Another Death at Aintree

I think Brits do love to bet and gamble and there seems to be a very relaxed attitude towards all forms of this activity.

ginny

I don’t watch it either, horrible specifically.

A regular race goer once told me that the horses love it and naturally jump the fences. My reply was “ so why don’t they naturally jump out of their fields ?”

They do regularly, which is why most stables have electric fences to prevent horses escaping.

One of ours was an excellent escapee, could leap out of her field and open her stable door, we had to add an extra bolt lower down.

Barbaric, I think it should be banned, along with the greyhound races. Much was made of the women trying to stop it in the media, as if they were in the wrong, but if there was a go fund me to help with their legal costs I’d donate to it. Hate unnecessary violence to animals.

ginny

I don’t watch it either, horrible specifically.

A regular race goer once told me that the horses love it and naturally jump the fences. My reply was “ so why don’t they naturally jump out of their fields ?”

They’re not going to jump out of a field unless they don’t have enough to eat.

Different situation.

The only people at Aintree that wanted a fatality yesterday were the protesters which is why they’re looking on yesterday as a victory . I totally respect their right to protest and the racing authorities will look at the points they raise but they did it in a way that had an adverse effect on the very horses they were supposedly protecting.

The only people at Aintree that wanted a fatality yesterday were the protesters which is why they’re looking on yesterday as a victory.

What a very silly thing to say.

I hate the Grand National. It's barbaric and cruel, and there's no way I would watch it, let alone go to a race meeting.

Here's the petition to sign:

www.change.org/p/the-rt-hon-karen-bradley-mp-ban-the-cruel-grand-national-horse-race

Thanks Sparklefizz; signed.

Signed..

A lot of sports are dangerous, mostly to humans.
Boxing, motorsports, skiing, rugby - where will it end?
Ban all sports apart from table tennis?

I believe that all horse races involving jumping will be eventually banned, but there are some very powerful and monied elements who will resist until the bitter end, so perhaps not in my lifetime. Show-jumping also carries similar risks, but for some reason there doesn't seem to be as much protest where that's concerned. Once again, powerful and monied supporters will resist hard. Whilst I appreciate that the Conservative MP Karen Bradley has initiated a petition, there appears to be a definite silence as regards a clear, party-based political stance, perhaps because of the strength of the betting lobby and the millions of punters.

Humans have a choice to take part in potentially dangerous sports Kandinsky, animals don't.

Signed, thanks sparklefizz

I confess to having felt irritated by the protestors spokesperson, interviewed on radio 4 this morning. It’s probably me, feeling tired and easily irritated. She spoke about anyone involved with horses, farming of animals as uncaring unaware of the needs of animals. I’m not defending huge operations where cows/pigs/hens never see the light of day but surely the aim should be improvements.
Many animal rights activists would ban children having ponies and people like me from sharing my life with dogs. They don’t believe ‘pet animals’ are acceptable either

I agree with what you say Iam. I have signed too.

Never watch it.

Kandinsky

A lot of sports are dangerous, mostly to humans.
Boxing, motorsports, skiing, rugby - where will it end?
Ban all sports apart from table tennis?

Choice.

Humans have it.

Animals don't. The 'choice' is made for them - by humans.

Therein lies the difference.

... so it's nothing to do with 'banning all sports'.

You can sign as many petitions as you like but you won't get the Grand National banned because it has a massive and lucrative following. Getting hunting banned was much easier because it was a minority interest portrayed as being pursued mainly by 'toffs'. You won't be able to introduce class warfare into calling for a ban of the Grand National.

As a horse lover and former horse owner I very much dislike the whole racing 'industry'. Horses are raced far too young, before they are fully mature and the stress on their undeveloped bodies causes all sorts of physical problems in later life. That's if they get a later life as many of the 'breakdowns' are destroyed or shipped abroad for meat. The ones which remain sound, but just aren't fast enough are frequently rehomes, but it's a bit of pot luck as to whether they go to a knowledgeable new owner who is able to understand and care for these highly bred and sensitive animals. In the wrong hands they can be a disaster.

So I don't care for racing at all, but I can't see it ever being banned.

The best I can say for the industry is that during their racing careers most of these horses are very much loved and cared for by their stable lads and lasses. No-one works those insane and poorly paid hours for anything but love of horses.

I am sure that at some time there will be calls for the abolition of eventing and showjumping. Perhaps dressage might get away with it because the horses don't actually leave the ground but there are egregious cruelties in that sport, too...

How can we stop low value horses being exported?

and ponies too

Kandinsky

A lot of sports are dangerous, mostly to humans.
Boxing, motorsports, skiing, rugby - where will it end?
Ban all sports apart from table tennis?

Sorry Kandinsky, but please, do compare like for like. This just does not make any sense. People make choices- animals do NOT. Boxing should certainly be banned for children- and heading the ball in football for children too.

But what choice have the horses got?

Caleo

How can we stop low value horses being exported?

If they're not exported they could easily be ending up in high cost premium pet food... that so many Gnetters lovingly feed to their animals...

I thought that when we left the EU we'd be able to ban live export of animals? So we were continually being told by the Leaver supporters...

Caleo

How can we stop low value horses being exported?

Don't 'produce them' in the first place!!! That is key numero uno.

But what choice have the horses got?

Yes, it was wrong of me to compare humans who can make choices.

I don’t know what the answer is as calls for banning the grand national have been going on for years.
Nothing happens?

Putting animals in danger in the pursuit of human enjoyment can never be justified and I'd support a ban, but I think the cruelty element can be overstated. As others have said, race horses are well cared for, and it seems to be true that they can't be forced to race. Loose horses whose riders have fallen don't stop or turn round but carry on racing.