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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How are people still watch horse racing/going to the races?

160 replies

savedbyanalien · 08/04/2022 08:55

Utterly barbaric 🤮

All this talk about the Grand National this morning.

Watching people ride these beautiful animals for sport, and if the poor beast were to fall, that's it... straight to the vets to be euthanised.

Dressing up and going to the races is gross. And I say this as someone who enjoyed doing this in my early 20s. I'm embarrassed.

Anyone else agree with me or AIBU?

OP posts:
TurningUpMyStereotype · 08/04/2022 08:59

I agree. I think lots of people don’t know how cruel it is or they just don’t care.

Ghostsofhumor · 08/04/2022 09:05

Lots of people still go to seaworld, I still have pictures pop up of people swimming with dolphins, riding elephants in Thai land hunting abroad etc

All things that are commonly raised as being unethical.

I think ultimately some people just don't care. If you do care its hard to picture how that can be but people don't.

A big example for me is balloon releases, I've personally seen wildlife die caught up in balloons, and to me it's common knowledge that it's likely to harm animals. However on mumsnet, facebook, the news etc discussions around big balloon releases eg schools, charity ones, the caine baby, the recent "King of Sheffield" death still happen and encouraged. When people have raised concerns the organisers and their supporters widely say they know but they simply don't care, think it matters and think that balloon releases are justified because of the symbolism. My work this week suggested a charity balloon release.

veronicagoldberg · 08/04/2022 09:06

You misjudge humanity's empathy. Most people just don't give a fuck about others, animal or human.

ForeverLooking · 08/04/2022 09:09

I've had horses since I was a child (birth really as my family are horsey) and we don't support horse racing. In my opinion (and I'm sure someone will be along to disagree shortly) they are started far too young (I don't even begin with ours until they are four years old and then that's slowly). That's without starting on the actual racing.

MiniTheMinx · 08/04/2022 09:11

Unless you are vegan, use only products not tested on animals, and happy not to take medication when ill then I find this over sentimental vomiting a bit hysterical.

Agrudge · 08/04/2022 09:13

As a matched better I'm very excited for the grand national

AllOfUsAreDead · 08/04/2022 09:14

@MiniTheMinx

Unless you are vegan, use only products not tested on animals, and happy not to take medication when ill then I find this over sentimental vomiting a bit hysterical.
This. So many aspects of your life only occur because of cruelty to animals. Not saying its fine, it's really not, but you're getting hysterical over one thing and it's not even the biggest offender in animal cruelty, by a long shot.
MoiraNotRuby · 08/04/2022 09:14

I know what you mean. There's loads of things where people seem to have a very forgettable conscience.

Let's save the planet, its so important... then off on a plane for a holiday.

I support gay rights... can't wait to watch the World Cup in Qatar.
Etc etc. It makes me feel quite adrift really. Like being gaslit by society.

TurningUpMyStereotype · 08/04/2022 09:15

Unless you are vegan, use only products not tested on animals, and happy not to take medication when ill then I find this over sentimental vomiting a bit hysterical.

I am vegan and obviously don’t use products tested on animals. As for medication, I’m fortunate enough not to have needed any since I became vegan many years ago. I campaign to stop animal testing though, at the moment people have no alternative which isn’t their fault.

Likeli · 08/04/2022 09:16

I completely agree with you.
I really don’t like zoos either.
Or balloon releases as PP said.
I think way too many people are completely selfish and only care about their day of fun and don’t even bother to think about the ethics of it, same reason why so many people do drugs too.

Likeli · 08/04/2022 09:22

@MiniTheMinx
You can’t really compare careful uses of animals which are ultimately for the greater good, such as medical research, to some frivolous excursion or getting to watch a balloon fly away.

Original poster
savedbyanalien · 08/04/2022 09:23

@MiniTheMinx

Unless you are vegan, use only products not tested on animals, and happy not to take medication when ill then I find this over sentimental vomiting a bit hysterical.

I mean, not really. It's not black and white, one extreme or the other is it?

So just because you support horse racing do you also support fox hunts, greyhound racing, swimming with dolphins at sea world, not recycling, littering in the street, total disregard for the environment, total disregard for animals?

I didn't think so.

OP posts:
Original poster
savedbyanalien · 08/04/2022 09:26

@AllOfUsAreDead This. So many aspects of your life only occur because of cruelty to animals. Not saying its fine, it's really not, but you're getting hysterical over one thing and it's not even the biggest offender in animal cruelty, by a long shot.

Where have I said this is the only act against animals I'm against?

I'm only talking about it now because the grand National is on this weekend and it's in the news.

OP posts:
Crimesean · 08/04/2022 09:27

@MiniTheMinx

Unless you are vegan, use only products not tested on animals, and happy not to take medication when ill then I find this over sentimental vomiting a bit hysterical.
You do realise it's not 'all or nothing', right?

