[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Alf

Grand National next month.

Can't wait! Love those big fences!

You probably wouldn't if you had to jump them ,with someone kneeing you in the nether regions and beating you.

[bots]

On balance, i don't think horse racing is cruel because horses love to run. What is cruel, is doing things like beating them to run faster, or mistreating them in the name of sport. Putting them in danger or too much stress with large fences etc, I also think is incorrect.

So race them by all means, but look after them and treat them with respect.

[DemolitionRed]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

On balance, i don't think horse racing is cruel because horses love to run. What is cruel, is doing things like beating them to run faster, or mistreating them in the name of sport. Putting them in danger or too much stress with large fences etc, I also think is incorrect.

So race them by all means, but look after them and treat them with respect.

When they train and select runners, they always look for a horse that likes to be out at the front. You're right, the sort of horse that's picked out to be a race horse is a horse that loves to gallop. When you're bringing a horse up for the race track, it spends a huge amount of time on the gallops and from the moment it hits that grass/sand, its eager to run.

The problems I see is too many horses. These horses can clear these fences with ease but when you have 15 or more horses approaching a four an a half foot fence with an added half foot of spruce added on top, it only takes one horse to hesitate or veer sideways to cause accidents and subsequent injuries/deaths.
In the GN they run 40 horses over 30 fences, some of them 6ft in height, which makes it the most likely race a horse will meet its maker. If they halved the number of horses and got rid of beeches brook we wouldn't get anything like number of horse fatalities we see at the moment.

[user104658]

Just as a side thought to this terrifying distopian idea: d'you think if we DID specifically breed and train humans for sport, they would end up totally smashing world records? Like would the ones bred for speed be running the 100m in like 6 seconds? And would we have Olympic swimmers with massive flipper feet due to selective breeding? . I mean it's horrifying but... Sort of fascinating...

Like I've always said that I'd totally watch an Olympics where there were no bans on performance enhancing drugs. Just to see what would happen

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Just as a side thought to this terrifying distopian idea: d'you think if we DID specifically breed and train humans for sport, they would end up totally smashing world records? Like would the ones bred for speed be running the 100m in like 6 seconds? And would we have Olympic swimmers with massive flipper feet due to selective breeding? . I mean it's horrifying but... Sort of fascinating...

Like I've always said that I'd totally watch an Olympics where there were no bans on performance enhancing drugs. Just to see what would happen

I just pictured a bunch of smack heads drowning for some reason.

But then also that tournament from Harry potter where they could use any magic they liked in the tasks so you ended up with players with shark head and gills.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Just as a side thought to this terrifying distopian idea: d'you think if we DID specifically breed and train humans for sport, they would end up totally smashing world records? Like would the ones bred for speed be running the 100m in like 6 seconds? And would we have Olympic swimmers with massive flipper feet due to selective breeding? . I mean it's horrifying but... Sort of fascinating...

Like I've always said that I'd totally watch an Olympics where there were no bans on performance enhancing drugs. Just to see what would happen

Well theres an interesting thought

I think they would definitely smash the records, but even thinking about this is making me feel a bit dodgy

[Beso]

No not really, the horses seem to enjoy it. If anyone has ever worked in a stable they will know how much a horse enjoys human contact.

But then again if a horse falls and breaks a leg it will be shot on the track because it would take to long to safely remove it without further injuring it..therefore the next race would be held up and TS and his bookmaking chums would lose out.

So, i would say the betting industry is cruel as most owners run the horses for enjoyment rather than profit.

[Morgan.]

Completely cruel

[user104658]

We could allow cybernetic enhancements... And the wrestling would be like Robot Wars!

[Shaun]

I just find it incredibly boring. The actual race is thrilling, sure, but the entire environment of rich, upper-class horsey bores that surrounds the sport is very draining. I wouldn't miss it if it stopped.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Shaun

I just find it incredibly boring. The actual race is thrilling, sure, but the entire environment of rich, upper-class horsey bores that surrounds the sport is very draining. I wouldn't miss it if it stopped.

Or the opposite, scruffy layabouts putting 50p on an each way in a crummy shop in a backstreet somewhere and then almost having a heart attack screaming at the TV when they lost their FITY THOUS.... erm, fifty pence.

*shudders*

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Or the opposite, scruffy layabouts putting 50p on an each way in a crummy shop in a backstreet somewhere and then almost having a heart attack screaming at the TV when they lost their FITY THOUS.... erm, fifty pence.

