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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to beg you not to bet on the Grand National? It's animal abuse.

453 replies

hhorvath · 08/04/2017 16:25

Please think about what you're condoning.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=grand+national+deaths&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjhieOLlZXTAhUCOxoKHTDFDagQ_AUICSgC&biw=1366&bih=638

www.independent.co.uk/voices/grand-national-races-animal-cruelty-get-rid-of-dangerous-jump-a7672131.html

"It’s time for the Grand National again – that curious time of year when people who claim to like horses gather to exploit them, often hurting and killing them in the process.

Since 2000, 48 horses have died at the annual festival that the National is part of. Others have suffered horribly with broken backs, necks or legs, severed tendons, or heart attacks. This is the reality of British horse racing."

If you use this as entertainment, the blood of murdered horses is on your hands as well.

Would you bet on a race where human beings fell and broke their legs or necks and had to be shot? At least they would have consented. Horses cannot consent to this life.

Would you be "fine" with it as long as it hadn't happened since 2012, despite horses dying after the race from their injuries since then?

Please don't be dazzled by the so-called glamour of this bloodsport.

OP posts:
littlemissM92 · 09/04/2017 20:07

Where did I dispute that?! I said that does not mean that they enjoy it because that is utter bollocks

WellErrr · 09/04/2017 20:09

If i was doing something bad I would want to be told about it.

Many people on this thread have told you about your astounding ignorance surrounding a topic you're preaching to others about. That's not good.

But you don't seem to like being told about it......

Matilda1981 · 09/04/2017 20:22

Honestly, if a horse doesn't want to race they won't put their all into a race and therefore won't win races and therefore won't qualify for the national!

Nomoreworkathome · 09/04/2017 20:28

FACT all racehorses are bred to be the best

They're really not.

Persephone70 · 09/04/2017 20:29

Matilda1981
You prove my point, perfectly.

Nomoreworkathome · 09/04/2017 20:30

Honestly, if a horse doesn't want to race they won't put their all into a race and therefore won't win races and therefore won't qualify for the national!

Please please tell me this does not form part of your argument supporting this hideous spectacle.

CaveMum · 09/04/2017 20:37

There is an issue of overproduction within the racing industry, there are mediocre horses being bred from that need to be taken out of the breeding population. However the intention of every breeder is to breed a good racehorse, what's the point in doing it otherwise? It's a very difficult way to make a living.

Persephone70 · 09/04/2017 20:38

Actually, I was just going to leave it at my last comment; but after reading some of your other titbits Matilda198, I have to add more. What a ridiculous statement to say that not eating meat does not prevent animal cruelty! If there was no demand for meat, then there would be no reason for animal factories and slaughterhouses! You can stop 'hoping' as I am indeed vegan, I have seen how much flack vegans get on MN and try not to get wrapped up with people who think they have the right to tell me what I am doing is blah, blah, blah. As for your comment about 'if a horse doesn't want to race....' - absolute poppycock. Have somebody put a tight bit in your mouth, blinker you and then whip you if you won't do as you are told (whilst surrounded by the roar of thousands of people). You would move - you might not want to - you still would.

PollytheDolly · 09/04/2017 20:38

Honestly, if a horse doesn't want to race they won't put their all into a race and therefore won't win races and therefore won't qualify for the national!

Anthropomorphic. Again. Why do people insist horses think like humans?

The best and the most gutsy do get to top level. And the most lucky.

Mind you, Many Clouds ended up not being so lucky......

PigeonFingers · 09/04/2017 20:40

Frilly the alternative being them shot dead because no one is willing to pay their vet bills... how awful of me.

Nomoreworkathome · 09/04/2017 20:41

It always seems to be the case that someone rolls out the vegan/veggie question when discussing horse racing. Hmm
The industry is vile. I speak from experience.

MadameCholetsDirtySecret · 09/04/2017 20:50

There are some fucking horrible attitudes on this thread.

Gabilan · 09/04/2017 20:52

Honestly, if a horse doesn't want to race they won't put their all into a race and therefore won't win races and therefore won't qualify for the national!

Think about why horses run though. As the old joke goes "I don't have to outrun the lion, I just have to outrun you". They also seem to run for pleasure but that has a serious element to it - if they only ever ran from predators they wouldn't be that fit. So running for play and pleasure is part of getting fit to run in fear for their lives.

