Interesting GN Build up

[Dab]

So how many dressage coms see 2 horses put down in 20 mins???

Nothing against racing in general although horses dying I obviously hate but the grand national is sick and no better than animal abuse!

Still not sure i understand why you think it is sick, and cause for the call of animal abuse. Is it because of the number of horses that are PTS on course? How in your opinion does this consitute animal abuse?

 

[Dab]

I think it should have less runners, over a shorter distance and maybe a pacemaker as clearly everyone goes far to bloody fast and its the horses that pay the price.
Im no expert but have worked in racing and have a very 'racing' family, who dont agree with all my views.

But then it wouldn't be the National!

What about if they had stricter rules on qualification, runners and riders, and trainers for that matter?

 

[flump]

Still not sure i understand why you think it is sick, and cause for the call of animal abuse. Is it because of the number of horses that are PTS on course? How in your opinion does this consitute animal abuse?

The fact that 40 Horses have to jump round a course of 30 huge fences over 4 miles and whatever for a sport and peoples entertainment.

Yes horses die, horses have accidents other sports are dangerous bla bla
But IMO no other race/comp puts the horses at risk like the grand national does.

I have no objection to horses being PTS but they shouldnt be put in that position in the first place!

Just my opinion and I dont care if people disagree tbh!

 

[flump]

But then it wouldn't be the National!

What about if they had stricter rules on qualification, runners and riders, and trainers for that matter?

Just because its 'the national' doesnt mean it cant be changed to make things safer..

I agree with the stricter rules, it suprises me how many muppetts can call themselves jockeys and ride in a race! Clearly going to deck the poor horses and cause carnage for others (talking about other races)
Take for example a girl riding in the amatuer race at chelt (i think)

Now this girl clearly wasnt fit enough to be riding in the race and nearly caused a bad accident! The horse was taking off with her and she was too tired to ride it and help it properly...how it didnt end up on the floor i dont know...
Anyway thats off subject but yes maybe some sort of qualifier test maybe would help to make sure horses/riders know whats what!

 

[Dab]

The fact that 40 Horses have to jump round a course of 30 huge fences over 4 miles and whatever for a sport and peoples entertainment.

Yes horses die, horses have accidents other sports are dangerous bla bla
But IMO no other race/comp puts the horses at risk like the grand national does.

I have no objection to horses being PTS but they shouldnt be put in that position in the first place!

Just my opinion and I dont care if people disagree tbh!

Just by owning a horse you are abusing it for your own entertainment, so why is somebody who enjoys watching a horse race for entertainment any less deserving of getting that entertainment from a horse then you (if you own a horse) ?

The 30 fences over 4 miles is what makes it the National 'The Greatest Jump Race' in the world, it is a testing challenge. Where do YOU draw the line at what consitutes an acceptable risk to the horse. 3 horses were PTS at a local riding school recently because they couldn't earn there keep, were a bit crock etc, (it was the kindest thing for them) but based on your risk adversion applied to the GN should all riding schools be closed, and the horses not put in that position?

 

[Dab]

Just because its 'the national' doesnt mean it cant be changed to make things safer..

I agree with the stricter rules, it suprises me how many muppetts can call themselves jockeys and ride in a race!

Yes changes can be made to make it safer, but by changing the entire nature of the race, i.e. shorter course, smaller fances, pacemaker etc it no longer resembles the National and maybe can't be called the Grand National any more?

 

[flump]

I dont even know how you can compare 2 deaths in a horrid race to 3 riding schhol horses of which you describe as 'crocks' being PTS, sureley thats no different to a horse being PTS as its old or ill....I dont know why you have used that to compare atall!!!

 

[Dab]

I dont even know how you can compare 2 deaths in a horrid race to 3 riding schhol horses of which you describe as 'crocks' being PTS, sureley thats no different to a horse being PTS as its old or ill....I dont know why you have used that to compare atall!!!

Sorry i didnt get my point across clearly enough. Please re-read my post, i was not comparing, i was asking where you draw the line at risk aversion?

Is 2 horses PTS at a race to much to bear, but 3 horses put to sleep because they are no longer earning their keep acceptable?

 

[Nollaig Shona]

How <snip> does this consitute animal abuse?

I'd like to know this too. I live near a woman who has a few dogs, all of them are dogs that were rescued from dog fighting. When I say "rescued" I mean they'd been dumped after being badly injured in fights, one had been non fatally shot, stuffed in a sack and thrown over a cliff into the sea (he was PTS as he couldn't survive the injuries).

Those dogs were once upon a time used by humans for the purposes of entertainment and financial gain (via bets). I know the National bashers will say "what's that got to do with those poor horses?!?!?!?!" my point is that the bashers are calling the National the deliberate destruction of horses for the purposes of entertainment and financial gain. No one is deliberately destroying horses for entertainment or financial gain by running them in a race (whether it's the National or not).

As I said on another site, maybe it's because I've seen the dark side of using animals for entertainment that I just don't see horse racing as 'deaths for fun and profit.'