*shudders*

It's the scruffy layabouts that ARE betting Ł100+ per race that are a real headscratcher . Well I mean not that much of a headscratcher but... "Officially" a headscratcher. "Where does he get his money? Oh I have no idea, he certainly isn't selling mountains of street vallium, officer."

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

It's the scruffy layabouts that ARE betting Ł100+ per race that are a real headscratcher . Well I mean not that much of a headscratcher but... "Officially" a headscratcher. "Where does he get his money? Oh I have no idea, he certainly isn't selling mountains of street vallium, officer."

[waterhog]

as bad as it is we must remember the horse that race are extremely well looked after and have the best food to keep them in mint condition. yes it sad when things like this happen but this story is of the minority and not the majority.

( I bet on poetic justice last grand national - it came last and he went round the track backwards. )

[Kazanne]

6 horses died in this festival and it seems to have been glossed over by the media,money again.here is another one that died.

Spoiler:

[Kazanne]

IF they are born to 'race' as some claim ,then why do they have too be 'BROKEN in' horses throw people from their backs until they are 'broken' in, it's not natural for them to have someone on their backs pushing their knees into them and being whipped, I get they love to run,but only at the pace they choose I would bet. There are too many horses and the fences aren't needed, about time these so called animal lovers got a grip and did something about it.

[DemolitionRed]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

IF they are born to 'race' as some claim ,then why do they have too be 'BROKEN in' horses throw people from their backs until they are 'broken' in, it's not natural for them to have someone on their backs pushing their knees into them and being whipped, I get they love to run,but only at the pace they choose I would bet. There are too many horses and the fences aren't needed, about time these so called animal lovers got a grip and did something about it.

Horses have been successfully ridden for over 5 thousand years. As a keen horse rider and long time owner of horses and having backed gently (not broken) horses myself, I can tell you that most horses don't try and buck a rider off. There are kind ways to back a fully grown horse as a three or even four year old and its done through time, trust and patience. People often use a method called 'natural horsemanship' where they speak the language of the horse and don't ever use a whip to frighten the animal and certainly never dig their knees into it.

Wild horses tend to be used for the meat market. Many Dartmoor ponies are rounded up once a year for the abattoir. If horses weren't ever kept as pets and ridden, they would just become another part of the meat chain. My first pony lived to the ripe old age of 30 and was a much loved member of our family.

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by DemolitionRed

Horses have been successfully ridden for over 5 thousand years. As a keen horse rider and long time owner of horses and having backed gently (not broken) horses myself, I can tell you that most horses don't try and buck a rider off. There are kind ways to back a fully grown horse as a three or even four year old and its done through time, trust and patience. People often use a method called 'natural horsemanship' where they speak the language of the horse and don't ever use a whip to frighten the animal and certainly never dig their knees into it.

Wild horses tend to be used for the meat market. Many Dartmoor ponies are rounded up once a year for the abattoir. If horses weren't ever kept as pets and ridden, they would just become another part of the meat chain. My first pony lived to the ripe old age of 30 and was a much loved member of our family.

I totally get all that ,but it's the racing I find cruel and not everyone cares for them as you obviously do,they are just a money making commodity to some and are not treated so good,some are raced when they are too young, they are poked and prodded to run faster ,and the jumps are just ridiculous.

[DemolitionRed]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

I totally get all that ,but it's the racing I find cruel and not everyone cares for them as you obviously do,they are just a money making commodity to some and are not reated so good,some are raced when they are too young, they poked and prodded to run faster ,and the jumps are just ridiculous.

I agree with all of that.
Of course, some failed racehorses get sold on for team chasing, which is equally dangerous but many get sold on to naive newbie horse owners who can't believe what a bargain such a fine looking horse is and WOW an 'ex racehorse!!" They then discover that every time their horse gets gets on turf, it wants to gallop and there's no stopping it or its so fizzy they daren't ride it and they often find the horse has massive skeleton problems and deemed unfit for purpose. It then gets sold on again and again.

The life of a racehorse isn't great but the life of an ex racehorse is equally concerning.

[Mystic Mock]

I'm not as mad on the fences, I don't mind the flat racing though.

[waterhog]

I was racing a horse this morning and it went 3 times round the track and lapped me. and it showed its big nashers at me and done meyourrrrrrrrrrr and I think that's cruel - anyone on my side

[Beso]

Isnt there someone on here who owns racehorses?...im sure ive tipped one of thiers b4..hellobud i think it was.