Grand National - barbaric?

daz · 4 Apr 2003 at 21:11

Is it wrong to put horses through the torture that is 'The Grand National'?

wiiija · 4 Apr 2003 at 21:12

Borris · 4 Apr 2003 at 21:15

Originally posted by daz
Is it wrong to put horses through the torture that is 'The Grand National'?

I prefer to use them to hunt small furry animals.

sik · 4 Apr 2003 at 21:17

Re: Re: Grand National - barbaric?

Maybe.

Originally posted by Borris
I prefer to use them to hunt small furry animals.

I use dogs for that, horses can't move round trees as fast.

Feek · 4 Apr 2003 at 21:21

Daz, apologies for the OT post (shouldn't this be in sports), but who's that in your sig?

K.

*FLASH* · 4 Apr 2003 at 21:22

Originally posted by Feek
Daz, apologies for the OT post (shouldn't this be in sports), but who's that in your sig?

K.

My Mum!

silverpaw · 4 Apr 2003 at 21:23

I think it's out of order, the number of casualties is far too high as the fences the horses are made to jump are too big.

NeoNemesis · 4 Apr 2003 at 21:23

Re: Re: Grand National - barbaric?

Originally posted by Borris
I prefer to use them to hunt small furry animals.

Like Anne Robinson?

SKILL · 4 Apr 2003 at 21:26

Originally posted by Feek
Daz, apologies for the OT post (shouldn't this be in sports), but who's that in your sig?

K.

i think it is 'Dawn' from the nVidia tech demos

[TW]Fox · 4 Apr 2003 at 21:26

Originally posted by Feek
Daz, apologies for the OT post (shouldn't this be in sports), but who's that in your sig?

K.

Looks like the fictional character Dawn from Nvidias GeForceFX demo's.

Jimmyboyo · 4 Apr 2003 at 21:27

Originally posted by daz
Is it wrong to put horses through the torture that is 'The Grand National'?

Nah, they love it. They understand to a certain extent whats going on, and get into it. Surely if they didn't like it, they wouldn't be still running after they loose their riders, as they often do.

JodieO · 4 Apr 2003 at 21:40

Re: Re: Grand National - barbaric?

Originally posted by Jimmyboyo
Nah, they love it. They understand to a certain extent whats going on, and get into it. Surely if they didn't like it, they wouldn't be still running after they loose their riders, as they often do.

That isn't true, horses have a herd instinct and that's why they carry on running, with fences they can go around they often do but still run with the other horses.

Red and White · 4 Apr 2003 at 21:58

how can it be barbaric the winning horse gets a sash at the end of the race

Kanes · 4 Apr 2003 at 22:00

it's far more humane to keep them in a small field and chase them with sticks for drunken amusement. Then when it get's boring, send them to the glue factory or let them host a successful children's tv series

Fusion · 4 Apr 2003 at 22:16

Originally posted by Feek
Daz, apologies for the OT post (shouldn't this be in sports), but who's that in your sig?

You thoght it was a real person :eek:

Then Nvidia's "Matrix" project could be going ahead sooner than we all realise

Custor · 4 Apr 2003 at 22:49

No.
The size (height) of the fences is immaterial to horse fatalities. Lower jumps and the horse don't 'jump', they gallop straight though them and come a cropper due to speed.
If its so alien to horse why so many carry on even when riderless?

Red and White · 4 Apr 2003 at 22:53

they should make it better, by making jumps with12 foot drops or swiiming pools behind them, only the audience would know when such jumps were approaching. Imagine the carnage

JodieO · 4 Apr 2003 at 22:57

Originally posted by Custor
No.
The size (height) of the fences is immaterial to horse fatalities. Lower jumps and the horse don't 'jump', they gallop straight though them and come a cropper due to speed.
If its so alien to horse why so many carry on even when riderless?

Not true, there are many races where the fences are lower and the horses do jump them. A good rider makes a lot of difference too. They carry on due to herd instinct as I said before.

Custor · 4 Apr 2003 at 23:04

Herd instinct makes them jump around a course in a total alien way? Riderless horses more often than not lead the field. They lead the heard not follow not for safety.

Fatalities lower fences = no horse fatalities? Erm no.

JodieO · 4 Apr 2003 at 23:27

Originally posted by Custor
Herd instinct makes them jump around a course in a total alien way? Riderless horses more often than not lead the field. They lead the heard not follow not for safety.

Fatalities lower fences = no horse fatalities? Erm no.

I never said it was alien :confused:

but yes herd instinct makes them still run, horses do jump in the wild so it isn't an aline thing. They lead because they are carrying less then the others but it is still a natural instinct to run with the pack. I don't know who you're quoting but it wasn't me, I never said that lower fences equals no horse fatalities I said

there are many races where the fences are lower and the horses do jump them

but it is clear that the horses would be less likely to be injured with lower fences as the statistics show this from previous national races and other jump races with lower fences.