grand national

Horses get injured in all sorts of situations, most accidents happen in the stable or field, some of them fatal.
Aintree has really worked hard in the safety aspect of the course....vets are on hand.
It's a risk sport....we just pray they all come home safe & sound.
 
Eventing has many accidents, but no one ever questions whether Badminton or Burghley are right or wrong. Like someone has said, it is a risk sport, as are a lot of equestrian disciplines, you take them for what they are and accept it.
 
NO NO IT IS NOT RIGHT.
In yesterdays Topham Lord Rodney was killed and another seriously injured.
WHY?? hmmm..... MONEY....
The only sensible one was the horse that refused to race.
All the talk about horses enjoying it (does that include being whipped) most follow the other horses out of instinct or training.
I know I will get laughed at for this view but hey..........
 
[ QUOTE ]
NO NO IT IS NOT RIGHT.
In yesterdays Topham Lord Rodney was killed and another seriously injured.
WHY?? hmmm..... MONEY....
The only sensible one was the horse that refused to race.
All the talk about horses enjoying it (does that include being whipped) most follow the other horses out of instinct or training.
I know I will get laughed at for this view but hey..........

[/ QUOTE ]

Getting whipped!?!?! Have you watched many races, or been to trainers!? You will see that half the time they are NOT even being hit with the whip!!
 
Money...??
You know how much it costs to keep a horse....imagine keeping a string.
Feed, vet bills, farrier bills, travel expenses, staff, entry fees, licenses, Insurance....it all adds up.
I've seen small children whipping their ponies at local shows & a top show jumper beating a horse which refused.
Their whips were far more substantial than the jockey club approved ones.
 
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Their whips were far more substantial than the jockey club approved ones.

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Yep they are indeed, most of these ones you can buy are alot harder than the racing ones and little children are using them
 
OH is that so.... well maybe some jockeys are waving it but a hell of a lot are using them and hard.
(hence whip bans).
Yes I have seen races and been there........
 
[ QUOTE ]
NO NO IT IS NOT RIGHT.
In yesterdays Topham Lord Rodney was killed and another seriously injured.
WHY?? hmmm..... MONEY....
The only sensible one was the horse that refused to race.
All the talk about horses enjoying it (does that include being whipped) most follow the other horses out of instinct or training.
I know I will get laughed at for this view but hey..........

[/ QUOTE ]

The horses racing in the national are good horses and probably worth a fair amount of money.
Trainers and owners are not going to have them whipped half to death for the reasons above.

As for injuries, horses die everyday, doing all kinds of things - eventing, hunting, show-jumping, hunter-trials, being out in the field!
 
Horses die everyday thats true but even in lesser watched ie eventing etc the fatalities are much less.........
6 last year at Cheltham.
Say no more............
 
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Horses die everyday thats true but even in lesser watched ie eventing etc the fatalities are much less.........
6 last year at Cheltham.
Say no more............

[/ QUOTE ]

Last year that was, once in a blue moon this many die. Other disciplines within the horse world are just as dangerous, even hacking down the road!
 
Yes eventing is more dangerous but look at the speed and the height and distsance covered.............
I say no more but that is my view of the national and wnt be watching it as I cosider it very wrong ............
 
I dont like it. I know I cant really speak since I event which is also dangerous.

But a few horses HAVE died in this race. It is THE race which asks a hell of a lot of questions from the horses, all for pure money.

I totally realise even just hacking is dangerous etc. but its almost expected that a horse or 2 WILL die in the GN. I hate it. I just think the fences are way too large to gallop flat out at. Such a waste of such young horses.
 
Nope, Im sorry but its horrible. 3 horses have fallen already. How can this be a good sport?!!! When I go eventing I certainly dont EXPECT a few horses to fall, but in this it seems to be the norm.
 
Oh god i hope non were killed
frown.gif
 
The fact is people, the races havent changed for hundreds of years, the reason more horses get injured and killed now is because throughbreds have become soooo inbred that they are getting weaker and weaker, their bones are getting weaker and therefore break easier. The racing industry seriosuly needs an injection of irish blood.
So yes the grand national is fine because the fact is its not the race being cruel and unfair (if the horses didnt want to run they wouldnt, full stop. The loose horses follow and jump for fun with pricked ears) so not its not cruel the fact is racehorses these days are physically weaker (bone wise) than they were hundred years ago.
Sorry for that rant.
 
Erm, says what?
So 13 finished, doesn't mean all the others fell!Some were pulled up being unsuited to the conditions, some couldn't hack the pace, some refused to race/jump....don't think it says anything other than 13 horses completed the course....
 
I think the fact that these horses have been trained for this one race, to then refuse to jump / race, not hack the pace etc. I think still says a lot about how insane the GN is.

I hate when people say "if the horses didnt want to run they wouldnt" - how many times have you seen the odd horse being forced into doing something?? If you were smacked a few times, Im sure you'd run pretty damn fast. The loose horses are NOT carrying on for fun - they are simply running because its natural instinct to stay with the rest!
 
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