hmmm. Hope you did enjoy the Grand National..

shysmum said:
the truth is that the "Grand National" is a huge, massive moneyspinner. That's why the fences are not made safer. Which they could EASILY be.

I despair of horse lovers who condone this race. The stress those animals must be under in full flee mode, trying to battle over huge jumps,while that course is simply designed to cause hayhem and drama. To be especially difficult. To get more money. To make some oik somewhere rich.

Anyone who can compare this race with SJ or eventing must be extremely naive and out of touch. It's laughable !!!

I say again, I despair of "horse lovers" who condone this race. Horses should not have to die in the name of ANY sport.
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I cant belive you just called me an oik. :mad::eek:

yep i love horse and love the GN. and will continue to support it until the day I snuff it myself.:p
 
teagreen said:
Why don't you say a prayer for the jockey critically injured in the race before the national instead of ranting? Get some perspective, this is someones son/boyfriend/grandson. Horses can be replaced - people can't.

Racing will never be banned. It is as safe as it has ever been. Racehorses will continue to be killed and it's very sad, but they live a wonderful life, and horses will continue to die in every sphere everyday.
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Thank you, someone else who thinks that a human is much more important that a horse!
 
shysmum said:
HAHA !!! "Get Real" ???????? Daily Mail insensitive photos !!!

Guys, that is what happened today - the paper is simply reporting the REALITY. How can it be insensitive to photograph a horse dying during a massively publicised race, or would you personally rather not just see ? I want to know !!! I want to know what is being done in the name of racing !

Stop breeding far too many racehorses, and give the ones going a fair chance. If they are "no use", have them shot AT THE YARD, and that'd be the end. If they are of use, fair enough, but the grand national needs a major rehaul. Immediately.

So excuse me while I "Get Real".
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make the jumps 2"3 shall they? why dont you write to the course managers and suggest this?

now if you want to stop and think for a second. chasing fences are a damn site more fixed then the national fences and as it happend in recent years the jumps have meen made safer. maybe if you bothered to follow things you would of known this.
 
shysmum said:
Stop breeding far too many racehorses, and give the ones going a fair chance. If they are "no use", have them shot AT THE YARD, and that'd be the end. If they are of use, fair enough, but the grand national needs a major rehaul. Immediately.

So excuse me while I "Get Real".
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I don't understand the reasoning behind this? It makes no sense.

If you are that against racing maybe you should put your time and effort into something more constructive than ranting on a forum? A forum called Horse and Hound which regularly has racing (and point2point) reports.
 
racers love their jobs...i like national hunt/flat racing

but i think they sholud honestly make the course safer (somehow)? to stop the deaths.....

that bit i truly hate....

but watching the horsey athletes doing their job is ok :)
 
I've enjoyed ranting thankyou, and thankyou for reading it, and taking the time to reply ;)

We all have very different views on this, and indeed hunting, or whatever. I know there is far more support on this forum for both sports, than there non-supporters, and that's the way the cookie crumbles. But I am happy to be given the chance to say my piece, and will just stay standing on the same spot - Anti Grand National.
 
I agree about the young jockey as only one has mentioned him, I heard that he was taken unconcious to hospital close bye has there been any news about him. Some on this forum should shed their bunny ears.
 
That is soooooooooooo funny !!! Have you personally ever shot a horse ? I wouldn't call me bunny ears if I were you,what do you know about me ?..... unless of course you are just trying to be rude. In which case I laugh.

And as for the jockeys, well that is their (very dangerous) job, isn't it ? Their choice ? Their decision? Their informed risk ?

I am sooooooooo enjoying this debate !
 
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Echo Bravo said:
I agree about the young jockey as only one has mentioned him, I heard that he was taken unconcious to hospital close bye has there been any news about him. Some on this forum should shed their bunny ears.
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He is in a critical condition. Some people on this thread need to take a right good look at themselves when a young guy and his family are going through hell in hospital.
 
Peter Toole was critically injured in the race prior to the National after a horrible fall. He is in hospital with head injuries and under sedation.

There is no information on Patrick Mullins who fell on Dooneys Gate.

Ornais died from a broken neck and Dooneys Gate from a broken back, both were PTS quickly.

Just a little bit of statistics here:

In 164 years of the Grand National running, 81 horses have died. 20 of them since 2000.

Between 1997 and December 2008 there have been 37 RIDER fatalities in Eventing. During 2007 and 2008 19 event horses have died whilst competing.

My opinion is quite simple. If you don't like the Grand National then a) don't watch it and b) don't criticise others for watching/supporting it.

