.. to hate the Grand National?

Urmstongran

HM The Queen rather enjoys everything to do with horse racing.

I agree trisher that there’s no difference between eating cows and eating horses, and the conditions in slaughterhouses are equally repugnant for any animal. What I find hypocritical is that the racing industry pretends to be about one thing (love of horses?) whilst supplying the food industry at the other end. (Not just the racing industry if you read the article). And the description of the owner allowing his child to ‘have a ride on the horse before turning it into meat’ I think is truly repugnant and worthy of a psychopath. These are animals that have been bred to be handled by and to trust humans from their birth, and this is the ultimate betrayal.

I've never understood why it is acceptable to eat beef and lamb but not horse. It's one of the mysteries of the British lifestyle. The descriptions of the slaughter houses in the article would be the same for any dealing with any animal, why the fact that they are dealing in horse flesh makes it worse I don't understand. As for the horses entered into races I wonder what the definition of a race has been. There are a number of events which wouldn't be recognised as racing- like point to points which might increase the number.
That's not to say that I don't think the racing industry shouldn't provide more support and fund retired horses, but they should also support injured and retired jockeys and stable workers who often suffer financial hardship. The richest involved (like HMQ) could well afford to.

I hope those who enjoy racing and have protested that the majority of horse owners love and cherish their horses, read the link nightowl posted (thanks nightowl). The article states (amongst many other disturbing facts) that the numbers being bred for racing are far higher now than ever before and that,out of a possible life span of 30 years, the average racing horse lives 5 years.

This happens in a country that was up in arms about processed foods like beefburgers being "contaminated" with horse meat (though, of course, it is wrong for processed foods to contain ingredients that are not listed). To them, it just didn't feel right to eat a horse and there was a lot of superior sniffiness about those foreigners that did. And yet this article demonstrates that huge numbers of horses are destroyed in this country for export elsewhere. It makes no difference to the horse where it is eaten.

As with hunting, people try to justify their actions by saying that these animals wouldn't exist if they were not killed - that it is necessary to control numbers. I'm fairly sure - if there was a will, and large sums of money were not involved - it would not be an impossible exercise to control animal populations by other means.

Yes, Merlotgran, I agree but it's not a great solution to the larger problem of horse welfare. In a starvation paddock, as these little spaces are correctly called, they become miserable and frustrated unless given more exercise and stimulus including attention from owners and the opportunity to mix with other horses.

Horses who are confined in small spaces become neurotic and ill, they can suffer an incredibly painful condition called laminitis which makes their hooves so painful that they can't walk.

Confining a horse (or more likely a pony) to a small space actually prevents laminitis as they have to be stopped from eating lush grass which is what causes it.

Completely agree Eloethan. Racehorses have a far from natural life and are seen as expendable. As Ruby Walsh said after Our Connor died at Cheltenham, ‘you can replace a horse’. That’s how they’re seen unfortunately.

The grisly truth
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/uk/2006/oct/01/horseracing.sport

P. S. Horses have lived with people since the dawn of time and their domestication was a major factor in human history and development.

Yes, horses get bored in paddocks. I've spent a lot of my life with horses. Especially those tiny paddocks divided off into little sections so that the horses are further deprived of contact with their own kind and pleasures such as mutual grooming.
Possibly people imagine glorious fields full of nice grass? The trouble is that horses, thoroughbreds who race aside, have evolved to live on sparse pasture and to walk many miles a day to eat enough to fill their frames.
There is a major problem of obesity in kept horses. Horses who are confined in small spaces become neurotic and ill, they can suffer an incredibly painful condition called laminitis which makes their hooves so painful that they can't walk. They can also suffer colic, a digestive condition from which they can die a painful death. Hence the notices you often see on field gates asking 'kind' people not to feed grass cuttings or other items to horses.
There ARE problems with the horse racing industry but horses are not cuddly dogs, they have complex requirements and most people don't understand that. Racehorses are loved by the people who look after them and receive the highest level of care. Sadly they don't always have a happy end.

I can't bear it either and don't understand how anyone finds it entertaining.

The number of horses killed or destroyed because of injury during races is enormous www.horsedeathwatch.com/. Saying that horses naturally enjoy running and jumping may be true but racing with a saddle and a jockey on its back and a bit in its mouth isn't a natural state of affairs is it. It's rather like the people who used to say dog fighting/cock fighting is OK because it is the natural instinct of male animals to fight - setting aside the fact that they have been "primed" to do so.

The motivation for all these activities is, of course, money - money that isn't spent on treating horses whose injuries could be treated. They, like horses who don't "make the grade"/aren't thought suitable for stud are nearly always destroyed.

