to have had a bet on the Grand National when I'm not sure I approve of the risk to the horses?

[grovel]

The Druid's Nephew at 14 to 1. The race will be on the TV here whether I like it or not.

cant you obviously know best, therefore, I'll leave you to your views.

Cant how many ex racers have you rehabilitated?

Er..... my last post did not consist of 'views'... I was simply responding to a few inaccuracies in your post about racehorses. Is that a problem?
You are making rather sweeping generalisations about racehorses based on your own limited experience with them some of which are just not true.

I hate it, if it was cute little kittens falling and breaking legs people would go nuts.

If we didn't ride horses most breeds, TB 's especially, would die out. All the land used fo rhorses would be sold for building, mine certainly would.

Life without horses, for thousands of us, would be unthinkable. My mare enjoys her ridden work, we do dressage and she love sit, as do I.

Must dash - dressage comp looming!

If we didn't ride horses most breeds, TB 's especially, would die out.

That doesn't bother me at all. Given that thousands of other species are dying out all the time, a specially modified, vulnerable and delicate sort of horse isn't a particular concern of mine.

Good job it's never going to happen, the Psipina .

The day the lunatics take over and stop us ridng is the day the earth implodes, anyway!

@councilladies, I think pious is incorrect, highly conscienced is more like it but if that is ur idea of a put down towards those of us who actually care about animals then, u know what, I'll take it all day long. Rather b pious about something as important as innocent animals than not to care so thank you!

Horses are actually very delicate animals with spindly legs. They can and do, die in the field by breaking legs/tendons etc.

Wow. That's really sad. Sounds to me like horses have been over bred to enhance characteristics that humans want which are detrimental to the horses health. I'm fairly sure that "original" horses didn't go around randomly breaking their legs or they would have died out.

Sounds like horse breeding needs looked at in the same way dog breeding does for eg producing pugs that can't breathe properly.

Oh I was about to say something about pugs

No loss to the world if a man made line dies out. It may be a thing of utter beauty but it is very flawed. Pugs are not beautiful either but I quite like them. And I can see why folk like horses too but it is still so cruel what is done to them.

No hard feelings Ponio! Dressage is not something I struggle with morally.

"Dressage is not something I struggle with morally"

It bloody well should be. There's appalling cruelty in top level dressage. Take a look at this, for instance.
www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/jan/03/olympics-row-over-horse-cruelty

You can love equestrian sports and still be totally opposed to any cruelty and campaign to have it stamped out where ever it exists.

I love racing, eventing, cross country, dressage, show jumping etc but I care deeply about animal welfare. The two are not mutually exclusive.

Itsallgoingtobefine Wow. That's really sad. Sounds to me like horses have been over bred to enhance characteristics that humans want which are detrimental to the horses health. I'm fairly sure that "original" horses didn't go around randomly breaking their legs or they would have died out.*

Oh dear. "Original" horses, living in wild herds, had exactly the same anatomy as modern day horses and would have lived short lives, often dying from horrific injuries or starvation. Horses are anatomically designed to have thin legs compared to their bulk, for speed and because they end in one digit (a hoof) not several toes. Horses' tendons are lean but incredibly strong, but despite all of that, yes, horses do break legs when just living in fields. It might be due to stress fractures building up over time, it might be from a kick from another horse, often no-one knows.

Most veterinary evidence actually indicates that careful work from a young age enhances the laying down of healthy bone, as long as its not overdone.

Is it too much to expect people who obviously have internet access to educate themselves just a little before spouting off opinions? I read an article by the PETA idiots about the GN and early on they referred to all horses as "skittish horses" - its like a signpost saying "totally ignorant of all knowledge of horses spewing off emotive claptrap ahead".

Original" horses, living in wild herds, had exactly the same anatomy as modern day horses

You are seriously telling me that a thoroughbred and a Przewalski's horse are identical?

