2022 Grand National

[QUOTE="Thundering,]I really hope no horses hurt or killed too. I am often conflicted about using horses in sport. Do we have the right to use horses in this way for our own entertainment? Its a big question.

I too hope no horses are injured or killed, having recently been at Wincanton where 2 died, it is horrific. However I horse ride so that is for my entertainment and what about dressage, SJ, etc would you want to ban those as it's sport... difficult question, I can't answer.
 
nagblagger said:
[QUOTE="Thundering,]I really hope no horses hurt or killed too. I am often conflicted about using horses in sport. Do we have the right to use horses in this way for our own entertainment? Its a big question.

I too hope no horses are injured or killed, having recently been at Wincanton where 2 died, it is horrific. However I horse ride so that is for my entertainment and what about dressage, SJ, etc would you want to ban those as it's sport... difficult question, I can't answer.
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It is difficult and its a question I think about more and more.
 
It is a difficult question indeed, and is quite the rabbit hole when you think about it. It's a question that applies not just to racing but every other equestrian sport. Indeed even riding horses in general.

I hope all the horses and jockeys return home safe today.
 
nagblagger said:
[QUOTE="Thundering,]I really hope no horses hurt or killed too. I am often conflicted about using horses in sport. Do we have the right to use horses in this way for our own entertainment? Its a big question.

I too hope no horses are injured or killed, having recently been at Wincanton where 2 died, it is horrific. However I horse ride so that is for my entertainment and what about dressage, SJ, etc would you want to ban those as it's sport... difficult question, I can't answer.
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Its a really difficult one, but I think horse sport should always be about the trainer/rider skill. By that I mean there should be a lot less emphasis on the stamina and fitness of horses...of course fitness is always a factor in horse sports, and of course, a fit horse will be healthy and hopefully, happy and fit for purpose, but there should be a balance. It troubles me greatly too see horses pushed to their absolute limits, resulting sometimes in the death of the horse. To see horses pushed over a course of miles, including multiple massive jumps - most will live, but some will die, and then to finish the race an absolutely spent force is not really my idea of entertainment.

I know humans like to push themselves to their absolute limits - higher, faster, further, but I'm not sure if its a good thing or entirely fair to inflict this philosophy on animals who are, as we know, the most generous of creatures and will give you their 'all' to the point of their own demise.
 
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littleshetland said:
Its a really difficult one, but I think horse sport should always be about the trainer/rider skill. By that I mean there should be a lot less emphasis on the stamina and fitness of horses...of course fitness is always a factor in horse sports, and of course, a fit horse will be healthy and hopefully, happy and fit for purpose, but there should be a balance. It troubles me greatly too see horses pushed to their absolute limits, resulting sometimes in the death of the horse. To see horses pushed over a course of miles, including multiple massive jumps - most will live, but some will die, and then to finish the race an absolutely spent force is not really my idea of entertainment.

I know humans like to push themselves to their absolute limits - higher, faster, further, but I'm not sure if its a good thing or entirely fair to inflict this philosophy on animals who are, as we know, the most generous of creatures and will give you their 'all' to the point of their own demise.
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The same could be said of eventing though. And you don't need a licence to train or ride eventers.
 
I just watched slightly against my better judgement (I used to enjoy most horse sports but tbh I can't think of any that hasn't had the shine taken off it for me in recent years) and as expected I was left feeling pretty conflicted. It has a feel of what I imagine the Colosseum might have been like. All those humans screaming at the horses/their horse to bust a gut on their behalf, so they can win a tenner, a hundred, whatever, or just be proved right in their choice. And at the elbow after 10 minutes of galloping and jumping efforts they are asked for yet more to make some humans happy. It's just vaguely distasteful. And of course some don't come home, but that continues to be a sacrifice humans are willing to make.
 
People on Twitter saying Discorama could be in trouble too...

There definitely looked to be one in trouble after the open ditch on the first circuit and they bypassed it, and you could see one stood behind the screens.
 
Discorama's back end looked completely wrong in the replay, racing post saying all horses back in their stables but ITV just said Éclair Surf is being assessed, same for Discorama

Anibale Fly who should never have been running in it and should be retired, looked to get brought down by ES but think I saw him running loose
 
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Gingerwitch said:
Brutal and barbaric and the sport "loves it horses" the hypocritical industry should be truly ashamed of its self. When will this carnage stop ?
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I have a most beloved pet standing in my field eating all my money because of this sport. How many thousands of others do too? Yes there’s tragedies and it’s heartbreaking but these horses are loved and looked after. The amount of horses and ponies that suffer because of neglect and disdain is the true show of brutal and barbaric behaviour… IMO
 
Currently waiting for any updates on Discorama and Eclair Surf, but I’m hoping the fact they’re all back to the stables is a good sign. Fingers crossed for them all.

No update on Rachel Blackmore as of yet, other than she’s also being assessed and didn’t make it back to the jockeys room. She looked very sore after her fall in the replay, so hope she’s also okay.
 
Just checked on Google. Says two horses died during Grand National. Google not always failure proof, though.
Personally, I think the Grand National should be banned. Not in any horse's best interests.
However, I doubt it will be. Like greyhound racing, humans' desire for money and "excitement" will almost always trump animal welfare.
 
Ratface said:
Just checked on Google. Says two horses died during Grand National. Google not always failure proof, though.
Personally, I think the Grand National should be banned. Not in any horse's best interests.
However, I doubt it will be. Like greyhound racing, humans' desire for money and "excitement" will almost always trump animal welfare.
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I think that is during the GN Festival - very sadly. So far no horses reported PTS in the main race.
 
Ratface said:
Just checked on Google. Says two horses died during Grand National. Google not always failure proof, though.
Personally, I think the Grand National should be banned. Not in any horse's best interests.
However, I doubt it will be. Like greyhound racing, humans' desire for money and "excitement" will almost always trump animal welfare.
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No deaths would be best, but neither of these two were in the Grand National itself. One was injured earlier in the week and pts, the other had a suspected heart attack on the run in earlier this afternoon.

I'm not arguing with your view that you think the GN should be banned, but asking that you don't mistakenly use incorrect statements to back it up.
 
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