After yesterday's grand national and at least one dead horse I can't condone it. It's cruel poor horses x

I can see where you coming from but its a sport so there is risk. Also horses are stubborn if they dint want to they wouldn't do it.

I hate grand national and think its dangerous for horse and jockey, but all sport is dangerous in some way.

I am a horse person and I hate to see horses suffer, so that aspect of it really does make me sad.

I don't think the race should be as hard - the jumps should be smaller and there should be less horses to make it safer - I know that maybe takes away the 'Grandness' of it, but it is a dangerous race as it is.

Hate the Grand National, its all about money and not animal welfare. Its a cruel race. I agree with Lisa in that the jumps shouldn't be so high/wide. Ok so they shoot a horse if its broken its neck, but thats not the point - that horse suffered. Those animals are pushed to the limit and thats cruel

I hate watching the national

I will never watch it or bet on it, it is barbaric

A long time ago I walked the course at Aintree and I was horrified at the size of some of the fences.

Iam raging this morn. I know each to their own! but once again it the 'city' people telling country people what to do and not to do!

Its far far far from cruel!!! if you actualy are behind the scenes you will see those horses are FAR from being subject to cruelity! they are so pampered and looked after its unbelieveable! Just unfortunate this does happen.

Yes the jumps are higher but the horses wouldnt do it unless they wanted to,or couldnt do it. when out on gallops (training) they wouldnt race when their not expected to they love it.

As for being put down they have to, they'l never recover and be more suffering, its the same if a cow fell in the field it would have to be put down. Even if I were out hacking or jumping and my horse fell would have to be put down. its the same! its the way of life here in the country!!!

Its not nice I know, and I hate bein at point to points when it happens, but it does. And to be compared to bull fighting!!! I am shocked!! how the hell can it even be compared?!?! those poor bulls have no say, their tormented and then killed. Where these horses love it and if they didnt they wouldnt even move off the starting line!!

ahh im done could say far more but I wont lol x

I do feel sorry for the horses but think if it was that dangerous it would not happen anymore. With the way the world is today and everything is about health and safety etc I think it must not be too bad or it would not go ahead.
I do bet on it, I suppose I see it differently as dh used to work in a bookies x

Emma has said it all really! I agree with every word!

A horse can fall out in it's field, break it's leg and be in agony for hours til someone finds it but at events like the National they are treated immediately! Let's also not forget that horses die at all sorts of events, like Badminton etc, and flat and jump racing! The National has more press coverage so more people know about it, without that I suspect there would be a lot less hysteria about!

Also these horses are worth a lot of money, if the trainers and owners thought they didn't have a chance they wouldn't risk losing them just because it is the National!

Xx

Kinkyangel wrote:

Emma has said it all really! I agree with every word!

A horse can fall out in it's field, break it's leg and be in agony for hours til someone finds it but at events like the National they are treated immediately! Let's also not forget that horses die at all sorts of events, like Badminton etc, and flat and jump racing! The National has more press coverage so more people know about it, without that I suspect there would be a lot less hysteria about!

Also these horses are worth a lot of money, if the trainers and owners thought they didn't have a chance they wouldn't risk losing them just because it is the National!

Xx

Well cos the National is such pot luck - the race is so hard that the 'best' horses can all just as easily get wiped out as the ones that never stood a chance, so a donkey at the back that stays clear of everyone else, gets over the fences after they've been half demolished by the leaders...and then toodles up to win some money!

There are some owners and trainers who would enter for the greed of it knowing they aren't the best horses to win it, and they see that slim (not so slim in that race) chance that their horse might not make it as worth it.

I don't see it as city v country - jeez Ive been riding horses and living in the country since I was born but I can still see that the race is way too hard - it's nothing to do with where you are from to see that. My mum was also a jockey so yeh i think I'm not talking as a city person now!

It isn't hard for them to change the course slightly so there are less pile ups and nasty falls.

I don't think horse racing is cruel, I know first hand how well looked after they are - my issue is with this one race being the way it is.

I think the issue is with too many horses on the track and the track being too difficult not to do directly with animal cruelty.