AIBU to suggest The Grand National should be banned..it's abuse

[AnnieMaybe]

Watching the channel 4 programme 'how to get a Grand National Winner'

The whole thing is nothing but animal abuse for monetary gain

It should be stopped/banned

[XiCi]

I also wonder why its the National that only incurs the Mumsnet wrath. Horses die regularly at Cheltenham every year but we don't see this annual hysterics at the cheltenham festival

[Joysmum]

the Grand National, a popular steeplechase held annually in England, yielded 7 fatalities out of 439 horses taking part between 2000 and 2010.

1 in 62 in modern times is far too high a risk.

Melonade as a horse lover yourself, you'll know how ex race horses often have physiological issues and physical health issues far younger than leisure horses because they are started far too young and the stress on their immature bodies tells in later life

[Cat98]

Xici - because there's a big media fuss about the national. Sweepstakes at workplaces etc. Doesn't happen with other races (nowhere near as much, anyway).
So obviously it's the one that's going to get people talking.

[Latraviata]

[KittensoftPuppydog]

It's sick.

[Nokidsnoproblem]

It's not just the horses that I feel sorry for. I also feel sorry for the humans who think that watching a bunch of enslaved horses being forced to race each other is fun. There are plenty of things you can do on a Saturday which do not risk the lives of innocent animals. I do not see the GN as educational, informative, or intellectual. I feel sorry for anyone who does.

[NewLisaLife]

This debate is giving me de ja vu.

Like I said last year and I'll say it again.
No I don't think it should be banned I am one of millions if people who will place a bet today.

They're are caged animals in worse conditions than the horses on today's field.

[tobybox]

I understand your point, OP, but would say YABU as your concern would be much more effectively directed towards horses abroad...you only have to go to places such as Marrakech or Turkey to see how cruelly some of them are treated in the streets.

[Allergictoironing]

"Enslaved" - really? I do hope that you've never owned any pets, eaten any meat or eggs, drunk any milk, worn any leather or wool, used anything that contains lanolin. Because these are all produced from "enslaved" animals.

What did I say earlier about emotive language? (sigh)

[FrankelandFilly]

Joysmum Thoroughbreds are bred to mature faster than other breeds, hence why we face them at 2. There have been several veterinary research projects carried out over the years into the matter and two recent studies have shown that the younger a horse races the less likely he is to suffer injury in later life. The regularity of exercise encourages bone density to increase. It's one of the reasons why we now have flat races for 3yo national hunt horses (known as "Junior Bumpers") rather than many of them not racing till 4 or 5 as used to be the case.

I can't link directly to the research papers as they are subscription access only, but these links summarise two of the most recent projects:

New Zealand research published 2012

Australian study published in 2013

[Nokidsnoproblem]

@Allergictoironing

Yes, I have eaten meat and dairy in the past. I am a vegan now though. When I ate meat and dairy it was at a time when I didn't have the knowledge to know that animal abuse was wrong. I am different now though.

What is wrong with using the word 'enslaved'? The horses are slaves.

[FrankelandFilly]

Some insight into being a jockey

[ohmymimi]

Apparently I was inaccurate in my earlier post. I apologise. Apologists for the horse racing industry produce self-serving and patronising guff in it's support.

[nonmifairidere]

I don't give two hoots for the jockeys. Their choice, they know the risks.

[Allergictoironing]

Nokids all pets are therefore enslaved by your terms, I do hope you don't own any, or have ever owned any.

[JennyCalendar]

YABU

If animals didn't have a purpose for humans, then they wouldn't exist (or in small quantities in wildlife parks or nature reserves).

Horses in racing have excellent lives for a small risk, especially compared to their fellow equines abroad.

If you don't want to watch and/or have a flutter, fair enough, but consider giving your stake to The Brooke to help genuinely abused animals working until they drop dead in the street. If I win anything, I'll donate too.

[Nokidsnoproblem]

@Allergictoironing

No I don't have any pets. I did as a child, but that was my parent's choice, not mine.

[EnlightenedOwl]

Every year this pops up. Racing goes on all year you know. Its not just one day!
Anyway I may watch it. I loved the National. But its a shadow of itself now - the unique Aintree factor has gone. And a lot who do go have no interest in the racing or Aintree's history anyway. (See pics from Daily Mail yesterday). Very sad.

[SelectAUserName]

Early post-race reports are that all horses have finished the Grand National safe and sound.

[Fleta]

Reports that all horses back safely. Just waiting to hear about the jockeys.

[SelectAUserName]

Jockeys fine, just a few minor cuts and bruises.

It's still early days but it does look as though the changes to the course have had the desired effect. Two years running all horses and riders have come back fine. If they can keep the race being run on soft ground, which slows the pace and gives a softer landing, it's looking cautiously good for the future of the race as an exciting but safe spectacle.

[limitedperiodonly]

all pets are therefore enslaved by your terms

allergic There are people that believe all pets are enslaved. I wish some of them would be as upfront about their views on this issue when soliciting donations from animal lovers who are also pet owners.

I'm in no way accusing nokids of this, so please don't think I'm getting at you nokids, but when people do this, it is dishonest, isn't it?

I don't accept that point of view but it is helpful and it's taught me about animal welfare - basically I'm not equipped, but I have a cat, that I inherited or it was euthanasia-time for him.

He's confined to the secure back garden and he doesn't kill anything though I'm grateful to him for scaring off the pesky woodpigeons by his very presence.

Through experience there are some pets I wouldn't keep - rabbits, caged birds and obviously anything that needs attention or space that I can't give it. That could be a goldfish or a whale.

I used to ride. I did know someone who told me that I was enslaving the horses and ponies by sitting on them and making them do things with tack and kicks and whips. I was polite. We've lost touch.

[SelectAUserName]

Should add, there are three races run over the National fences at this meeting and all runners in all three races have come home safe and sound. Great stuff.

[FrankelandFilly]

A

[FrankelandFilly]

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