Can anyone remember the horse who refused to start the Grand National?

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Racing_Gal

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I'm writing a blog about comments I have heard regarding racing since the deaths at Aintree this year.

A few years ago there was one horse who refused to start, I thought it was 2009 but it doesnt show it on the videos Ive found on youtube, it may have been 2008 or 2007? There was a video on youtube of the start of the race but I cant find it now :/ I want to get the point across that you cant make a horse do something that he doesnt want to do, and I think that that video is a good way of show it.

Anyone remember it or have the link to the video?
 
Do you remember Vodkatini? Great 2 mile chaser, either refused to start or was brilliant, you never knew which you were going to get on the day...
 
Brill thanks for the link Kokopelli.

Not here to kick up a fuss over rights or wrongs of racing, just couldnt for the life of me remember which year it was, and as per usual, HHO has all the answers!

thanks guy :)
 
A few years ago there was a chestnut called Tikram, he refused the first fence. Knew the horse when it trained down at Brighton, wouldnt race if it didnt want to... and it didnt!
 
I remember Vodkatini, obstinate bugger!!

There was a horse at Aintree this year named Chaninbar who refused to start in the Melling Chase on Friday, so they entered him in one of the chases on Saturday and he refused to start again!! It was funny to watch, then think about how people say that horses are forced to run in races:D
 
I hate the way this handful of horses are used is if to prove the point that if all the other horses weren't thrilled about racing they would all just do the same thing and refuse to start with the rest. When most horses are unhappy, anxious, unsure, wound up, what is their natural response? Run - especially if everyone else is running. These horses which refuse to run don't prove anything other than horses are individuals, and some react unusually when under stress.
 
Wasn't Earthmover (PN trained) a similarly obstinate s*d.

Also what about Deano's Beano who AP used to ride - one hell of a monkey. Saw him when retired to Greatwood - butter wouldn't melt!

Not that these were GN horses - but same principle applies.
 
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Think I'd forgive Earthmover, he did win 3 nationals including the GN. Never seemed to get the credit he deserved.
 
Double_choc_lab said:
Wasn't Earthmover (PN trained) a similarly obstinate s*d.

Also what about Deano's Beano who AP used to ride - one hell of a monkey. Saw him when retired to Greatwood - butter wouldn't melt!

Not that these were GN horses - but same principle applies.
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Deano's Beano was hilararious - would slow almost to trot when he went past the racecourse stables in the middle of a race!
 
I rather admire horses with enough attitude to refuse to race!
I know I probably shouldn't, but I do!

Can't help thinking that if Twist Magic had been mulish enough at the start of his last race, he'd be with us now.

I had the honour of being bitten by Deano's at one of Greatwood's Open Days :D Standing there admiring him, when wham.... he tried to take my arm off!!
 
And don't forget Moonax!

As for people that say that horses are not competitive - remember Luchiroverte biting Frankie on Machievellian as he tried to go past him?!

Horses are not running through fear.
 
Caledonia said:
And don't forget Moonax!

As for people that say that horses are not competitive - remember Luchiroverte biting Frankie on Machievellian as he tried to go past him?!

Horses are not running through fear.
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Horses enjoy a good gallop, but when they are over tired they run to stay with the herd. It is instinct. Stay with the herd or die. I expect when a horse tires so much that itstruggles to keep up, then the stress levels in that horse will be very high indeed.

I am not against racing but I am against making races too long and too tough.
 
Saying that a horse is competitive is anthropomorphising. They have no conception of winning or losing. Some horses like to lead, othes like to follow. It's as simple as that.
 
Wagtail said:
Horses enjoy a good gallop, but when they are over tired they run to stay with the herd. It is instinct. Stay with the herd or die. I expect when a horse tires so much that itstruggles to keep up, then the stress levels in that horse will be very high indeed.
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Rubbish. They pull up, happily. I've ridden work on my eventers with PTP horses, and when they can't keep up they fall back. If horses can't keep up out hunting they don't stress about it?
 
Wagtail said:
Saying that a horse is competitive is anthropomorphising. They have no conception of winning or losing. Some horses like to lead, othes like to follow. It's as simple as that.
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So........ wanting to lead is what? Courtesy? :rolleyes:

It is actually competition. They strive to be in front.

Liking how you totally contradict yourself and prove my point in your post. Nice one!
:D
 
Caledonia said:
Rubbish. They pull up, happily. I've ridden work on my eventers with PTP horses, and when they can't keep up they fall back. If horses can't keep up out hunting they don't stress about it?
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Of course they pull up! They are trained to be ridden are they not? You cannot possibly know what stress a horse feels when left behind. Obedience to the rider is a different thing entirely. :)
 
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Caledonia said:
So........ wanting to lead is what? Courtesy? :rolleyes:

It is actually competition. They strive to be in front.

Liking how you totally contradict yourself and prove my point in your post. Nice one!
:D
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No, silly. It's purely instinct. Some horses have an instinct to be in front. Others are followers. It often (but not always) depends on the dominance of the horse. But to be competitive is a human trait. To be competitive you must understand what the game or competition is. All horses know is that they get whipped if they don't end up in front, and get praised (patted) if they finish in front. It's all stimulus response. They strive fr reward not because they are competitive. :D
 
Wagtail said:
Of course they pull up! They are trained to be ridden are they not? You cannot possibly know what stress a horse feels when left behind. Obedience to the rider is a different thing entirely. :)
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You really have no idea ........ they happily slow themselves down, same as they do in the field.
 
Caledonia said:
You really have no idea ........ they happily slow themselves down, same as they do in the field.
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There you go again putting your own human interpretation on how they feel. How do you know they are happy as opposed to exhausted? Of course they pull up either when told to by their rider or when they are too tired to go on. Those that don't can end up like Hear the Echo.
 
Wagtail said:
No, silly. It's purely instinct. Some horses have an instinct to be in front. Others are followers. It often (but not always) depends on the dominance of the horse. But to be competitive is a human trait. To be competitive you must understand what the game or competition is. All horses know is that they get whipped if they don't end up in front, and get praised (patted) if they finish in front. It's all stimulus response. They strive fr reward not because they are competitive. :D
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You are a clown aren't you? What is an instinct to be in front if not competitive?

You don't seem to have any idea about how a horse's mind works. :confused::(
 
Wagtail - genuinely interested questions here. Apologies if you've answered them before, I've read so many racing replies I just can't remember!

You say you are for racing as long as races are not too long or too tough. If you could reform racing tomorrow, how would you do it? What is the maximum length you'd impose and how would you not make them 'too tough'?
 
Wagtail said:
There you go again putting your own human interpretation on how they feel. How do you know they are happy as opposed to exhausted?
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Because I'm riding them and know the difference?

You're either trolling now, or are scarily stupid. Either way, you're a waste of space to reply to.
 
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