Grand National

[whiskeryron]

Just showing my higorance here but hearing & seeing the news about the 2 horses being put down who suffered broken legs, why in this 21st century can't these poor beasts be saved with broken limbs ?

W Ron.

[woofgang]

No. The kinder option is to end the bloodsport.....I mean stock....bloodstock industry but no one will say iy because of the tax it brings to the exchequer

[wildwood]

Too late for the 2 horses now, but why not ban the steeple races from any racing program? The jumps are notorious for causing many horse deaths/injury on the track.

[DTCwordfan]

so you are going to terminate all horses, woofgang, not just sport but horse jobs - look, a horse can stumble in a hole in a field (as mine did) or a pavement and break its (fore)leg and it would need putting down. In my case, we were talking a horse of considerable breeding, worth saving if they could (and not for horse racing). The break was above the ankle..........

Really...........

[woofgang]

Which horse activity generates the most discards? Has the most injuries and fatalities but also generates the most money?

[DTCwordfan]

showjumping and three day event probably.

[DTCwordfan]

when measured on a per 1000 basis.

[DTCwordfan]

and certainly on an absolute basis.

[DTCwordfan]

after all in 2011, there were 23, yes 23 that we would have preferred not to happen.

Though not directly comparable there were 106 serious horse accidents in 2009, as to the riders on UK roads, a high percentage of which would have resulted in the horse having to be put down.

[glasman]

Was about to add my tuppenceworth until I read that a lot of people had already echoed my sentiments. Just to add - is there anybody out there who thinks that fatal accidents will not happen on motorways?

[Brinjal]

Horses fall over in paddocks and break legs. It's not just in racing or competions but the outcome is generally the same.

[DTCwordfan]

hopefully not the same for llamas,brinjal.

More seriously, the numbers were all but 50:50 on urban roads vs non-urban in 09, zero on motorways.

[boxtops]

The vet said after the GN that it's the kindest thing to put down the horse - they get pneumonia if they can't move about, so a sling isn't a sensible option.

[glasman]

DT, where are you getting your statistics from?

•There were 1,910 people killed and 24,560 killed or seriously injured (KSI), in reported road accidents in the year ending June 2011. This represents a fall of 4 per cent for both severities compared to the previous 12 month period.

[DTCwordfan]

with a horse, glasman?????

Mine are fromthe Brit Horse Society.

[glasman]

Is there vast media coverage when a horse is put down after racing at Uttoxeter or Market Rasen?. Subject to correction. I would think that the level of fatalities at these courses would be on a par with Liverpool but are not reported.

[DTCwordfan]

not quite, me thinks glasman, as there were 3 Aintree deaths this year, 3 last year, and last year all jumps equalled 23. Now I do not know if that includes point to point which I would think not.

[Brinjal]

Hopefully not for alpacas either DT.

[FredPuli43]

Chaser and hurdler horses are always geldings nowadays; there were one or two in past times that were raced as entire horses; so there are no stud fees from them. The insurance pay out on a gelding such as Synchronised, who had won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, will be substantial, though not as much as for a very successful flat racing colt or horse (stud fees again). If the animal is badly injured, there is no great incentive to the owner to pay for the extensive and lengthy treatment of it in the unlikely case that it can be saved without long suffering, rather than have it humanely put down. The insurers may not be willing to pay for the treatment, anyway.

It is correct that horses get severely injured in other circumstances than the National's; we've had horses in Newmarket breaking a leg on the gallops, never mind in racing anywhere. But National fences include some where the 'drop',the landing side, is of markedly greater height than the approach side (Becher's is one). These present a real danger, and should be altered more than they have been, to make the drop equal or very nearly so. And the National has an enormous field, 40, compared to other such races, which means a far greater risk of horses being brought down, as fatally happened once this year. If both those elements were removed,the injuries and fatalities should be reduced.

[lankeela]

How refreshing to have this subject discussed in a (relatively) calm and subjective manner. I have seen so many threads over the past few days where people have made unfounded sweeping statements and accused anyone who goes racing of all manner of cruelty and claiming that owners are only in it for the money etc etc. Its good to hear a different side of the discussion without it turning into a slanging match. My involvement with NH racing is at the 'lower' end of the food chain (perhaps not the best analogy!) and the owners certainly pay out far more than they ever recoup.
Most horses are not insured either as the premiums are far too expensive. Owners, trainers and stable staff are all very upset if anything happens to one of their horses (or even someone else's) and although its a risk the enjoyment from seeing their horses run far outweighs the rare occasions when a horse is injured or killed.

[andres]

The horse 'According to Pete' broke his shoulder not his leg.