Quote:
Originally Posted by georgetkingiv
|
This is indeed sad. What's even worse is the situation in steeplechasing. In the Grand National most of the huge field falls in the race and they average about one fatality every time the race is run.
In flat racing at least the horses are doing what they love to do - run, though whipping them to do it is morally wrong. When a flat race horse losses its rider it usually continues to run along with the rest of it's field. When a steeplechaser losses its rider, it runs along with the field until they come to a hurdle where they usually say hell no. That's why they have to put wings up on the sides of the jumps to keep horses from avoiding the hurdle. A hose landing from a jump with over 1000 lbs at racing speed and landing on the equivalent of a human fingernail (hoof) explains why horses are not natural jumpers.
I've seen the figures of fatalities for flat vs jump races in England and the jump race figures are frightening.
