Grand National

[Roughquest]

As its the 'greatest horse race in the world' this weekend, i feel a few horsey questions coming on.....

1. Do horses jump naturally or is it imprinted that we have taught them to do so?
2. Can horses see in the dark ?
3. Do horses enjoy 'racing' against each other on the track?

Happy betting.....

[rexy0101]

As you call it "the greatest horse race in the world" just spare a thought for the many many horses that have died or had to be shot during this race!!

[horsestache1]

I'll try and answer your question.

1. Horses do jump naturally in the wild

2. Horses have very good night vision (they are a prey animal)

3. I dont know if horses enjoy racing against each other on the track, but mine certainly enjoy racing each other in the field, they have a "play time" and run around like loonies. They are also very competative, so I would guess they do enjoy racing.

I'm having a flutter, but as I've never won a bet yet, I won't bother telling you who my monies on!!!!

[electricblue]

dont give a monkeys what anyone say on this subject,but that race shud be banned,full stop!!

[lankeela]

I would argue against the Grand National being the 'greatest horse race in the world' - I personally think the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the King George on Boxing Day are both better from a skill and ability point of view. The Grand National tends to be a bit of a lottery.

As for your questions, horses do jump naturally, they can see in the dark and if they didn't enjoy racing they would not do it! This is why sometimes you get a horse that has 'taken no part' in a race! Although you would normally know before you got to the track whether or not the horse was going to run for you. It is far too expensive to keep horses in training, and keeping one that was not performing would not be a very sensible idea.

I hope that all the horses get round ok and anyone who has a bet has a successful day.

[pmjblue]

agree with electric blue and rexy, the race should be banned.

[garner]

Yes I have to join the club, It should be banned.Poor horses that have to be shot its terrible.

[Roughquest]

Thank you Horsetache - very help indeed and very interesting..... RQ x

In one respect I do see it as cruel but I cant help enjoying it - I dont enjoy seeing the horses fall either and I do pray they all get round safely althoug the race is far safer and kinder on the horses than it was in the 1980s ! The fences have been altered, the ground is made softer before the race and Beecher's Brook does not have the steep drop on the other side that it used to have.

[uraeus]

I despise the grand national- its as good as an abbatoir.
And horses do jump naturally, how do you think they clear objects when fleeing from predators? And many wil jump jumps in fields in high spirits!
horses can see better in the dark than humans but not completely
and some do like to race each other, the more leadery types that run to the front out on hacks and in lessons etc, or seabiscuit lol!