That's what's actually motivating a prey animal. Watch the loose horses. They follow along for a while but when they approach a fence they'll duck out more often than not. They're quite a hazard because they will gallop along with the herd, then often swerve right before a fence. It's a very rare horse (think Red Rum) that will complete a race without a jockey. If they love it that much, why is that?

Matilda1981 · 09/04/2017 20:54

Persephone - I'm glad you're vegan, as I said veggies do not stop animal cruelty, as I said the dairy industry is cruel as calves are taken from their mothers (and shipped off to France for veal) so that farmers can milk the cows. Just being veggie wouldn't stop this!! You're argument about no demand for meat equally no animal cruelty doesn't stand if people still want dairy products - cows are like humans, they have to have a baby to make milk.....if no one ate those babies there would be millions of cows running around which wouldn't happen!!!

PollytheDolly · 09/04/2017 21:20

I hope this thread isn't going to turn into veggie v vegan v meat eater.

I'm the latter and I have lots of veggie/ vegan friends. I do actually learn a lot from my vegan mates, and am considering and have changed aspects of my diet. Anyways that's all I'll say on that.

Nomoreworkathome · 09/04/2017 21:30

I hope this thread isn't going to turn into veggie v vegan v meat eater.
They usually do when supporters of the GN run out of ideas.

WellErrr · 09/04/2017 21:39

Well I bet you drink water OP.

That's a fish's HOME, you hypocrite.

Cocklodger · 09/04/2017 21:41

WellErrr
The human race would die out if not for water. The same couldn't be said for meat, considering the knowledge and products we have now. I'm not a vegan, but that's a fucking stupid argument. Hmm

WellErrr · 09/04/2017 21:49
Guavaf1sh · 09/04/2017 23:06

Well I thought it was funny WellErrr anyway

blackteasplease · 09/04/2017 23:12

I agrer with you OP.

BigGrannyPants · 09/04/2017 23:31

@WellErrr Grin I smile because that can only be a joke, it was funny!

OldandJaded · 10/04/2017 00:24

I'm totally baffled how a thread about a horse race has become a slanging match about meat eating/vegetarianism/veganism.......
I thought it was about the welfare of the horses involved in a horse race and possibly racing in general? And people's views for and against?
I don't understand how one must be veggie/vegan or indeed 100% ethical to have the opinion that the GN is animal cruelty?
I also think that having an opinion is one thing, preaching about it and calling ppl cruel because they either support or at least don't object to it are different.
From reading this thread it has rather predictably fallen into 2 categories, for and against.
Overall the against are being portrayed by the for as a bunch of hippy vegans that preach to everyone and insist they are right no matter what. And the for are being portrayed by the against as a bunch of meat eating savages that are cruel to animals, and use ridiculous arguments to back themselves up.
It's become ridiculous if I'm honest - but that's just my opinion.
And fwiw I'm a horse person, I don't object to racing, but I think there are horses out there in much greater need and danger (which I agree may include ex racehorses) my reasons are that racing has industry standards to meet, that are there so the horses get the correct level of care while in races - other horses are not so lucky.
As you were!

littlemissM92 · 10/04/2017 06:41

Matilda your response just made me laugh out loud ! Jesus in what world can that possibly be your thought process on this topic. Im sorry but I. Can't continue arguing with someone who doesn't appear to have much idea about horse phycology and so on

Gabilan · 10/04/2017 18:36

And the for are being portrayed by the against as a bunch of meat eating savages that are cruel to animals, and use ridiculous arguments to back themselves up

As a teenager I used to follow horse racing. I got quite good at studying form and predicting winners. The last time I placed a bet was 20 years ago though, when I had money on Smith's Band in the National. He broke his neck. Of course I was aware up until that point that they did die but somehow thought the risk might be worth it for what they got out of it.

His death did put me off though and I lost interest. Over the last 10 years I have had more involvement with racehorses coming off the track. I've been offered ex racers for a few hundred pounds- these are extremely well bred 4 and 5 year old horses. So then I started to do a bit more research.

I've gradually changed my mind about racing. So no, I'm not going to call people ogres for supporting it. But if and when the question arises, yes, I'll put my point of view.

I can't see racing being banned any time soon - there are far too many very rich and powerful supporters of it. But I would hope that gradually over time it becomes less and less popular and that fewer thoroughbreds are bred.