Absolutely perfect people do not exist!

It's like me saying to you - well, if you feel you're able to criticise a PP, then you must be perfect yourself and never do anything wrong. i.e. nonsense.

BeeDavis · 08/04/2022 09:28

This argument only pops up once a year when it’s the Grand National for some reason. You do realise horse racing events happen literally every day! Not just once a year.

toastfiend · 08/04/2022 09:29

Most fallers aren't "sent straight to the vet to be euthanised" - most are a bit stiff for a few days and then are fine. 6 horses have died in the Grand National since 2011, of course that's very sad, but it's not the massacre you're portraying it to be.

I support the racing industry. It's a big source of employment in lots of areas, it does a lot for the equestrian world as a whole (the veterinary facilities in Newmarket are breathtaking in what they can do, developed specifically for the racing industry but available to regular horse owners as well, and I'm so grateful for that after having a horse with a complex neurological issue referred to them) and the horses are treated like kings whilst in training. Having had multiple ex-racers, I am saddened that some ex-racehorses aren't offered any guarantees of responsible rehoming after their careers by more unscrupulous trainers and owners, but more and more is being done to combat this and they are finally being recognised as extremely useful and able horses outside of racing, achieving sensible prices on the market so they can't just be bought by people who wanted a cheap horse but don't have the money, or knowledge, to keep them.

I have far, far more of a problem with aspects of the leisure riding and private horse ownership industry, where people who know nothing about horse ownership and appropriate care buy ponies they don't know how to look after and keep them in miserable conditions, enormously overweight people ride horses they're too heavy for and then wonder why they've got back problems, idiots who over rug and over feed in the name of "love" and riding school horses who plod around the same arena for 4 hours a day having their mouths pulled, backs bounced on and ribs booted by people who don't know any better. Of course everyone has to learn, but life in a riding school is hard and boring for horses and ponies and it can go on for decades, at least racing is a relatively short career. Those things are far more prevalent and far more damaging overall, but no one ever says anything about them.

RedRoseRay · 08/04/2022 09:30

Yanbu - it’s animal cruelty and those claiming you’re ‘hysterical’ are the same people who want to keep participating in animal cruelty without being criticised for it. I used to really enjoy betting on the horses with my family on grand National day when I was a child. As an adult I can read about the horrors involved with gambling on animals (horse racing, greyhound racing etc) and made the decision years ago not to take part in the suffering of another creature for profit.

I agree with the poster who mentioned releasing balloon/lantern releasing. Littering without thought to the wildlife it may likely harm is not an appropriate way to honour the memory of someone you loved.

TurningUpMyStereotype · 08/04/2022 09:34

I agree with the poster who mentioned releasing balloon/lantern releasing. Littering without thought to the wildlife it may likely harm is not an appropriate way to honour the memory of someone you loved.

They think it looks good on Instagram and get lots of attention for it, that’s what matters to them.

Mamamia7962 · 08/04/2022 09:34

BeeDavis -

Exactly!

TurningUpMyStereotype · 08/04/2022 09:36

You do realise it's not 'all or nothing', right?

This.

headspin10 · 08/04/2022 09:38

I agree with you. Unfortunately eating animal products is more cruel -they never live a long life whether or not they win. What goes on routinely is hideous. ('Red Tractor' 'Free Range' 'Organic' irrelevant. )😕

I ate meat etc all my life, but without doubt feel so much better since I cut animal products out a few years ago. My massively meat eating partner went vegan as he said he couldn't deny he felt better when eating plant based. (Much to my shock!)

TurningUpMyStereotype · 08/04/2022 09:38

This argument only pops up once a year when it’s the Grand National for some reason. You do realise horse racing events happen literally every day! Not just once a year.

Maybe on here. Personally I’m involved in campaigning for animals all year round.

Libre2 · 08/04/2022 09:39

@toastfiend - thank you for a well reasoned alternative viewpoint.

Featuredcreature · 08/04/2022 09:46

Whats the next thread to tick off on the everything possible has already been said and nothing will ever change list? I suppose we are due the 18th annual Europe hates us wah wah wah why can't the utterly shite no effort cheesy slurry song we sent to euro vision get any points. Any takers to start it, any early bids?

It makes a lot of money, it won't stop being a thing.

BoodleBug51 · 08/04/2022 09:47

I grew up on a stud farm, and was horribly distressed by going to a meeting where 3 horses were destroyed after nasty falls. I've never been to another and won't watch it on TV.

On the other hand, we live in an area with lots of training yards and I will say that the horses in them have extremely good lives. They have the best of food, medical care, stabling and training.... so that aspect of racing certainly isn't cruel. And copious stable hands to look after their every need.

I think I get more pissed off with the people watching and betting tbh. Same with the local hunts..... I have no issue with the horses and riders, it's the twats that follow in cars and happily block roads/cause mayhem.