SusannaF
Well-Known Member
So we should all shut up them? Is that really what you are saying?
Abuse takes many forms and much of it is done by humans who believe they are animal lovers... they love on their terms though.
This thread is about the National so that is what I am objecting to.
I can go on about Conklin Dairy Farms etc. etc. but don't think it is relevant to this thread.![]()
Nope, I'm not saying we should all shut up. I'm saying that I can't leap on board the whole "condemn the Grand National out of hand" bandwagon because I think I'm pretty compromised.
I've posted elsewhere (in Latest News) about my fears that if something doesn't improve in racing it'll go the way of hunting. I don't want the baby thrown out with the bathwater. In Australia the fatality rate is lower than in the UK and far lower than in the US, and there is a very serious campaign up and running to ban all jump racing. I think it's even been banned in certain states.
What bothers me is that the general public and a lot of people on this thread see it in black and white terms. ie. "All racing is cruel and the owners/trainers are greedy". Rather than the more realistic, "how can we minimise casualties in racing while accepting that there will always be some fatalities?"
The changing public perception of animals is part of my field of study as a writer, and I think we're in danger of having people who know nothing about horses condemning the horse industry (and all horse owners) as cruel and inhumane etc etc etc.
To my mind, everyone needs to be aware of what JessTickle called our "duty of care" to animals and also to be realistic about the fact that we, as a species, use and consume animals unneccessarily for our own pleasure.