Grand National
- Thread starter LMH
- Start date
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Its anyones race with 40 horses running so best to ave a go on a favourite and an outsider but who knows its impossible to say who will win, love the race though.
I don't agree with it, it's cruel. Once they start shooting the injured jockey's like they do the horses maybe I might see it in a more favourable light.
When working on the ambulance service I refused to cover the races which got me into conflict with my bosses more than once. If the general public were allowed to see the vet shoot the horse then drag it into a horse box some of those race supporters might change their minds. From the grandstand nobody sees it because they put a screen around but from where we were, on the inside of the fence, we saw it all. The very last race I attended a horse pulled up at a fence and had obviously torn a tendon. The jockey led the horse back to the start limping. Out came the Land Rover, screen around, gun to horses head and down he went then winched into the back and away to the dog food factory. All over in less than a minute, can't hang around because of the next race and need to offload the corpse for the next victim. The only reason it's allowed in todays supposed civilised society is because of the millions of
When working on the ambulance service I refused to cover the races which got me into conflict with my bosses more than once. If the general public were allowed to see the vet shoot the horse then drag it into a horse box some of those race supporters might change their minds. From the grandstand nobody sees it because they put a screen around but from where we were, on the inside of the fence, we saw it all. The very last race I attended a horse pulled up at a fence and had obviously torn a tendon. The jockey led the horse back to the start limping. Out came the Land Rover, screen around, gun to horses head and down he went then winched into the back and away to the dog food factory. All over in less than a minute, can't hang around because of the next race and need to offload the corpse for the next victim. The only reason it's allowed in todays supposed civilised society is because of the millions of
Actually LB I think you will find that more horses sustain serious to very serious injuries on the flat compared to hurdlers. This is partly due to the fact that flat horses are backed and galloped heavily as yearlings. They are skeletally immature, their owners and trainers run them far too much and the horse breaks down. The lucky horses are the ones which get shot and sent for dog meat. The unlucky ones end up in unsuitable homes were they end up being sold on to equally unsuitable homes, they do the markets. Kept out without rugs on, etc, etc. Teenage girls unable to handle them due to the breed.
Yes, I agree it's not pc nor pleasant for jo public to see a horse being shot through the head and winched but it happens.
At least hurdlers are skeletally mature when they are going over the sticks. Some come over from sj and vice versa.
It is megga bucks at the high end but sadly not the mid to low end.
Lisa
Yes, I agree it's not pc nor pleasant for jo public to see a horse being shot through the head and winched but it happens.
At least hurdlers are skeletally mature when they are going over the sticks. Some come over from sj and vice versa.
It is megga bucks at the high end but sadly not the mid to low end.
Lisa
"working life of a flat horse is very short"
Not surprising if he's flat. Needs to be put out to pasture so he can build up a bit of gas and inflate himself.
Not surprising if he's flat. Needs to be put out to pasture so he can build up a bit of gas and inflate himself.
sorry lisa i have to agree with LB on this.
I hate it and i think its cruel. the jumps are to high and there to many in the race.
sorry
jo
I hate it and i think its cruel. the jumps are to high and there to many in the race.
sorry
jo
I'll give you that one you old goat. Smiley icon thingy.
I was gifted shares in a flat horse about ten years ago. I felt awful about it because I don't agree with flat racing and I didn't want to offend my benefactor. Mind you, if it had won the Derby I might have changed my mind.
Lisa
I was gifted shares in a flat horse about ten years ago. I felt awful about it because I don't agree with flat racing and I didn't want to offend my benefactor. Mind you, if it had won the Derby I might have changed my mind.
Lisa
Hi Jo
Yes, I can see your point and you're entitled to your opinion. But do you agree with a horse a little over a yearling being pushed really hard over a short distance? Think about your reply because hard ground and young horses is bad I can tell you.
Lisa
Yes, I can see your point and you're entitled to your opinion. But do you agree with a horse a little over a yearling being pushed really hard over a short distance? Think about your reply because hard ground and young horses is bad I can tell you.
