Many Clouds has collapsed and died ……..

Very sad news in deed in reminded me on Best Mate passing away in similar circumstances but not so publicly. Many clouds will be remembered like many of the great NH horses. Sadly these things happen but he could have done what Vautour & Kauto did break his leg/ injury himself fatally in a freak accident or he could have raced then be retired & live out his days. But Many Clouds was a gutsy performer & horses like him tend to die on the track. l know a hunter who died after a days hunting but no one would start saying he shouldn't have been hunted because the horse died doing something he enjoyed if a horse doesn't like racing or jumping they won't do it. My thoughts are with all his connections particularly those that cared for him on a daily basis.
 
Very sad, but I would say that he died doing what he lived to do. To put things into perspective a little, a friends pony died of a heart attack after a half hour hack walking round the village, they had just got back to the yard, pony was stood on the yard being untacked when she simply collapsed and died. There are much worse things that can happen to a horse than to die doing what they love. That doesnt detract from the utter sadness of this lovely horse paying the ultimate price for his heroic effort today, his trainers words were lovely and very apt. Thoughts with his connections tonight x
 
Very, very sad. He was a wonderful horse, I personally don't think he should have still been running and like AA I am a huge NH fan and accept the ultimate price.
His connections must be devastated.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Trevor Hemmings does ensure happy retirement for his horses.
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The issue of whether or not he should have continued to race aside, this is an absolute fact.

Not only does he retire the horses at home, they also come back for their summer hols.

I would think that the retirement Trevor Hemmings gives his horses would be amongst the best that a horse could wish for.

RIP Many Clouds

http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle...ner-many-clouds-enjoys-island-break-1-7289401
 
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I am raising a glass to Many Clouds tonight.

Just a very very sad postscript to a wonderful race. My thoughts are with Oliver Sherwood, Lisa, CJ, Nathan and all the lads and lasses who loved him.
 
We don't know what he died of yet. Most likely it was a heart attack and we've no way of knowing if it was connected to his previous issue which therefore may or may not be linked. I think it's fair to assume that has he had a heart condition related to his previous issue of regulating his body temp and breathing in warmer conditions it would have been dealt with. I don't think anyone would run a horse with a known heart condition. it seems to me a tragic end to a fit and healthy animal. These things can happen at anytime to anyone.
It's easy to suggest from the comfort of an arm chair that the horse should have been retired after the National but if every horse drew stumps after a great victory we'd have none of these super stars to celebrate.
 
AdorableAlice said:
That is unfair.
I have commented on another thread that the horse has a known problem and perhaps after such an heroic national win it may have been wise to call it a day.

There is a limited number of trips to the well for any horse no matter how talented or brave. There is no doubt that the horse would have had the very best veterinary care throughout his time in training but he was known to have a potentially life ending health issue that occurred more than once after maximum exertion. The horse has done his connections proud with many wins, £800,000 in prize money and the ultimate in the National. Did he need to die today, in my view and I am not concerned to admit it, no I don't think he did. It is a pity for him, his connections and for racing.
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Exactly this, it was time to call it a day for a great horse but pound signs not the welfare of this horse were in the eyes of owners/trainers.
 
KautoStar1 said:
We don't know what he died of yet. Most likely it was a heart attack and we've no way of knowing if it was connected to his previous issue which therefore may or may not be linked. I think it's fair to assume that has he had a heart condition related to his previous issue of regulating his body temp and breathing in warmer conditions it would have been dealt with. I don't think anyone would run a horse with a known heart condition. it seems to me a tragic end to a fit and healthy animal. These things can happen at anytime to anyone.
It's easy to suggest from the comfort of an arm chair that the horse should have been retired after the National but if every horse drew stumps after a great victory we'd have none of these super stars to celebrate.
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As he won the race I said to my OH 'He gives so much, and suffers from it, it cannot be good for his heart'.
 
Agree with KS1 - his collapse today may well have been completely unrelated to any previous 'issue'. I've seen a pic taken by someone there today of him pulling up at the finish and he has ears pricked and does not look exhausted or distressed. Appreciate it's a moment in time but could indicate that he actually suffered a sudden heart attack post race. The fact is, we don't know and accusations of greed are harsh in the extreme when this horse was clearly much loved

And as I understand it, he has not collapsed post race previously, he was a bit wobbly after his wins in GN and Hennessy and needed some assistance to get temp back to normal and with oxygenation. As someone else pointed out, he has since had breathing op which is by no means uncommon. He's not the only horse to need some assistance after GN but Oliver Sherwood is really good at being very open and keeping the press/public informed so this probably gave the incident more profile

He would not have been in training or running if he had known health problems, why would you?? He looked very fit and well today and it's a tragic end to a wonderfully brave and talented horse but happens unfortunately

RIP Many Clouds - sincere condolences to all connected to him, very sad day x
 
I may sound harsh but it was his job, he was loved, treated like a king and finished his last race like the King he was. He gave his all, he appeared to love his job, he had the best possible care after the race but it was his time. This is racing and without racing, these horses would not be here. Many, many other horses die in conditions worse than this.
My condolences to all of his connections.
 
