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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

The grand national is cruel to horses

999 replies

McHappyPants2012 · 12/04/2012 15:20

Alot of the horses will be injured and whipped into going faster, it's also a long race course.

I can't believe people would bet on this event

OP posts:

seeker · 14/04/2012 10:03

Yes. Next question please!

OMGICBA · 14/04/2012 10:08

"The RSPCA and World Horse Welfare are just 2 of the many equine welfare groups that engage, discuss and monitor racing. They are not calling for it to banned, so that should tell you that they do not believe racing to be cruel."

the rspca? the same rspca that did this? right, cos we can all trust the rspca to know what cruel is, can't we?

Flightty · 14/04/2012 10:12

My feeling was more that the RSPCA and that other lot are probably all too aware that they don't have anywhere near the financial clout to put a stop to it.

Not that they don't think it's cruel. They're just working as hard as they can to try and make it less appalling.

I wasn't born yesterday. Organisations which try to moderate in this sort of situation don't necessarily approve of the set up in any way whatsoever.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 14/04/2012 10:14

Tbh the standards that legally need to be enforced are pretty dam low and with the amount of money in racing I expect these organizations would quite easily keep quiet about some things if they r given a percentage of the money as a donation.

Derpette · 14/04/2012 10:23

Monty's first line summed this up completely.

I've had a many an argument with 'horsy people' and they just seem to try justify everything with the line 'you don't understand'

I understand perfectly what puts an animals life in danger, I don't need to be an avid horse breeder/trainer/rider to know that.

Derpette · 14/04/2012 10:28

And catgirl wow, your ignorance amazes me.

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 14/04/2012 10:30

Now excuse me! Im a horse owner and if you read, I've been arguing the other side of the argument. Not all horse lovers agree with racing, or hunting, or anything that puts an animal in danger! We all have our own opinions. Please don't lump all horse owners together!

seeker · 14/04/2012 10:34

Another anti racing horse owner here.

ChickenSkin · 14/04/2012 10:37

To those that don't think it's cruel - guess you won't mind being saddled up on judgement day and forced to run with some under-developed knobhead sat on your back whipping you to the finish line then :)
It's all in good fun. Animals are only here for our entertainment anyway.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 14/04/2012 10:40

All the things animals do to help us and that's how we repay them :(

GrahamTribe · 14/04/2012 10:41

It's got to be said again:

"Frankly its a no brainer, the OP is, of course, completely right. And all the crap spouted by those defending horse racing are just excuses to feel better.

It is simple - sport involving animals exists to provide people with a good time, the enjoyment of participating animals is a matter of subjective opinion but I suspect those that die are not having much fun."

seeker · 14/04/2012 10:43

Wouldn't go that far. Animals are not altruistic. They only help us because we train them to. However, we do have a serious responsibility to care for them properly and not put them needlessly in harm's way.

Derpette · 14/04/2012 10:44

Eek sorry I really should have put horsey people who agree with this racing. I didn't mean to cause offence I just forgot to add the side note. I do apologise :)

ChickenSkin · 14/04/2012 10:47

It's not always down to training Seeker. There have been many reports of dogs coming to the rescue of their owners, wake up sleeping families when there is a fire or even saving young children from drowning, they don't get trained to do that, they do it because they want to. It's built in them to look out for their 'pack'.

There have also been stories of dolphins saving swimmers from sharks (and they're certainly not trained to do that!). So not all animal help is down to training.

seeker · 14/04/2012 11:04

Very few of those stores are properly accredited. As far as I know.

Red2011 · 14/04/2012 11:12

it is cruel and unnecessary. If people want to throw themselves over hedges ditches etc. that is fine, but not on the back of a horse. If the horse wants to run about that's fine, but not with someone on its back whipping it.

Too many horses die/are shot because they are injured during this race. Perhaps we should apply the same rules to football? If a player goes down and stays down for above 10 seconds, get the vet out with the rifle?
Possibly facetious of me, but I am an animal lover and simply can't approve.

Just on a tangent- why is there so much focus from the media/advertising at the moment encouraging us to gamble? If it's not touting the myriad things we can place bets on, it is countless adverts for bingo.

doormat · 14/04/2012 11:22

omfg the whining squad is still here...just put a bet on ffs

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 14/04/2012 11:28

Red, would that perhaps be because the government get tax on betting?

Red2011 · 14/04/2012 11:29

I suspect so, Saggy

They get tax on pretty much everything else!

Derpette · 14/04/2012 11:29

I'd rather be part of the 'whining squad' than a person who lacks compassion for another living being.

lollopybear · 14/04/2012 11:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

catgirl1976 · 14/04/2012 11:33

My ignorance Deprette?

My ignorance regarding what? Racing? Given I keep my horses on a racing yard, know a number of jockeys, trainers and owners, am heavily involved in NH I can assure you I am not ignorant about racing or horses, so do let me know what you are refering to

Monica2012 · 14/04/2012 11:37

its awful. that and dog racing. i live in a city where there's a dog racecourse and the number of ex racedogs in homeless shelters are unbelieveable. once they're no good or two old for racing, they just are gotten rid of, like they're nothing. these are lives we're talking about. i depise the way the jockeys whip the horses too. padded whips or not, it must bloody hurt, or why would the horses go faster? i'd love to whip the bastard jockeys as hard as they whip these horses, and leave them exhausted, or worse...dead. we shouldnt use these animals in this way just for our entertainment. it's cruel.

Derpette · 14/04/2012 11:37

I don't care who you know or what you think you know about horses, how you can compare the bloody Olympics to horse racing I do not know! I think it's you who has the blinkers on not these poor horses. That's where you showed ignorance, comparing humans who are fully responsible for their actions to animals who are made and trained to do things.

I haven't the time for people like you who try and condone the blatant CRULETY and MANIPULATION of these creatures for PROFIT and AMUSEMENT of others.

catgirl1976 · 14/04/2012 11:41

Um, because it was a tongue in cheek comment Derpette. It wasn't a serious comparison, it was a semi-humourous response to a post. Sorry you had to have that explained to you (even though it was a) pretty clear and b) I already said it.

If you read my posts you would see that I am am totally against cruelty to animals, especially horses (as I am a horse lover, a horse owner and very involved in all things equine). However, whilst cruelty exists within racing (and I would very much welcome any measure which remove this), racing itself is not inherently cruel.

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