two horses die at national

I too think it is cruel, and when you see pictures of horses falling to the ground, and whilst on the ground, their eyes are full of fear.

Horse racing is a disgusting cruel sport. I also hate bull fighting in Spain.

I do not know how people can find fun in watching animals suffer.

i totally agree with you Alex, i cant bare to see this happen and like you say the fear in their eyes, thanx for your comment.

We were watching the race with our grandson for a bit of fun and we chose 'horses' that we liked the names of, again just for fun, but when the camera showed the horses being treated, be it only briefly, we had to try and explain what had happened to Dylan, who is very sharp eyed, it was hard, we said the horses were lying down because they were tired! Oh dear, such a shame.

I can't even write what i think of horse racing because i'd be flagged and banned for obcenities !

Wow Louise. It sounds like you have very strong thoughts on the matter.

as a horse owner which is now 20 this month , i agree sandra ............. we went 2 years ago and one dropped dead in front of us at the end of race , and one the day be for .
they also feed them high protein diets to pump them up and ride them at 2 years wen in the real world you ride at 4 year old............... and how hypocrites are they .......... its jockey club rules that say u cant ride at shows till 4 !!!!!!!!!!!!! so bad .................
my horse is part of our family and is treated so . but i have seen horrid things at shows as well ;0((((

Grandmage i can understand how it must have been, how can you tell a child what has happened, would break their hearts,
louise i agree i could curse and swear myself, its to painfull to think about what they go through.
cristina how awfull for you to witness that and its not surprising you saying what happens in shows to, i can fully believe it, a women i use to live across from had a horse, she was the nicest person you could meet, then she was in the paper about neglect with horses, her horse was almost lame, i couldnt believe what i was reading, she said she paid to have her horse looked after but surely she could see what was happening when she went at weekends, the state of her horse was distressing, i never spoke to her again.

I agree with cristina..I have been to a few shows over the years ,..and the worst case of cruelty I saw (goodness knows what goes on behind closed stable doors ) was Harvey Smiths son ,Robert I think, beat the living daylights out of his horse,just because it had knocked a jump down ! The thing was, he had actually come out of the ring by then, so what on earth that was supposed to achieve goodness only knows. I am so angry with myself for not confronting him ,or, at least reporting the incident,..nowadays I wouldn't think twice about it !

I don't like how the horses get beaten by the jockeys while they are riding them. There is absolutely no excuse for it. To risk them being killed just for sport is diabolical - as bad as fox hunting to me.

People say animals enjoy doing something when they make them do things they enjoy themselves. It's an excuse and not true.
Lots of people make money from this race and other races, so in order to continue, they make the excuse that the animals enjoy it.
But the truth (which people don't want to face) is they don't enjoy it at all.
And anyway, why should animals die just so that people can 'enjoy' themselves and make money on it. It is immoral
But the people in charge care nothing about morals do they .... they pretend they do - but they don't.

it is horrible Sandra - feel sorry for the horses very much

Hi Sand, I am totally in agreement with Louise. I couldn't even begin to make a comment. I think it's an absolutely disgusting sport. On reading your comment Judy, about Harvey Smiths son. I remember when my daughter had her horse many years ago, she used to go to a club where they taught the youngsters how to handle their pets. My daughter wanted me to stay one week to see how well 'Lucy' was doing. There was a small section where the horse had to learn to obey their riders requests. One of the things they had to do was stand by a gate while their rider opened it, then walk through, stand again while their rider closed the gate. My Daughter had to stay mounted whilst doing this. I felt very proud watching how my Daughter and 'Lucy' had progressed and bonded together. Next thing, I heard a squeal from behind the bushes. My Daughter informed me, it was one of the Mums taking a crop to HER Daughter, as her Daughter hadn't done so well. I couldn't believe it, and when I said to my Daughter I was going to say something, her comment to me was 'Don't bother Mum, she does it to her every time because her Mum says it's her fault and not her horse'.

Think I've been flagged !..Can anybody tell me how to delete my comment ? I realised when I logged off that I shouldn't have mentioned any names ,but can't find a way of changing it !

I don't think there was anything wrong with your comment Judy. If someone well known does something like that I think they ought to be named.
How do you know you've been flagged anyway ?
- And I don't think it's possible to delete a comment.

I have to agree with everyone else here, the National has become far to dangerous and its heartbreaking to see healthy horses die in the name of `sport`.

i dont bet on animals and i dont watch it,its only done by people who want to make money not for the animals welfare,i would be ashamed to watch

Hi Sandra, i can only echo yours & everyones comments,, it is so cruel to make animals do things for the enjoyment of humans ..i cant watch it either , the way the poor horses get beaten to run faster...

I didn't even know it was on,as it is of no interest to me,and I would never ever watch it,as I totally agree with all the above comments..sheer cruelty..when they had syndicates wherever I have worked,to place bets for the winner,I never joined in..and didn't care what anyone thought either..and explained why.How some of these involved with this appalling treatment,go under the guise of animal lovers,is beyond me,and so hypocritical..but 'money talks '.!

Thanks Hywel ...Mine is the only comment that lacks the word 'flag' at the bottom,or is this because it is my own comment ..still not too hot with a computer ! . I suppose the comment would have been removed if it had been thought of as inappropriate.
This all aside, I agree with all of your concerns about this, and other barbaric sports. This is supposed to be a civilised society after all ! And, Lindalooloo...that just takes it to another level altogether ...
Very emotive subject Sanbaz..wish there was something we could do to change things .

Yes judy. I don't see it on my comments.

I can see the word 'flag' on all comments here, dont worry Judy, you were only speaking your mind and you get plenty of that on here sometimes. You were speaking from the heart.

I don't like horse racing eather, it is so cruel

It isn't on your own comment Judy,just on everyone elses..in case they decide they want to flag it...

