tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post553939095901965153..comments2024-03-27T05:18:53.795-07:00Comments on The Weaver of Grass: The Grand National.The Weaver of Grasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13947971556343746883noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-10771864059418551362012-04-18T06:54:38.272-07:002012-04-18T06:54:38.272-07:00Thanks for joining in the debate - can't say t...Thanks for joining in the debate - can't say that I am any more enlightened than I was before. It is a thorny problem and there are no easy answers, but some of us will always be pro and some anti.The Weaver of Grasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947971556343746883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-77467932071462191592012-04-18T02:37:17.712-07:002012-04-18T02:37:17.712-07:00The whole of the racing industry and everything in...The whole of the racing industry and everything involved is barbaric to me, and yes, it's about money, always has been and always will be. End of.<br /><br />Just my thoughts.<br /><br />MrsL<br />xMrsLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05813732948803001084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-75215597880160378812012-04-18T02:36:49.788-07:002012-04-18T02:36:49.788-07:00The whole of the racing industry and everything in...The whole of the racing industry and everything involved is barbaric to me, and yes, it's about money, always has been and always will be. End of.<br /><br />Just my thoughts.<br /><br />MrsL<br />xMrsLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05813732948803001084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-21088990933985229752012-04-18T02:16:23.746-07:002012-04-18T02:16:23.746-07:00I have very strong feelings on this and I daren...I have very strong feelings on this and I daren't really start to express them or I'll upset the 'pro' people. Around 420 horses a year die in, as a result of, or training for, races. <br />That can't be right.MorningAJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04719744167307369768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-29729264644045986232012-04-17T17:39:08.342-07:002012-04-17T17:39:08.342-07:00Enlighten you? I think what you've said is pre...Enlighten you? I think what you've said is pretty enlightened.Dominic Rivronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02618013365521035400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-52103137199621196412012-04-17T15:17:46.825-07:002012-04-17T15:17:46.825-07:00I'm not sure what I think. I've never real...I'm not sure what I think. I've never really been keen on watching horse racing (either live or on the telly) though I do consider horses to be magnificent animals. I could definitely live without the race and not miss it at all.Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13357761230206692089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-15290558130335173532012-04-17T15:13:05.845-07:002012-04-17T15:13:05.845-07:00I think it's an unnecessary thing to put horse...I think it's an unnecessary thing to put horses through just fr the thrill of the public. It;s obviously a dangerous sport otherwise there would not be so much controversy about it. It seems this race causes regular fatalities and at whose cost and at whose betterment? I say, stop this nonsense and let's treat those horses better to a life they deserve. They didn't ask for this.Irenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05043376053971475659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-26407000358885337012012-04-17T13:26:19.611-07:002012-04-17T13:26:19.611-07:00I meant to add, that all horses should also carry ...I meant to add, that all horses should also carry the same weight, as over that distance carrying a handicap of an extra stone because it's a cracking horse is what tells. It should be the best horse than wins, not the one with the least lead on its back.Bovey Bellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13117332471600275100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-7807636601532922582012-04-17T09:30:04.061-07:002012-04-17T09:30:04.061-07:00As a horsey person, and one who has followed this ...As a horsey person, and one who has followed this race from when it was first broadcast on tv in 1960, I have a different take on it.<br /><br />Yes, loose horses will "follow the herd" but if you look, not all of them jump. If they are tired or daunted or you might say, sensible, they go round the fence. The damage to Synchronised was when he was galloping and jumping loose after his fall parted him from McCoy. If a horse is approaching on a wrong stride, a good jockey will try to correct that, and also help the horse's balance as he is jumping/landing. Synchronised appeared to be in a really wound-up mood before the race (hence shying and dumping McCoy then) and that attitude would to a degree affect his concentration during the race. The usual battle-charge to the first fences never helps either. According to Pete was brought down by another horse, which is one of the perils of the sport. No-one ever wants a horse to die in the name of sport, and yet many horses die every day - just not on the tv. There is an astonishing amount of ignorance at the lower end of the horse-owning public and horses suffer for it, but that's a whole different subject. Un-horsey people don't understand how horses think/react - just like the chap who drove straight into the back of my friend's mare and broke her hind legs . . .<br /><br />Personally, I think too many horses are run - I would like to see 30 or less running - and only the absolute top-class horses in the sport. I also think it would be a good idea for a once-round the course race (like the Foxhunters the previous day, which is for amateur jockeys) to actually qualify horses for the National, so they have experienced the type of obstacles (totally different to the stiff birch fences and level ground of normal steeplechasing).<br /><br />There are strict whip rules and absolutely no point to any race if a horse isn't there to win.Bovey Bellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13117332471600275100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-68367420229200168692012-04-17T09:28:47.207-07:002012-04-17T09:28:47.207-07:00I thought I had deleted those first eight words. A...I thought I had deleted those first eight words. Apologies.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06826501916623305535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-60716043300499162902012-04-17T09:26:55.334-07:002012-04-17T09:26:55.334-07:00When I was young and before we had I don't kno...When I was young and before we had I don't know why there has been so much fuss this year. When I was young and before we had TV we always listened to it on the radio and I found it thrilling. The first time I saw it on TV I think there were 5 horses put down and I have never watched it since. Why do the fences have to be so high and dangerous. Wouldn't everyone be satisfied if they were lowered. It would still be a race of skill and I think all concerned would be better off.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06826501916623305535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-3663341320479657782012-04-17T07:42:50.067-07:002012-04-17T07:42:50.067-07:00I agree-I don't know much about horses but I d...I agree-I don't know much about horses but I don't watch any of these on TV. Just seems wrong to put animals through that for money.Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10314254638454546970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-45371198345942426232012-04-17T07:25:43.372-07:002012-04-17T07:25:43.372-07:00Wow, I recall watching it on TV with my Daddy as a...Wow, I recall watching it on TV with my Daddy as a child, thinking it exciting and wanting to take riding/jumping lessons.........but no way could we afford that! Later, I rode now and again on friends' horses, gentle trots and canters around the fields......and got to know more about the horse as a special and quite delicate animal despite its size. Magnificent animals who deserve great care........forced racing, steeplechasing, whatever, is just not right. I have to admit I'm against such intense training and rough handling all in the name of money. If men (and now women) want to be stupid, careening around tracks and risking their lives in the name of excitement, stick with cars, not beautiful animals.<br /><br />Enough said for one who loved riding the elephant where there was no jumping or whips! I may be adding another riding lesson later this year - on an unusual animal, stay tuned!!!<br /><br />Hugs - MaryMaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com