Grand National today

And that's the point, every sport involving horses has casualties just as the rugby field does or car racing or anything that involves any form of risk. The difference being that a rugby player or racing car driver has the choice to participate.

SW, you have the ability to write in such a condescending way. There really is no need for it. Very rude. It's an artform perfected over many years, i'll take your comments as complimentary. Do you have something more to add or did you just pop in to play school teacher? Well I can see it won't be long before you are having to use one of your alternate names! Why because you have jumped in and played the rude card? Oh and please move over re the alternate names. I'm commenting on a topic, trying to show another side, again did you have anything to add of value? No because you are once again showing your true colours and it won't be long....tick tock.....;) There are loads of people on here who give alternate viewpoints but they are not rude and dismissive as you have been this morning. Anything to add? "There was a sting in the tail for Maguire, who was handed a five-day suspension by stewards for using his whip with excessive frequency on Ballabriggs after the last fence." ( and not for the first time) Those horses really love it! :-P There are strict rules in racing about whip use and quite correctly action has been taken in a breach of those rules, racing is heavily regulated it does not eman the horse does not enjoy racing it means that the jockey tried to push the horse to stretch and win and in doing so overused his whip. For that he will be punished and the zealots will pick up on one incident and make much of it rather than comparing it to a whole race meeting where the majority stuck to the rules. I'm not even responding to your other comments accept *and you yours*. Oh come on, why not? :-P PS is that supposed to be "except"?

I think the damage would be far greater and reach industries that have not been mentioned, It would as happens with all industries not just this one. realistically why would people keephorses as pets and questionably is that not just cruel? Pet horse owners are some of the worst culprits of cruelty I don’t believe pet ownership is, as a general rule cruel although I agree that some horse owners should not be just as some dog owners should not be. Why would people keep horses as pets? For the same reason people have dogs, cats, budgies and gerbils. My points were about risk, life is a risk how far are we prepared to go as a society to reduce risk to nearly negligible, would that not be sooooo boring? I’ll take boring.

an old nag I think ;) lol

SW, you have the ability to write in such a condescending way. There really is no need for it. Very rude. It's an artform perfected over many years, i'll take your comments as complimentary. Do you have something more to add or did you just pop in to play school teacher? Well I can see it won't be long before you are having to use one of your alternate names! Why because you have jumped in and played the rude card? Oh and please move over re the alternate names. I'm commenting on a topic, trying to show another side, again did you have anything to add of value? No because you are once again showing your true colours and it won't be long....tick tock.....;) There are loads of people on here who give alternate viewpoints but they are not rude and dismissive as you have been this morning. Anything to add? "There was a sting in the tail for Maguire, who was handed a five-day suspension by stewards for using his whip with excessive frequency on Ballabriggs after the last fence." ( and not for the first time) Those horses really love it! :-P There are strict rules in racing about whip use and quite correctly action has been taken in a breach of those rules, racing is heavily regulated it does not eman the horse does not enjoy racing it means that the jockey tried to push the horse to stretch and win and in doing so overused his whip. For that he will be punished and the zealots will pick up on one incident and make much of it rather than comparing it to a whole race meeting where the majority stuck to the rules. I'm not even responding to your other comments accept *and you yours*.

an old nag I think ;) straight from the horse's mouth :D hehehehehe

an old nag I think ;)

so who p!ssed on SW's corn flakes this morning ? (more so than usual, that is...)

My response coming up next...;)

The GN coure director was interviewed on 103.8 on Thursday and he said, very clearly, that the first fence at the GN is made from a mixture of Fir and Pine trees and he he likened it to a brick wall and said that any horse that doesn't clear it, will not get past the first fence. SW, do you know how many horses are bred just to make one GN contender? Thousands, and what happens to these animals, they are neglected, mistreated, and sold either for meat or glue. I hate the GN and the fact that the commenter yesterday referred to the dead horses as obstacles. In 100 years people will look back in history and be horrified that it was allowed! Yes ceese it is a tough sport and the GN is a tough race, where however are the interviews and comments about endurance as a comparison? And that's the point, every sport involving horses has casualties just as the rugby field does or car racing or anything that involves any form of risk. So if the horse doesn't get past the first fence it finishes the race, but how many do get past?