I hate animal cruelty in all shape's and form's and there is a lot of it out there.It is the height of the fence's at the Grand National that get me and those poor loose horse's.

If the same kind of race had been run with ... say .... dogs, instead of horses, there would be a National outcry and the people involved would be taken to trial. As has already been said - "money talks" - so blind eyes are turned in favour of fat pockets! Disgusting!

judywolf .................. funny u shud say that bt harvey smiths son ................ we saw him do the very same thing at the m/c show .................. years ago , so it seems that the norm for him , he shud be wipped as well. every one booed him , he was diqouilified but beat the horse up out side the ring .
we shud not have to put up with that !!!

Thanks Cristina, too right ,it shouldn't be tolerated...I would just like to know why these people (jockeys and showjumpers/eventers etc) are not banned from the sport ,when they have treated their animals in such a way...

at local shows you are baned if you use ur whip more than 3 times ........................... but higher up , it all bt money ;0(((

thankyou all for your comments on this awfull subject and nice to see so much suport which makes me wonder why people dont have a say in this race being banned, judy what a appauling story, poor girl, wicked mother :o((
thanx again everyone who commented. i will be deleting this blog soon just incase it upsets someone as not gardening and might be a sore subject to some.

I shouldn't imagine anyone could be upset,at commenting on acts of cruelty,Sanbaz..!! I'm sure it would have been flagged by now,otherwise...

im sure your right sandra, its all nature all said and done, thanx :o))

Everything upsets someone Sandra lol.
The narrow minded ones who want nothing but horticultural facts don't have to read this. They have probably filtered it out anyway - the sad people !

lol hywel, cheers :o)

:)

No need to delete this. It has got so much interest.

We may be on a gardening community website, but we do enjoy a break from horticulture, and sharing our views on things like this.

Some of my blogs have nothing to do with gardening, and have had a disgusted effect about their subject, but no-one seemed to complain.

cheers Alex, will leave it on then, thanx.

You're welcome

God bless those faithful horses ....

i agree Terra, thanyou for comment.

I'm well behind on catching up with all the blogs....I think there are about 6 or 7 pages of them that I've not read yet!

San, I recognize the greed of people in this and many other sports as the reason why this type of sport is not banned. Money always talks!

The cruelty side of it is terrible...surely they must have RSPCA observing these races and the horses' owners? I don't hear any outcrys from the RSPCA...and I find that a bit sad.

I do not agree with causing animals distress, pain or having them face undue risks such as horses in racing. I hope one day it can be banned altogether.

In my experience Jaquie the RSPCA are useless anyway (on my high horse again!).Sorry to say that, as am sure there have been occasions when they have come into their own, but too many times now (this is not just my experience of them ) they have let animals down. Has anybody else found this ?

thanx for your input jacquie, well said ;o)
judy i have found this when i found a abandoned cat and her kittens living under my shed at other house, called RSPCA and didnt want to know here in blackpool, they dont do cats i was told, what happended to helping all animals grrr ;o(

They also don't help..swans, (though that tv programme from years ago 'Pet rescue'.... lol !... will have us believe otherwise). Also a friend of mine who bred boxers, had asked me to look after her dogs and some cats she was boarding, while she went away overnight (she did have severe mental health problems I might add ) . I had only seen a couple of them she had kept in the house..who looked fine, though, slightly underweight. But, when I went to feed and exercise the ones in the kennels outside...( something I never ever want to see in my life again !) it was heart breaking ..I can't even write it down. Needless to say, I rang the RSPCA...and after giving them a graphic description of what I had just witnessed, and bearing in mind I had the key to the property...their reply was.."sorry but we cannot enter the premisses without the permission of the owner"..WHAT ?...I ranted and raved but to no avail. The lady was due back the following day, so hoped they would sort it then, but when I rang, they said she wouldn't let them in ! By now I was having a nervous breakdown myself and at a total loss at what to do being only young and naive. So another day went past with more rantings at the RSPCA, however, as luck would have it, the lady who's cat she was looking after, had tried to get her pet back, but couldn't get into the house after banging at the door. So she rang the police ! Why didn't I think of that ! I think only two or three dogs pulled through..sadly the others had to be put out of their misery..of which they had two extra needless days of ,so thank you RSPCA . My friend was prosecuted obviously. I have to add though, and believe it or not ,she had once loved her animals and had some success at crufts, but she lost her husband when he'd only been retired a few days, so this had sent her already delicate mind over the top.

judy what a sad story, sad for the animals and for your friend who wasnt in the right state of mind to probably realise what was happening around her, im glad something was done in the end but sadley to late for some, iv seen similar things on tv, also i must admit i once was looking for kennels for my dog years ago and came across the most awfull kennels, over grown areas ment for dog exercise, poop left for days maybe weks by the looks of things in the kennels, no light, it was unbelievable, how people could even leave their beloved pets there i dont know.
anyway i came away and called the RSPA and reported it crying on the phone, within days the place was shut down and has never opened again, the bungalow still there and brocken down kennels left, i think about it every time i pass, so on that occasion they did there job and did it well.

Yes that was a good result, and well done you for being a part of that. Like you say though, things stick in your mind. I should not tarnish all of them with the same brush, it's just certain sections of the establishment have a lot to answer for,and of course this was years ago so hopefully lessons were learnt.
The lady in question apparently had had quite a traumatic event in her teenage years, which sadly affected the rest of her life. Her husband was wonderful and did his best to keep her strong, so when he went ,I think in effect, so did her life .

it puts life into perspective judy when you hear about someone who lives with such problems, makes me thankfull, very sad.

maybe the men that love this so much should be running around the track and the horses pushing them to the ground. I find that this is so cruel. We dont have animals to do this to

well said pondlady, thanx for adding your comment.