I've just removed 3 "friends" off my Facebook because I am apparently cruel, wicked and twisted because I watched and bet on the National... ughh, it does my head in to be honest!:rolleyes:
 
My stance is on the animal welfare. I have never for one minute mentioned anything about anything else, that is NOT what this thread is about.

I hate that someone has been injured. But you will not bully me into saying that I do not have the right to speak out about the Grand National.
 
I stand where I stand, and change my mind, sorry, But thanks for contributing to my thread anyways. I'm off to bed now, said my piece. :D
 
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I don't think anyone has bullied you Shysmum, we have just all done what you have which is to voice our own personal opinions! :)
 
Wait! I haven't put in my tuppence worth yet...

....

....

Oh, sod it, not worth it. What's the point.
 
ok post edited, NOW I'm off to bed to read lots of fluffy bunny stories :D:p

Hmmmmmm, on that subject (while I'm here), I had to "deal" with two poor myxy baby rabbits today. Which i hated having to do. So nope, I am not really a bunny ears after all. *sigh*.
 
Why is it implied that those expressing their sadness for the two lost horses don't care about the injured jockey? I'm sad for the two dead horses and their connections, doesn't mean I don't care about injured jockeys, or New Forest ponies killed on the roads, or mistreated and neglected horses around the world :rolleyes:
 
I didn't watch it, I spent the day with my horses. I hate it, I hate it that 3 horses have died during National week. 7 horses in total have died this week 3at Aintree 4 at other courses, some people see that as the downside of racing, I just find it very sad.
 
shysmum

I understand your concerns and you are entitled to your opinion. i dont think you have handled this thread very well. At all. You dont seem to have much of an argument. Dunlin has posted some VERY interesting stats up there, which to me says it all.
May I suggest that if you have no plans on the 22nd April, you pop along to the Lambourn open day where there will be lots opportunity to meet people and learn a little more about racing. Your knowledge of the subject seems to be based on what you are reading in the DM and I think that you should open your mind a bit. Sorry if I've come across as patronising, but I am passionate about the GN and racing in general.

I sincerely hope that all the jockeys that fell/were injured make a full recovery and my thoughts are with the poor stable staff who were handed Dooneys Gate and Ornais bridles.
 
alligator40 said:
if you own fat, lazy cobs they dont tend to die doing their thing..because they rarely get out of a fast shuffle...
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I don't understand the need to get personal and Shils has (humorously) dealt with the whole cob thing, thanks, without managing to come across as a bitter and nasty vindictive little idiot. If you really think that, I suggest you attempt to ride a decent cob (like mine) who will hunt all day or 'jump like a stag' as someone told me last week or outrun anything in the field. Or maybe try another cob I know who flew round RAF Halton last Sunday. Or the one who beat the expensive warmblood at dressage the week before.

Dear me! Way to make an impression!
 
Maesfen said:
DG looked to be gone before he hit the deck to me.
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I thought exactly the same tbh.

As for the Daily Fail :rolleyes:

My FB status relates to Peter Toole as I got home from work to find my entire feed of 'so sad about the 2 horses', I quickly read online about Peter Toole's fall and wish him the best. Fingers crossed he pulls through.
 
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Hey! this is THE Grand National we are talking about, the greatest horse race in the world.... what is the talk about banning it? pah! that would be just as bad as trying to ban hunting - ridiculous!: rolleyes:

Horses/people die jumping in this race & other races, hunting, eventing, polo, dressage, showjumping even hacking ..... it happens, horse riding - it's exciting - it's dangerous, it always has and it always will ... don't try and change traditions ... that's just wrong! just watch the other channel if you don't like it.

I loved watching it today = great race :)
 
Why ban it when it can just be improved some more?
Look at the grand national in 1967 at the fence now named Foinavon after the 100-1 shot won the race. Now that was horrific, (not the race itself, but the accident) all the horses either fell, got brought down or refused the fence and Foinavon went on to win the race.
So if people looked at how much the national has improved since then, they would see why its not as bad as they think...
 
I can appreciate that people like racing etc but if it was up to me, all racing would be banned. Full stop, especially including jumps like today! Got to admit, I didn't watch it but you will know yourselves its impossible to not hear about it.
If its 'notoriously dangerous' - why not improve it more for gods sakes?? They have improved it from earlier years, at least now the fences are 'collapsible', so why not raise the safety standards even more? For both the horses and their jockey's sakes!!!
What a way to celebrate such a lovely day - putting your horses in such grave danger.
And to those who say at least they die doing what they love - I'm not so sure if I was a horse, that I would love being whipped towards (some of those jockeys DO need to learn the meaning of 'moderation'!) a huge fence crushed between other horses going at a breakneck speed and trying desperately to find my feet over the other side, amongst the bodies (RIP horses) whilst being urged on at the same time, all for money.
K x
 
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