no one will breed horses and there will be no horses left I can see both sides of this argument but the statement above is ridiculous. Why is it ridiculous? Who is going to keep and breed horses if you ban all horse related sport? Because you are assuming that horses are only bred for sport which is not correct. If equine sports did not exist there would be fewer bred animals but it would not be the end of the species. Yes you are right, there would be the odd horse sitting in a zoo, those bred for the food industry and everything associated with performance would disapear. WHat is to happen to the thousands of people who are employed in the equive industry? The numbers would surely reduce but horses for pets, in the wild and those used for recreation (but not sport) would still exist. Would the numbers significantly reduce? Yes, but it is shortsighted to think that what would remain would be the 'odd horse in a zoo'. I agree that there would be a negative financial impact on some if the equine sport industry ceased. There would be significant hardships not dissimilar to when automotive manufacturers and mines close down. But hardship , as you say, it is a fact of life. For some people like MB, this does not change her opinion. It is her right to believe racing is barbaric in the same way it is your right to believe that it has value. I think the damage would be far greater and reach industries that have not been mentioned, and realistically why would people keephorses as pets and questionably is that not just cruel? Pet horse owners are some of the worst culprits of cruelty. The racing industry is a hard and ruthless one but MB also brought in any sport that uses horses, which covers a huge area. My points were about risk, life is a risk how far are we prepared to go as a society to reduce risk to nearly negligible, would that not be sooooo boring?

SW, you have the ability to write in such a condescending way. There really is no need for it. Very rude. It's an artform perfected over many years, i'll take your comments as complimentary. Do you have something more to add or did you just pop in to play school teacher? Well I can see it won't be long before you are having to use one of your alternate names! Why because you have jumped in and played the rude card? Oh and please move over re the alternate names. I'm commenting on a topic, trying to show another side, again did you have anything to add of value? No because you are once again showing your true colours and it won't be long....tick tock.....;) There are loads of people on here who give alternate viewpoints but they are not rude and dismissive as you have been this morning. Anything to add? "There was a sting in the tail for Maguire, who was handed a five-day suspension by stewards for using his whip with excessive frequency on Ballabriggs after the last fence." ( and not for the first time) Those horses really love it! :-P

The GN coure director was interviewed on 103.8 on Thursday and he said, very clearly, that the first fence at the GN is made from a mixture of Fir and Pine trees and he he likened it to a brick wall and said that any horse that doesn't clear it, will not get past the first fence. SW, do you know how many horses are bred just to make one GN contender? Thousands, and what happens to these animals, they are neglected, mistreated, and sold either for meat or glue. I hate the GN and the fact that the commenter yesterday referred to the dead horses as obstacles. In 100 years people will look back in history and be horrified that it was allowed!

no one will breed horses and there will be no horses left I can see both sides of this argument but the statement above is ridiculous. Why is it ridiculous? Who is going to keep and breed horses if you ban all horse related sport? Because you are assuming that horses are only bred for sport which is not correct. If equine sports did not exist there would be fewer bred animals but it would not be the end of the species. Yes you are right, there would be the odd horse sitting in a zoo, those bred for the food industry and everything associated with performance would disapear. WHat is to happen to the thousands of people who are employed in the equive industry? The numbers would surely reduce but horses for pets, in the wild and those used for recreation (but not sport) would still exist. Would the numbers significantly reduce? Yes, but it is shortsighted to think that what would remain would be the 'odd horse in a zoo'. I agree that there would be a negative financial impact on some if the equine sport industry ceased. There would be significant hardships not dissimilar to when automotive manufacturers and mines close down. But hardship , as you say, it is a fact of life. For some people like MB, this does not change her opinion. It is her right to believe racing is barbaric in the same way it is your right to believe that it has value.

SW, you have the ability to write in such a condescending way. There really is no need for it. Very rude. It's an artform perfected over many years, i'll take your comments as complimentary. Do you have something more to add or did you just pop in to play school teacher? Well I can see it won't be long before you are having to use one of your alternate names! Why because you have jumped in and played the rude card? Oh and please move over re the alternate names. I'm commenting on a topic, trying to show another side, again did you have anything to add of value?

So if not for jumps like the ones where the horses died, it'd just be another race. Great argument. It's not the Grand National unless there's a considerable risk of killing your horse? Charming. edited by DubaiCat on 10/04/2011 No DC, horses die in all sports whether over a jump or not, its a fact of life not charming.

Sorry MB there is no way you are a farm girl with this attitude or understand how country life works, assumption made. I didn't say I was brought up on a farm, I said I was brought up in the countryside. I am not sure why where you were brought up enters the equation, we clearly have very different views on what is humane and what is not. For me, using animals for sport, be it racing dogs/horses or the hunt etc, is unacceptable. Yes i've gathered that but i'm trying to work out the basis of your reasoning and encourage you to understand there is so much more to it. The comments here showed a complete lack of understanding of the equine industry and National hunt horses lives. To tell me that it is better for a horse to die a natural death in the field with a broken leg is words easily said, because it sounds good rather than the grim reality or what actually happens. So a horse breaks it's leg in the field and has to die a natural death. So that means for days and days that horse will hobble around in agony trying to acess food and water, protect its self from predators and basically starve to death. You feel this is better? On the race track the horse dies within minutes of the break occuring, in a dignified peaceful way. I'm not asking you to love the grand national or watch it, i'm asking you to think deeper into something you made comment on.

