[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Yeah definitely, I can't watch those, would it make that much of a difference to the races really? Or do people get enjoyment from watching how many fall I wonder?

Cynical woman. I LOVE 'Jumps' racing because it requires far more skill in a jockey than just 'steering' as with Flat Racing, and the horses actually ENJOY jumping - witness how many who have unseated their rider often continue to jump and complete the course.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

Cynical woman. I LOVE 'Jumps' racing because it requires far more skill in a jockey than just 'steering' as with Flat Racing, and the horses actually ENJOY jumping - witness how many who have unseated their rider often continue to jump and complete the course.

hhhmm I don't know if you can say the horse enjoy it tbh just because they keep running the same way the others are going, they could just be terrified and working off instinct

[jet]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

hhhmm I don't know if you can say the horse enjoy it tbh just because they keep running the same way the others are going, they could just be terrified and working off instinct

Yes, horses just do what the rest are doing. They are pack animals and follow the herd. I can't watch the National or the likes at all...I think it's cruel making those beautiful creatures jump such high fences and beating them with a whip to make them go faster..

[kirklancaster]

I took up boxing at 8 years old in a 'spit and sawdust gym above a barn - it was still well equipped though for those days - after dabbling in Shotokan for a while, and there is nothing wrong with my brain. (though some on here will disagree. )

Seriously, though, there is far less chance of being seriously injured through boxing than a lot of other sports.

Casualties in any sport will always happen in spite of the most rigorous of precautionary measures and the finest of Medical Provisions, but the most common cause of serious head injuries hails from boxers who continue boxing well past the date they should have retired, and boxers who abandon the twin disciplines of training and healthy living in favour of drink, drugs, and the bright lights, and who step into the ring in a far inferior state and condition that they should be in.

I love ballet, and once in awhile, a supremely gifted boxer will step into that ring whose footwork, grace, and elegance of movement is as moving and beautiful as any Sylvie Guillem or Darcy Bussell - and the young 'Black Gazelle' Cassius Clay/Muhammed Ali is THE best of them all.

Some say that Ali's terrible Parkinson's Disease was caused by too many blows to the head, and if that is true, then it is because even he 'went on' for far too long.

All I know is, that Boxing GAVE Ali to the world.

By the way, one of my sons boxes - and he is very good at it.

Do I have palpitations watching him - No. His skill, that headguard and those big old overstuffed gloves protect him.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Livia

I love a bit of boxing. I see no reason that consenting adults should be stopped doing a sport they love and one that gives them self-control and discipline. Horse racing and horse riding is really dangerous and prone to a lot of injuries and deaths. Can't see anyone calling for it to be banned though.

There are huge anti-horse racing movements actually... probably bigger than for boxing actually... the difference is, it's not because anyone cares about jockies getting hurt (although they often do) but because they care about the conditions for the horses

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

Cynical woman. I LOVE 'Jumps' racing because it requires far more skill in a jockey than just 'steering' as with Flat Racing, and the horses actually ENJOY jumping - witness how many who have unseated their rider often continue to jump and complete the course.

This is actually a myth Kirk, the reason unseated horses continue to run the course is that they're instinctually driven to continue to "run with the herd". Horse racing on the whole is pretty ruthless and, fairly obviously, the horses would MUCH rather be running free in large groups over open spaces...

And all of this coming from a bookie . I actually dislike horse racing as a sport. I mean I'm far from a PETA activist or a... bleuch... "vegan"... but it DOES seem like needless exploitation.

...Dog racing is even worse, though.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

There are huge anti-horse racing movements actually... probably bigger than for boxing actually... the difference is, it's not because anyone cares about jockies getting hurt (although they often do) but because they care about the conditions for the horses




This is actually a myth Kirk, the reason unseated horses continue to run the course is that they're instinctually driven to continue to "run with the herd". Horse racing on the whole is pretty ruthless and, fairly obviously, the horses would MUCH rather be running free in large groups over open spaces...

And all of this coming from a bookie . I actually dislike horse racing as a sport. I mean I'm far from a PETA activist or a... bleuch... "vegan"... but it DOES seem like needless exploitation.

...Dog racing is even worse, though.

Yeah I'm constantly seeing pages pop up on FB about greyhound racing and the awful way the dogs are treated afterwards. I do have a dislike towards greyhounds though as one of them nearly killed my dog

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Yeah I'm constantly seeing pages pop up on FB about greyhound racing and the awful way the dogs are treated afterwards. I do have a dislike towards greyhounds though as one of them nearly killed my dog

They're a fairly aggressive breed and if they're ex-racers it's even worse... they shouldn't really be out unmuzzled tbh.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

They're a fairly aggressive breed and if they're ex-racers it's even worse... they shouldn't really be out unmuzzled tbh.

I wish you had been there a few months ago, to tell the dickhead who I was arguing with because he'd got THREE of the 'orrible things running wild in a local park where there were little tots playing.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

They're a fairly aggressive breed and if they're ex-racers it's even worse... they shouldn't really be out unmuzzled tbh.

tell me about it, this dog used to just wander around on her own with no muzzle (she got knocked down in the end) There's actually a Rhodesian Ridge back that lives up the road from me who's always outside on his own with no muzzle either (he's never done anything aggressive though thankfully

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

There are huge anti-horse racing movements actually... probably bigger than for boxing actually... the difference is, it's not because anyone cares about jockies getting hurt (although they often do) but because they care about the conditions for the horses

I AGREE with this ^.


This is actually a myth Kirk, the reason unseated horses continue to run the course is that they're instinctually driven to continue to "run with the herd". Horse racing on the whole is pretty ruthless and, fairly obviously, the horses would MUCH rather be running free in large groups over open spaces...

And all of this coming from a bookie . I actually dislike horse racing as a sport. I mean I'm far from a PETA activist or a... bleuch... "vegan"... but it DOES seem like needless exploitation.

...Dog racing is even worse, though.

And I concede that you AND Jet, are probably right here too -

Spoiler:

But why the hell did you have to come out with that now when I'm trying to defend Jumps racing.