Lisa
Hi Jo
Don't bother debating with me, I'm fed up of it just lately.
Glad to hear you're another lover of horses too.
Did you have a nice time in Dorset?
Lisa xxxxxxx
Don't bother debating with me, I'm fed up of it just lately.
Glad to hear you're another lover of horses too.
Did you have a nice time in Dorset?
Lisa xxxxxxx
Not long after they started to allow female jockeys one came off in front of the grandstand and she had a serious injury. It took a long time to immobilise her and for another ambulance to arrive to take her to hospital. We couldn't take her because National Hunt rules state they had to have a paramedic on course, if we left they would have to halt the races until we got back.
We still hadn't finished with the patient when our colleagues arrived to help. All of this was going on with the Clerk of the Course pouncing around worrying if the next race would start on time. He even got course workers to erect a fence so that the horses, if he had to start the next race, could run behind us because we were in the middle. Not a care for the jockey at all. Sadly she ended up a paraplegic. I can always remember her first words, "All I can remember were these legs going over my head and not knowing who they belonged to". I then knew she had serious problems.
Whenever the flag went up on a jump meaning we were required I feared the worse but mostly they were o.k. apart from being a bit stunned. The worse was the abuse we had to take off the jockey's if we insisted that they should come with us. Once in the back of the ambulance their racing was finished for the day so we were called all kinds of names. They were happy if they went off in the course Range Rover back to the jockey's enclosure because it meant they could race again.
We still hadn't finished with the patient when our colleagues arrived to help. All of this was going on with the Clerk of the Course pouncing around worrying if the next race would start on time. He even got course workers to erect a fence so that the horses, if he had to start the next race, could run behind us because we were in the middle. Not a care for the jockey at all. Sadly she ended up a paraplegic. I can always remember her first words, "All I can remember were these legs going over my head and not knowing who they belonged to". I then knew she had serious problems.
Whenever the flag went up on a jump meaning we were required I feared the worse but mostly they were o.k. apart from being a bit stunned. The worse was the abuse we had to take off the jockey's if we insisted that they should come with us. Once in the back of the ambulance their racing was finished for the day so we were called all kinds of names. They were happy if they went off in the course Range Rover back to the jockey's enclosure because it meant they could race again.
Sorry Lisa I must also agree with Lord B. in this instance. I think all forms of horse racing is cruel, more so the grand national as the fences are so high and so wide. If the horse has to be deystroyed has he/she died because it wanted to jump but failed or was it forced to jump knowing it would not make it? I appreciate a horse's natural instinct is to jump but it knows its limitations and will naturally act accordingly. I also do not watch the Horse of the Year show for the same reason. I have never placed a bet on a horse nor even been in a betting shop - I would not have a clue what to do.
Hi colin
I appreciate what you are saying.
I have never ridden in races, far too chicken, but I have hunted with hounds and I can tell you, the horses are sooooo up for it, it really is very hard to hold them back. They will fly with the herd but obviously it sometimes depends on the gameness of the horse you are riding and also the gameness of yourself. Some horses will go and jump and go and jump and no matter what bit you have in its mouth and no matter how competent a horseman or woman you are, it is bloody hard to stop them so I would imagine hurdling is exactly the same. They love it.
The fences over the national circuit are soft now. If a horse hits it, it bends or the horse simply goes through it, whereas years ago the fences were solid and yes, injuries were extreme.
Lisa
I appreciate what you are saying.
I have never ridden in races, far too chicken, but I have hunted with hounds and I can tell you, the horses are sooooo up for it, it really is very hard to hold them back. They will fly with the herd but obviously it sometimes depends on the gameness of the horse you are riding and also the gameness of yourself. Some horses will go and jump and go and jump and no matter what bit you have in its mouth and no matter how competent a horseman or woman you are, it is bloody hard to stop them so I would imagine hurdling is exactly the same. They love it.
The fences over the national circuit are soft now. If a horse hits it, it bends or the horse simply goes through it, whereas years ago the fences were solid and yes, injuries were extreme.
Lisa
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