Hoping no horses die this year in the Grand national.

[raynaputi]

One documentary I've watched about horse racing, a trainer was showing how they know if the horses would be for the hurdles or for the flats racing. They've put one young horse in a training area, and let it do its thing in it, running free. There are hurdles in this enclosure and there were no jockeys or anyone telling the horse what to do. This young horse hasn't been raced or seen any hurdles before that day. And what did the horse do? Jumped on its free will on these hurdles and kept on doing it a lot of times without any human interaction, until one of the stable girl got in the enclosure to get it.

The horses won't jump or run if they don't like it, even if the jockeys force them. I've seen races where the horse just stood there at the start and they have to restart it because one would not run. The 2nd start, it still won't run and they were forced to pull it out. Not just in the hurdles, but a lot of times as well in the flats racing. Vets won't let them run if their condition is not good before the start, and they always check them at the start and end of the race. When Synchronised died in the Grand National 2 years ago, it broke its legs when it was running free and not doing the hurdles.

You need to study what's going on in the racing industry, how they train the horses, how they handle them and all in it aside from just looking about the money they are making. Of course there will be bad apples. But most of these horses are considered pets and family by the owners, trainers and stable people, just like any pet dogs, cats, etc which are all for human pleasure as well. I'm more concerned of horses that regular people are having especially when they don't have the money and area they are supposed to have for these horses. A lot of those end up dead if not rescued.

[cheekee]

One documentary I've watched about horse racing, a trainer was showing how they know if the horses would be for the hurdles or for the flats racing. They've put one young horse in a training area, and let it do its thing in it, running free. There are hurdles in this enclosure and there were no jockeys or anyone telling the horse what to do. This young horse hasn't been raced or seen any hurdles before that day. And what did the horse do? Jumped on its free will on these hurdles and kept on doing it a lot of times without any human interaction, until one of the stable girl got in the enclosure to get it.

The horses won't jump or run if they don't like it, even if the jockeys force them. I've seen races where the horse just stood there at the start and they have to restart it because one would not run. The 2nd start, it still won't run and they were forced to pull it out. Not just in the hurdles, but a lot of times as well in the flats racing. Vets won't let them run if their condition is not good before the start, and they always check them at the start and end of the race. When Synchronised died in the Grand National 2 years ago, it broke its legs when it was running free and not doing the hurdles.

You need to study what's going on in the racing industry, how they train the horses, how they handle them and all in it aside from just looking about the money they are making. Of course there will be bad apples. But most of these horses are considered pets and family by the owners, trainers and stable people, just like any pet dogs, cats, etc which are all for human pleasure as well. I'm more concerned of horses that regular people are having especially when they don't have the money and area they are supposed to have for these horses. A lot of those end up dead if not rescued.

You make good points.

I think you misunderstood me. I think horse racing needs to be made safer. I am annoyed and upset that a beautiful creature had to die because of a race. I detest that whips are used. I know the horses are treated well and are loved. I have worked in animal rescue and have seen some awful abuse cases. Yes I also worry about the horses that cant be cared for properly as well.

Thank you for your well constructed reply.

[raynaputi]

You make good points.

I think you misunderstood me. I think horse racing needs to be made safer. I am annoyed and upset that a beautiful creature had to die because of a race. I detest that whips are used. I know the horses are treated well and are loved. I have worked in animal rescue and have seen some awful abuse cases. Yes I also worry about the horses that cant be cared for properly as well.

Thank you for your well constructed reply.

Read this on how they are making it safer, particularly the Grand National race, http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_National Although some of the suggestions like lowering the fences or making it narrower would result to horses racing faster. Keith keeps on saying that everytime he sees people complaining about it on tv..haha. Also lowering the number or horses isn't a guarantee of no fatalities. Btw, the horse that died in this year's festival didn't run in the Grand National but in the novices hurdles, which has the regular fences, 3.5 ft in height.