I didn't realise two horses died in Grand National today.

[ladybirder]

That's awful. Does anybody else feel the same?

[TheOtherHalf]

The thing is, the organisers seem to expect that so many horses each GN will have to be put down after falling. Its awful to just rate them as a statistic. I felt sad after finding out just as I did when those 2 horses were electrocuted recent

If we enter a race and die of heart attack etc, its unfortunately bad luck but we have a choice whether to race or not but these horses dont. I understand from a recent programme by Martin Clunes that horses are very loyal, and to be let down by mankind is a tragedy

[anneasquith]

i always admire the bravery of the jockeys at a huge race like the grand national, but they have a choice, unlike the horses...... after seeing that video i will never bet on the GN again.

[daffy654]

33 horses have died at Aintree in the last 11 years (during GN season). That is far too many and proves how dangerous that course is.

[vulcan]

This would suggest not all horses, in the Army at least, are not put down when injured.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3816705.stm

[Prudie]

No they are not vulcan and there would have been public outrage if the horses able to survive what I think was one of the worst events of the IRA bombing campaign in England had not been given a chance. I believe there are also times when army horses are sold on for hacks but it's really rare - I know because I tried to buy one myself and it was put down anyway. The same happens to a lot of dogs.

[LoftyLottie]

Just ban the damn race. I haven't read all through this thread. I purposely tried to ignore everything about the Grand National because it upsets me so much.

[cjt62]

Paddywak - look at the www.horsedeathwatch.com site. I think you will be surprised at how many horses die on the flat. Their total from the inception of the site (13 March 2007) is 676 horses in 1490 days - I don't know the split between NH and flat racing but the details are there.

[cjt62]

Paddywack, visit the www.horsedeathwatch.com site - 676 horses, both NH and flat, killed since 13 March 2007. You will be surprised at how many fatalities there are on the flat.

[karenmac60]

Hey, here's an idea - children love running, so why don't we breed some just for that purpose. We can get them to jump over impossibly high fences and if they don't go fast enough we'll give them a 'light tap' on the rear just to spur them on. Then we could all make a fortune by getting people to place bets on whose kid wins!
It's the same argument really - but any sensible person would be appalled at the thought.

[sandyRoe]

I don't know, Karenmac. You may have the germ of an idea there

[ladybirder]

So I'm certainly not alone then, thank goodness for that. I had no idea so many people felt as strongly as I do, I'm truly sickened and depressed by it. And thanks to everyone who has posted and for the videos.

[woofgang]

tamborine
"Witness horse pampering here, lots are from race breeding stables and retrained.

http://www.rwhs.co.uk/ "

I don't see any retrained racehorse in this clip??????

[woofgang]

I di saee it as positive that people are beginning to think and notice things like the nasty side of racing...apparently greyhound racing as an industry is in decline...and ten years ago, who would have thought that mainstream companies would be taking notice too and doing things like only using free range eggs?

[woofgang]

"di saee" no i haven't been drinking.... "do see"

[jedimistress]

I don't watch it. The whole industry is cruel, not just that race. I once had to write an article about horse racing for a magazine, and I've forgotten more than I remember about the research material. It was full of cruelty and disregard for the horses and any oponents horses. The 2 horses which died on Saturday are the tip of iceberg.

I was also one of the 15 people who ran on to protest in 1993. We thought the campaigns had gathered momentum and the course was made safer, but clearly it remains the same deathtrap as always.

[tamborine]

Woof if you attend the show you will see schooled horses for jumping/driving/dressage.

[LoftyLottie]

I agree with you Jedimistress.

[DTCwordfan]

Just ban all horse racing, let all of them roam free on the slopes of Exmoor and Dartmoor in sublime bliss - and then see how many survived the winter.

[tamborine]

Visit some stables, if you see cruelty report to RSPCA & owners will be prosecuted pdq !