. She rehabs them and rehomes them and I sometimes help her. I know a lot about the industry and I support many country sports. I don't think that racing is a country sport however. While I can sort of accept that the racing industry is no worse than some other equine sports, I will never agree with the Grand National. So try not to assume that you know what people do or not do, or what charities they support. (Definition of Ass-u-me anyone?).

I also decided not to introduce the rate of skeletal maturation in horses, a la Dr Deb Bennet. I don't think it's the right audience do you?

I've mentioned before, the longer term behaviour and physical wellbeing of ex racehorses calls into question the supposedly superior level of care that they are given by "people who actually know what they are doing". However I deliberately steered clear of that sort of discussion because we aren't on an equine discussion here and I thought that a more targetted discussion about the Grand National might be more appropriate.

I'm sure someone else has already posted this, but just in case (for the facts): www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/CAMPAIGNS/horse/ALL///

Love it. Cheer up love.

"Oh dear, you really need to research your subject. The reason they sometimes do jobs after racing is because of the education they receive from racing professionals. Very few people outside racing would want pure TBs as they are too narrow, too fine boned and too thin skinned for the average rider. People generally want warmbloods or cobs, so there would be no TBs if there was no racing. That why they've been bred for over 400 years for a specific purpose."
Nijinksy, now I know you're talking out of your posterior. Pf course, go to your average livery yard and all you see is warmbloods and cobs.

"Oh dear, you really need to research your subject. The reason they sometimes do jobs after racing is because of the education they receive from racing professionals."

Strange you should challenge people to support racehorse rehab charities. Because if the racing professionals truly did educate ex-racehorses for jobs after racing, there would be no need for the rehab charities would there?

"Racing is not going to stop anyway. Its one of the biggest employers in this country. Thankfully we still have animals which can lead a useful working life. If I were an animal, I'd far rather be a working animal than an overfed house pet with inadequate exercise. Thats real cruelty, placing human traits on animals and then wondering why they have behavioural issues."

I thought we were talking about the Grand National, I certainly haven't said that the racing industry should/could be stopped. I'm not sure where you are going with your sidetrack about house pets etc. I think you're making a bit of an "assume" again there. And you've forgotten you're on Mumsnet for goodness sake, not the bloody Horse and Hound forum.

YANBU.

I loathe the grand national, and the racing industry as a whole.

A couple of usually quite popular people posted on FB earlier about their bets, and got very few likes or replies so I think i am not alone!

Sickening , and all in the name of "fun"