MB you are not a horse woman or a country girls are you? How do i know . 40 years of experience. You think eating apples in a field is what horses should be doing? Ha, what if they break a leg in the field or choke on the apple and die? What do we ban apples and fields? If you don't use animals in sport there will be no sport and no animals, is that what you want? You don't like it because you don't understand it and have never been exposed to it. Please stop typing on your computer i don't like keypads being used for self gain risking a complete breakdown! LOL When you want to take on the role as know it all make sure you really do know it all, otherwise, you risk looking ignorant.

SW, you have the ability to write in such a condescending way. There really is no need for it. Very rude. It's an artform perfected over many years, i'll take your comments as complimentary. Do you have something more to add or did you just pop in to play school teacher? Well I can see it won't be long before you are having to use one of your alternate names!

So if not for jumps like the ones where the horses died, it'd just be another race. Great argument. It's not the Grand National unless there's a considerable risk of killing your horse? Charming. <em>edited by DubaiCat on 10/04/2011</em>

no one will breed horses and there will be no horses left I can see both sides of this argument but the statement above is ridiculous. Why is it ridiculous? Who is going to keep and breed horses if you ban all horse related sport? Because you are assuming that horses are only bred for sport which is not correct. If equine sports did not exist there would be fewer bred animals but it would not be the end of the species. Yes you are right, there would be the odd horse sitting in a zoo, those bred for the food industry and everything associated with performance would disapear. What is to happen to the thousands of people who are employed in the equine industry? If we look at countries across the world how many keep horses just to look at and have as a species? <em>edited by Sticky Wicket on 10/04/2011</em>

no one will breed horses and there will be no horses left I can see both sides of this argument but the statement above is ridiculous. Why is it ridiculous? Who is going to keep and breed horses if you ban all horse related sport? Because you are assuming that horses are only bred for sport which is not correct. If equine sports did not exist there would be fewer bred animals but it would not be the end of the species.

SW, you have the ability to write in such a condescending way. There really is no need for it. Very rude. It's an artform perfected over many years, i'll take your comments as complimentary. Do you have something more to add or did you just pop in to play school teacher?

no one will breed horses and there will be no horses left I can see both sides of this argument but the statement above is ridiculous. Why is it ridiculous? Who is going to keep and breed horses if you ban all horse related sport?

SW, you have the ability to write in such a condescending way. There really is no need for it. Very rude.

no one will breed horses and there will be no horses left I can see both sides of this argument but the statement above is ridiculous.

MB, on the same line do you agree that dogs should be used by humans to work? DO you think gun dogs enjoy what they do or are forced to do it? What about police dogs and bomb sniffer dogs, should dogs be put at risk to protect humans?

MB you are not a horse woman or a country girls are you? How do i know . 40 years of experience. You think eating apples in a field is what horses should be doing? Ha, what if they break a leg in the field or choke on the apple and die? What do we ban apples and fields? If you don't use animals in sport there will be no sport and no animals, is that what you want? You don't like it because you don't understand it and have never been exposed to it. Please stop typing on your computer i don't like keypads being used for self gain risking a complete breakdown! LOL

Over the years fences at the GN have been adapted and saftey improvements for both Jockeys and horses have been implemented. If you reduce any more you will not have the GN you will have just another NH race. Horses die all the time, they can break a leg in the field, out hacking, in the stable, horses die and sustain injuries anywhere, anyplace and anytime, that's a fact of life. Horses die in all horse related sports as do riders and handlers, fact. It's sad but it's the risk that is taken, no amount of conditioning or preapration will reduce the risk if it's going to happen, it will. So if we ban the GN then ban every horse related sport and see what happens, no one will breed horses and there will be no horses left, thousands will be unemployed and a whole industry will collapse. Every time you get into a car you risk death, so stop driving and travelling. Everytime you switch a kettle on you risk being electrocuted, so stop turning the kettle on, don't ever go swimming or have a bath you may drown! Where does it end? This is life, you live, you die. Those horses in the GN love what they do, they are bred to do it and if they didn't like it they wouldn't be doing it. They have to qualify to enter and it takes years to do so, if you think for one minute that any trainer has put a horse into the GN without being fully prepared you are nuts. Vast amounts of money is spent in making sure the horses are in peak form, no scratch un checked , these equines are looked after every moment of their lives, no expense spared. It's an industry and you may not like it but don't try to cotton wool and change it because what will be the consequences if you succeed? 33 horses in 11 years, do you know how many can die in one endurance race or an average flat race day? Lets ban the Olympics, Commonwealth games, school competitions, even cricket! As anything that stretches and tests an athletes performance may risk death, lets all shoot ourselves right now in the fear we may die doing something we love.

I've got to agree, its really sad for the horses and must be pretty awful for the riders too :( I am surpized that after all these years they haven't tried to improve the safety of Breechers Brooke to prevent horses dying or having to be put down. Its a shame as its a such an institutional race. Equally owners should not enter horses that cannot cope with the HUGE jumps and course.