(I think it's possible to be against the horse racing/Grand National and against boxing. )

Horses are flight, not prey animals - I may have misunderstood your comment nightowl

Not sure what you mean by this Iam - horses are definitely prey animals, and their response to predators is flight.

Do people really think horses are ‘bored’ out in a paddock? They are not equipped to live in stables, but to live outside. In their wild state they would cover miles in a day, which means most paddocks are definitely too small for them, and the grass too rich (hence the fat ponies) but living out is infinitely better for them than confinement indoors. Racehorses are subject to very high levels of stress from confinement, unnatural diets, intensive training and travelling schedules. This is not rocket science and can be easily researched by anyone who is interested.

There is a lot of anthropomorphism going on about the needs of horses on this thread.

Absolutely disgraceful, those poor creatures. I saw a pic on FB of the one who fell at the first fence in the Grand National and he was hideously injured. Such a waste of a beautiful horse. Shame on everyone who supports this race.

notentirelyallthere- totally agree with your post.

At our yard we have had some of those little fat ponies left out in summer and boxed all winter when “Mummy and Pandora” got bored...........fortunately we have an excellent yard owner/manager who steps in and gets others to exercise groom etc.

There is far more to racing stables than big event races.

There are some welfare questions around horse racing but the use of drugs and medication is strictly controlled.
Anyone who rides horses knows how they love to race given the chance. At least racehorses get the chance to carry out their natural behaviour, their life is a lot better than many pet ponies kept bored in a small paddock.
It's also worth remembering that racing is an industry employing around 85,000 people and generating an income of £200m per annum. The racing and breeding industries are worth around £1.1bn to the UK economy, this rises to £3.4bn if all the additional activities are taken into account. Worth considering in these uncertain economic times.

Hate and detest it too. It's cruel and unnecessary. There's reports that many racehorses are pumped up with drugs to cover the pain of injury. You don't get to see the ones that are put down after. All in the name of entertainment

No, don't "toughen up" tiffaney. I am the same as you and personally I think the world could do with more caring and sensitive people like us.

I absolutely hate it. I remember seeing Claire Balding a few years ago interviewing one of the owners of a beautiful horse earlier on the day. The horse fell and had to be put down. What a risk to take with a precious animal for a few moments of glory. I cannot bear needless death in animals, l even cry at roadkill or when a bird flies into the patio window and dies. Maybe l should toughen up.

I absolutely do not like to see horses whipped, awful.

Sorry I’m on my iPhone which seems to operate independently. Horses are flight, not prey animals - I may have misunderstood your comment nightowl.
I share night owls concerns about race horses but the only two retired racehorses I’ve known/ridden often, have been great. As thoroughbreds you’d expect them to need careful handling but I loved the one I hacked out on and had lessons on. He was fit and a lovely temperament

Horses aren’t prey animals, they’re fl

Sorry Deedaa I can’t agree with either point. I’m not convinced they enjoy racing; their body language demonstrates high excitement which could be either joy or fear. Horses have primitive responses based on the fact they are prey animals, and I don’t believe it is possible to judge what they are feeling just from their ears.

As for being well cared for, why do so many racehorses develop ulcers within three months of beginning their training? They are put on an intensive training schedule as babies and lead a life which does not suit a horse’s needs. I have known several ex-racehorses in recent years and I would say that without exception they are messed up physically, mentally or both. One with the sweetest nature, who had won thousands of pounds, ridden by the best jockeys, was incurably lame at 12 and had to be put to sleep. And some would say they are the lucky ones to have survived at all.

nightowl I know they are basically running as a herd but on the whole they do seem to enjoy it, watch the ears.

I agree with phoenix about how well looked after they are. The thing that really upset me about the programme they showed recently about the fate of Shergar was the thought of that beautiful horse, who had been pampered and babied all his life, breaking his leg in a strange lorry surrounded by total strangers and heaven knows whether they were efficient when they shot him.

trisheras an earlier poster said, just because worse things are done to animals does not make this right - as in BlueBelle's beautiful verse.

First I m not a horsey person I ve never been on a horse or even up close I would be frightened they re so big and powerful but I think any ANIMAL races are a national disgrace and no better that circuses, dancing bears, or animals kept in cages I don’t care how well looked after or pampered in daily life, they are pushed to limits and beyond, simply for human entertainment and that’s disgraceful.

I saw this today written after the Grand National and it brought tears to my eyes

I died today, I died so that humans can dress up, drink alcohol, and give money to people who already have lots. I don’t understand as they could have done that anyway without killing me.I had no choice whether to be there or not, unlike them. The only thing I did wrong was being born into this body. I died today