Wouldn't we all like to go at the top of our game? With adrenaline and winning our final thoughts?

Or would we like to be taken by a rescue/care home with scant stimulation, inferior accommodation, little understanding of our condition ... poor bedding, nothing recognisable, substandard meals/forage and no sense of belonging. And a long, slow, painful, boring descent to oblivion.

Think I'd rather be a racehorse.
 
Mrs B said:
Wouldn't we all like to go at the top of our game? With adrenaline and winning our final thoughts?

Or would we like to be taken by a rescue/care home with scant stimulation, inferior accommodation, little understanding of our condition ... poor bedding, nothing recognisable, substandard meals/forage and no sense of belonging. And a long, slow, painful, boring descent to oblivion.

Think I'd rather be a racehorse.
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I would rather be many clouds .
Or one of my dogs .
But many horses have a sad descent into oblivion.
And many racehorse don't get the descent they deserve .
 
I was out today and recorded the racing. When I watched it I carefully noted how Many Clouds was after the race. He didn't look exhausted or blown and wasn't wobbling. What happened to him was more than likely unrelated to his previous problems.
It is unfortunate that the Peta and Animal Aiders will be twisting this to their own ends and ignorant, flaky people will be commenting on "A beautiful animal whipped to death".
He died quickly with minimum suffering after doing what he loved, galloping and jumping. Having ridden myself and had ponies I know they adore jumping and galloping and pleasing their humans.
A very sad day and my thoughts go to those who cared for him every day.
 
Mrs B said:
……..

Or would we like to be taken by a rescue/care home with scant stimulation, inferior accommodation, little understanding of our condition ... poor bedding, nothing recognisable, substandard meals/forage and no sense of belonging. And a long, slow, painful, boring descent to oblivion.

…….. .
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You missed out; And kept in that state as a means of prising pennies from purses.

Alec.
 
Mrs B said:
Agree with that too but all we can do is keep plugging on about welfare and responsibility. And leading by example.

*crawls into a sad corner for a bit*
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Racing is working on it! I can promise you! The ROR are doing a lot, more racehorse retraining centres are being set up, trainers are taking more responsibility in what happens to their horses once they retire and owners are being more careful too - they don't want to be tarred with the same brush that Kauto Star was. All of the horses that leave our yard know they can come back at any time. Racing is getting there with what happens after.
 
Thank you for that, Honeylight.

Alec Swan said:
You missed out; And kept in that state as a means of prising pennies from purses.

Alec.
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Alec, I don't know what to say. I am at a loss. If WE can't accommodate or care, someone else has to and it costs. And those who charge see it as a business not a charity. And they would be mad not to.

Sorry to hijack, folks! But it is very relevant ...

Some authorities are paying £350 a week towards fees and the care homes can only operate at £850 plus a week per person, no profit.

But back to the topic.

It's life. We can't all be kept in boredom & cotton wool and without risk. It worries me greatly that we seem to have lost sight of our place in things. For such a creature as a TB, there is no life without racing. It's what they DO. We have developed such a creature. Like we have developed the border collie to herd sheep.

I think everything; horse, human, dog needs a job. A purpose. Or else, what's the point?
 
To many assuming it had any relevance to his previous problems witjout waiting for the PM results . Certainly several close to the horse do not believe so!
 
AdorableAlice said:
Trevor Hemmings does ensure happy retirement for his horses. Please don't get me wrong, there is no bigger fan of NH racing than myself. Yes he died doing what he loved, yes it was a gutsy performance and he paid the ultimate price in the public arena. Whether he needed to or not is no longer relevant. RIP Many Clouds.
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It's just because it was in the public eye after a great race but it could so easily have been in his stable, field, on the gallops or out hunting too.
Would you be moaning then other than to mark your sadness? More likely you'd be saying he was doing what he enjoyed and what a lovely way to go.

Nobody who saw that race could doubt for a minute that he was having fun, jumping like a buck all the way through. He was doing what he loved best; who could ask for more?

Somebody asked once what ITV racing would do in the case of a fatality and I personally thought they handled it well but took too long about it and then never showed a clip at the end of him racing which would have finished it off nicely. Don't drone on about something and then ignore it completely as if the race never happened,
 
Masfen - I too wish they had cobbled together a quick tribute package of his wins, perhaps they will next Saturday. I thought they handled it well, but did possibly go on a little bit, and when interviewing Oliver Sherwood they obviously wanted more sentimentality from him than they got. Personally I thought Oliver was great and came across spot on, but I think Ed would have preferred a tear or two from him.
 
Clodagh said:
Masfen - I too wish they had cobbled together a quick tribute package of his wins, perhaps they will next Saturday. I thought they handled it well, but did possibly go on a little bit, and when interviewing Oliver Sherwood they obviously wanted more sentimentality from him than they got. Personally I thought Oliver was great and came across spot on, but I think Ed would have preferred a tear or two from him.
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Oliver had already shed his tears along with NH and AK they were with him when he got back from being with the horse .they had a couple of swift drinks before Oliver had the press to deal with.
 
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