The grand national is cruel to horses

[McHappyPants2012]

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

Peyam you are framing the herd instict as a negative thing for the horses but I can promise you it is not (for most horses). I hunt and my horses ADORE hunting because of the pure excitiement/electricity of galloping with the other horses. I am not even a horse and I can feel the electricity! With the exception of one horse (possibly) all the other horses I have ever known have loved hunting more than anything. I have a very lazy mare who hates doing anything except slopping around the field grazing but even she would prefer to be hunting than grazing.

I know those whips look like nice long cushions but they have got fibreglass rods inside.

I wouldn't like to be gently nudged with one let alone whacked repeatedly.

Would you use a cushioned whip to encourage a child to do something, or a dog...not sure 'encourage' is the right term really.

The herd instinct in hunting is nothing like in the context of racing on a course with huge jumps and massive pressure to go fast at whatever cost.

Stinky, you might find this article regarding racing two year olds of interest.

Don't forget that Thoroughbreds are bre to mature faster than other breeds, so running a two yer old Thoroughbred is not like riding a two year old Arab, for example.

Graham, if you are unwilling to accept the figures of the legal body that represents the racing industry, you have to be just as unwilling, if not more so, to accept the Animal Aid figures. After all they have no jurisdiction or even access to all the data.

Flighty, horses out hunting regularly jump 5 foot plus hedges and 5 bar gates, they do it because they enjoy it. They also have to go very fast to keep up with the hounds. I have never had to whip a horse out hunting; I have often had to plead with him/her to slow down!!

Pony, but I assume you are not pushing your horse to run at full speed and beyond? Putting before it obstacles that can be extremely frightening at such speeds?

There is a huge difference between a herd running together out of calm enjoyment and the full speed desperation that oozes from the GN. The panic, frenzy and other falling horses are bound to change this particular course from a fun run to a focus for survival.

Yes Pony you're missing the point a bit I think. Hunting involves a lot more space, time, it's not competitive in the same way at all, it's not a race, it's not so crowded. You don't have to jump at the same time as forty other horses in a very confined area at full speed.

Otherwise they'd hold the GN in a bunch of fields somewhere.

If i remember rightly Richard Dunwoody, former champion jockey, wrote in his autobiography about how Aintree jumps were safer when they were taller - they encourage horses to 'stand off', in other words gather themselves and jump higher and cleaner.

Anyone who believes jockeys can't place a horse at a fence could learn from watching a good rider on a novice chaser - they will be counting down the horses' strides to the approach of each jump, adjusting the stride length, and encouraging the best take off/landing possible.
Jockeys might not be the most eloquent sportsmen, but they are phenomemally skilled. They have to be, they start their careers as 7st teenagers on a tonne of inexperienced uncoordinated juvenile horse. They are perched precariously on their backs with little way of using their heels effectively, and have absolutely no way of making an animal of that strength do anything they don't want to.

I am not missing the point, I can see the difference but I was countering specific points.
Horses are not racing because they are panicking, it would be beyond dangerous to ride a bolting horse. They are trained and know what they are doing.

Peeling - so why do so many horses die in these races if the jockeys are so skilled?

Same question to Pony, but this time, why do they die if they 'know what they are doing'?

The facts are before us yet so much denial takes place. If it worked as it is, horses would not be dying

If there was a like button I'd use it for Peeling's comment. Very well put.

They are perched precariously on their backs with little way of using their heels effectively, and have absolutely no way of making an animal of that strength do anything they don't want to.

YANBU

I was so upset I cried last year with all those dead horses on the racecourse, and then seeing them on tv shots before the race, so beautiful and dead and under a sheet of tarpaulin less than an hour later.

It is cruel and they should either stop it or radically review the way they run it.

Obviously ANY riding over large fixed obstacles is dangerous by default, people and horses die in all competitive and non competitive equestrian sports. Life has a 100% mortality rate for horses and humans. If we and our horses never moved out of our houses and stables we would still die. What is wrong with the happiness and excitement produced by a wonderful well regulated sport??

and the reason they won't do that is because of the vast and ugly amounts of money involved.

That's the ONLY reason - oh and the thrill of the dangerous, terrifying and challenging jumps which you need to have enormous skill, and f*cking good luck not to die while attempting.

It's just so wrong

Have any of you ever actually met or rode a horse? Honestly, They are one of the most stubborn species on the planet!

There is only so much training a human can do with a horse, But if he or she are not happy they will let you know trust me. I also think that a lot of people mistake a horses excitement and impatience as distress when they see them rearing up or being huddled into the racing stalls on TV.

The horse breeds you see racing need to run and run with other horses, It's in their nature. The cruel people in this world are the people who keep horses cooped up and alone. They only running they get to do is round a muddy paddock every once in a while. That's cruelty to me and far more horses die that way than do racing. Alone and neglected.

I think people need to stop looking at these amazing creatures as "Horsies" and look at them as the powerful beasts they are.

That was in reply to Rhino's post.

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.

Horrid, can't watch it. Poor horses.

'What is wrong with the happiness and excitement produced by a wonderful well regulated sport??'

What is wrong with it? The fact that so many horses die brutally, that's what's wrong with it.

Flightty would you rather horses lazed around in large fields of lush grass not doing any work and died of laminitis as a result? Horses are working animals, all horse sport involves risk.

Flightty, accidents happen. A horse can be distracted by something when jumping, causing them to land badly; they can (just like people) have heart attacks out of the blue; another horse crossing their path can cause them to fall/stumble , etc.

Watch a jockey when he tends to a fallen horse. Many of them will sit on the horses neck to prevent it from trying to stand and causing further injury to itself. I also recommend that you read this award winning piece, written by young jockey Patrick Mullins. Read it and tell me that jockeys don't care.

Fifivisage how would you rather horses die...colic? laminitis? ringbone? Relatively few horses in any sphere reach old age. You are being sentimental. And I am happy to say that I have no problem with animals providing happiness for humans.

Pony I am sure there are many ways to exercise a horse. There are so many horses and the majority are not used in racing and they don't die of laminitis, what a poor argument. Its all excuses, excuses