You know, I don't believe a word of that. I would lay a bet on you being someone whose equine experience consists of no more than pony trekking on a ageing, very safe Highland at a trekking centre

I will happily take that bet.

Aside from the fact that you sound highly erratic, excitable and obsessive, and I wouldn't let near one of my horses

Why thank you very much

This thread has made me want Findus crispy pancakes...

Itsallgoingtobefine Original" horses, living in wild herds, had exactly the same anatomy as modern day horses

You are seriously telling me that a thoroughbred and a Przewalski's horse are identical?

Anatomically, yes, of course they are. That's why Przewalski's horse was able to be back bred in order to resurrect the breed, after it became extinct.

As identical a species as a supermodel and a short arse. Theres far more ways in which a horse can break a leg than falling or running. Conformational faults, such as being over at the knee, which Przewalski's horse is not unknown for, certainly predispose. TBs actually have fairly good conformation, particularly NH and sprint types, and are often used still as foundation stock for sports horses in other spheres. e.g. nice short cannon bones, strong tendons, well sprung rib cages providing plenty of heart room, strong hindquarters, sloping shoulders, etc.. Modern warmbloods still bring in good quality TBs to improve the quality from time to time.

I see that another poster also suggested that you educate yourself as to how horses run and jump in the wild or at play. You answered: That's really interesting! Can you link me to the footage of horses running the Grand National course (or any course) when left to their own devices?

Aside from the fact that anyone who by very strange chance has missed the multiple examples of footage showing this, could you please just learn how to use some internet search engines? Or maybe even take up riding, if you want to criticise those who do? Better still, do something that is actually useful (such as contributing to a rehoming of racehorses charity or driving less - one of the biggest dangers to my horses' welfare I face even on the very quiet rural roads around me is speeding drivers), but do something more useful that posting utter drivel on an internet site!

Its a beautiful sunny afternoon. I've been up since 6.30am, feeding and mucking out then riding, and I'm just about to check my horses and poo pick their field. Later, I'll be helping spread lime then I'll be worming them and bedding them down for the night after doing evening feeds. You'll excuse me if I don't spend my afternoon producing footage for you from the internet.

Aside from the fact that anyone who by very strange chance has missed the multiple examples of footage showing this, could you please just learn how to use some internet search engines

And I thought I was a good Googler Plenty of footage if riderless horses jumping a fence, or following other horses around a course when rider has fallen off, or having a wee gallop.

I have sadly been able to find any footage of a horse choosing to run flat out around a course, jumping all the jumps, with no rider/other horses with riders.

As identical a species as a supermodel and a short arse

And that is the point. Left to their own devices horses would evolve the characteristics that best suit them, and the continuation of the species.

Human interference has created the thoroughbred, a horse that has characteristics desirable to humans, but not necessarily horses. This is why most wild horses will be shorter and stockier than a thoroughbred.

Human interference has created the thoroughbred, a horse that has characteristics desirable to humans, but not necessarily horses. This is why most wild horses will be shorter and stockier than a thoroughbred.

Aye. Like the Arabian horse, even finer than the TB, from which the latter was developed via cross breeding with English hunter mares.

Yep, Arabian horses are really stocky. Especially Shagya.

And racing TBs don't tend to be that big. Northern Dancer was 15.3.

Give me strength.

Can you please stop with the ignorance, and go outside maybe and do something productive? Or even just read a kid's pony book on horse breeds or something? Its a beautiful day!

ItsAll
Save your efforts.....
Not knowing about the racing industry and you are an idiot posting drivel and should be directing your efforts towards the meat industry

Know all about the racing industry and you are accused of being an obsessive, erratic liar who may well have gone trekking once upon a time

Oh well..... you win some, you lose some

Thanks for the link. Dressage is now something I struggle with morally.

Good for you, Psipina. I'll be sure Carl and Charlotte will be having sleepless nights. Why don't you let him know you struggle with how he treats hi shorses?

We don't compete at those levels but have a great time together, all in a snaffle and no spurs !