To wonder how many more horses will die?

[PinataHeeHaw]

There's already been one horse died at the Grand National. Sentient animals dying in the name of entertaining humans. It's sick.

What does that matter? So those who do not own dogs cannot not have an opinion on animal cruelty? Ridiculous statement. The jumps are too high and dangerous. You don’t need to own a horse to reconsider that and feel for the horses that die jumping to their deaths for other people’s entertainment is disgusting.

I have had horses all my life. Still hate racing

I note that one of the jockeys did not pull up his horse, which was 13 years old and clearly struggling, poor thing collapsed. He has only got a 10 day suspension.

Race horses are well red etc when winning and paying their way, then it's off to the abattoir. So He are removed but ex racehorses are expensive to keep.

This and also agree with everything @powershowerforanhour. It’s one thing to disagree with horse racing but the amount of ignorant bullshit spouted is ridiculous. None of the actually horsey people I know are against horse racing.

One jockey has already been given a ban yesterday for not pulling up his horse when it was too tired. The winning jockey dismounted and gave up the opportunity to ride the winning horse into the winners enclosure (which must be an incredible moment jockeys dream of) to prioritise the welfare of the animal and ensure the horse could go for a proper cool down. The racing industry takes these things seriously.

YANBU but then I think it’s wrong to ride horses full stop. Sitting on an animal’s back and putting a metal bar in its mouth purely for human entertainment and/or service would be deemed cruel and unreasonable if we did it to any other animal. I don’t understand why it’s socially acceptable to do it to horses.

Since 2022 British horses entered into a race must have a stamp in their passport that stops them entering the human food chain or being used in animal feed. The vast majority are retrained into riding horses, there’s a dedicated program called racehorse to riding horse.

Well yes. What do you suppose is done with horses that can't be kept for various reasons.
Whose owners can't afford the vet bills, farrier, stabling, feed, worming, and no one else is willing to take them on?
Leave them in a field to slowly die, painfully and miserably? Wait for them to get colic or eat a plastic bag?

@istabraq your username brings back wonderful memories of a great horse

I think focusing on one aspect of horse ownership in which the horses are on the whole treated very well is a bit backwards considering the whole horse world isn’t always based on what’s best for the animal.

The majority of failed racehorses are rehomed. They go on to many other jobs. My experience of them generally is that they love to work and also love to run.

But then we still get this: https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/world-horse-welfare-20-horses-dover-883876

They might not enter the food chain or go into animal feed in this country but they're being transported overseas into food chains there.

If there wasn't over breeding of horses, including the "wastage" from the racing industry, there would be far fewer horses. Even fewer if racing was stopped altogether.

Typical quote of those involved in abuse of others including animals. You just don’t understand. They love racing to their death. Honestly we don’t even have to whip them to do it! The absurdity!

Love to run, yes. Love to run and jump over dangerous heights while fearful and in fight or flight, no.

No, the Grand National is one race. The race meet it’s part of takes place over 3 days. Maybe stop attacking people as ‘simpletons’ (especially when you are wrong and they are right).

I’m horsey, have my own and I can’t stand racing.

I think the one thing I woukd still change from a horse welfare perspective is the handicapping system, which penalises the horses with the best track record in order to even the playing field. On a long gruelling race like the GN, a top horse can struggle under top weight, and I don't enjoy watching that happen. For this reason I prefer Open races like the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which is much more likely to be won by the objectively best horse. But the public loves the uncertainty of the GN, much of which is created by handicapping, and it's usually better for bookmakers too because it's harder to predict the winner.

not sure what the laugh reaction was for @Lesina
It’s a race. The meet is 3 days. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_National

Because I think you are hilarious :)