grand national

i am halfway through the field (looking at breeding) and my horse is so far related to 6 horses

Lol Ted diffinatly gets his looks from his mums side lol
Lou x
 
K & R - that is the most sensible thing to have come out of this race post what you said about prissy, prissy types (couldn't be bothered to hit the quote button, sorry!)
The National is the toughest, but thanks to the management in latter years, a much kinder race than from say before the 80's - then it was a fierce challenge, far more than today. The horses are trained to the minute, nothing is too much trouble for their connections; the course has been prepared to the best of the Clerk of the Course's abilities, it is a year round challenge to have the course right, which everyone who knows what they're talking about (Scu, Pitman and the jockeys, etc) have complimented them on so I don't think anyone on here quite has the experience or right to disagree with them, do you? Let's face it, the people involved are the ones that are experienced in this matter, they know what they are doing. Let's also accept that the course has to be approved by the animal welfare people; the horses are vetted prior to the race, so none below par would be allowed to start. In short, everything that can be done to make the race safer has been done, always the horse's welfare is the top priority. I always feel it is a privilage to watch these superb athletes doing the thing they were bred and trained for and how for many of them, they jump like on springs relishing the ground and the challenge. You watch the majority of the race leaders at any time, their ears are pricked, they are measuring their strides, the majority of them love it; if they don't, as has been proved, they'll pull themselves up or the jockeys will, there is absolutely no point pushing on a horse that clearly dislikes the course. Accidents happen every day,not just in this race, but with horses anywhere, you only have to read posts on here, look how many are from injuries in the field when by rights they should be at their safest.
For goodness sake, don't try to take this ultimate challenge away, it's a nanny enough state as it is.
 
QR: think every horse that fell or was brought down got straight back up

It's the same old arguement every yeah. Once again the nanny state finds a way of making something cruel & supposedly unfair. Drives me up the wall
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Wonder how many people who don't like the GN still go hunting - big jumps, lots of horses, faster speeds.......
 
QR
I dont think its cruel, yes there are risks and when me and hels watched it yes there were times when we cringed when someone fell
but horses/horsesports are dangerous
 
I don't like it really I see nothing 'natural' in 40 horses running flat out, jumping VERY large fences and then egged on when they tire.

Eventing to me is differnt, the horses are prepared for the fences, e.g. slowed onto their hocks, rider shifts position, GN they are not it is all at a gallop with no preperation.

Please don't have a go at me, I just don't watch it but would never preach. Just my personal view.

xx
 
I suppose it is just one of those sports that either you love or do not !!!!! I must admit to taking my hat off to the horses and the jockeys who run - they are brave. and Bloo*y fit horses !!!!

xx
 
People have said that horses only run when jockeyless because of instinct but why is it they still jump the jumps? Its possible to go round them so why dont they if they hate it so much? A horse will not naturally jump something in the wild unless it wants to!
 
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People have said that horses only run when jockeyless because of instinct but why is it they still jump the jumps? Its possible to go round them so why dont they if they hate it so much? A horse will not naturally jump something in the wild unless it wants to!

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....because the 'herd' is jumping the jumps.....
 
Sleepingdragon - true about the herd, but the riderless grey today jumped round in front of every other horse which surprised me. I'd have expected one with nothing to follow to refuse or run out?
 
If you watched the race carefully......which I assume you probably didn't, you will spot a loose horse near to the back of the running field actually pull up gradually...not in front of a fence but on the flat. It just gradually slowed to a canter then trot....not exactly "following the herd" I'd say

Only 7 horses fell, all of them got up, most of them carried on and I dont think the grey would have carried on in front of the field if it didn't enjoy doing what it was trained for.....I bet the owners and trainer of that grey were spitting mind
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One jumped the tapes very neatly and I saw at least two others heading back to the stables (all unmounted). But even mounted they make up their own minds eg Monkerhostin's refusal.
 
Well you won't hear any moaning from me.
I love the race and always have done, although I admit that I was worried about the faster ground compared to last year and a few other recent years as horses tend to run that bit faster and the risk of injury increases.
I'm glad that none got killed though as I do hate to see that.
A few horses I have followed throughout most of their national hunt career have lost their lives over the fences and it does sadden me.
Accidents do happen but also there are some horses in the field that to be honest shouldn't be, whether it is due to severe stamina doubts, poor form that season or not good jumpers amongst the reasons.
There have been many changes in recent years to the national from changes to the fences and ditches to increasing the official rating a possible entrant needs to be in order to qualify. Phil Smith is a thoroughly decent bloke and a very astute form and race reader and the senior BHB jumps handicapper does an excellent job in forming the handicap of the race judged on a horse's ability.
It is a spectacle to watch and I have nothing but admiration for the horses and their jockeys. They have nothing but guts!
The trainers and grooms etc are also worthy of a mention in getting the horses to races fit and well and the time and effort taken in grooming and preparation for the big day is very admirable.
I should hope the Grand National will continue to be part of Britain's heritage for many years to come
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Cazx
 
Its not called the Grand National for no reason. It is the WORLD's premier steeplechase, hence why only the top rated horses get in. They have to have a high RPR which they don't get bumming about in bumpers at wolverhampton!

Speaking as an owner of a horse who ran in the Grand National and also won around the National course, I can guarantee that he loved his job, and there isn't a cats chance in hell of getting him to have done it if it wasn't what he loved doing!

There is risk in every single form of equestrian sport, I've known ponies break legs around a nursey cross country course, and yet my boy spent ten years racing in races like the Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup and hasn't got a mark on him.

I personally don't subscribe to the theory its a death or glory race.
 
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