You are failing to see the point. Life is full of risks, some things have to be done to live a decent life. Those risks are needed, but some risks are taken needlessly, that arent essential part of life. Animals need exercise, they dont need to race though, and certainly not in such a dangerous race. The racehorse owners do put their horses at great risk.

Doesnt it bother you that horse die in the name of sport? Just for money? With no benefit to the horse?

You still havent answered why it is worth the risk...

LB, with respect, you are missing the point.

You say some risks are needed and some are taken needlessly.

Animals need exercise, I agree, but you knowingly put your pet dog in a situation that could be very dangerous for him, why? Because its better for you. You know he is uncomfortable with it, you know he has been attacked or whatever, he bolted one time that could very easily have ended in tragedy for you both, yet you continue to do this, is that your definition of a "needed risk?" Im not being harsh, its entirely your choice what you do with your dog, but then its the same for Horse owners, they are aware of the risks, but take the chance.

Yes it bothers me when Horses get killed, but as I said to you, I accept that with the sport, like I do with any other sport that may carry risks, or other pastimes/hobbies I may choose to favour.

You would be hard pushed to keep a thoroughbred as a pet, most are wound up coiled springs, they live and thrive on running.

I probably am a selfish person, I bought my dogs for company for myself, I don't show them, though I am aiming to show my next pup, I don't do agility or htm or such, though I have nothing against any of this at all. I don't really agree with the passing on of animals, though I can understand there is times it has to happen... I have had to rehome twice and it tore my heart apart
I am uneasy with the GN more now after seeing the race, a horse so exhausted he was showered with buckets of water, he couldn't breathe and was dehydrated... the jockey said he was worried, but was banned for excessive use of the whip?? Two horses died, Dooley's Gate from a broken back, his picture in every paper, bless him... but his death and the other before him, never mentioned by the broadcasters.
Animals die every day, fact of life, whether in the name of sport or from accidents inside or outside the home. I just felt very uneasy after watching saturday's race...

That just about sums up why I am so against horse races like the GN. Horses die for no better reason than the hedonistic, profit-seeking motives of selfish human beings.

Life has risks, everything we do has risks but be asses the risks
I cross the road every day - and people die crossing the road but I asses the risk as being small enough
I dont cross the motorway because the risk is too great

With the GN imo the risks are too great, a death isnt a freak out of the normal thing but it is quite commonplace
So I find that risk too great and I cannot understand why horse lovers would put their horses at such a great risk

With the number of deaths we should be looking at making things more safe - if it was the people dying we would be making things safer

In dog agility I have seen many thousands of runs and have not seen a single dog killed and none injured more than a slip that had them limp about 2 steps
But even so there is constantly talks about how to make it even more safer, contacts are there to prevent dogs jumping off obsticles, there are alwas discusions about jump heights, angles into the tyre jump
If in areas equipment cannot be secured it is not used

so why cannot they work on making things safer for horses?

- I have ridden a race horse when I was younger - and loads of other horses, not one of them needed whipping

Totaly agree, it made you feel uneasy because it was wrong and something needs to be done to fix that

That would be great, I mean for me to profit from it.

My God!! I don't know wether to be amused or insulted.

[QUOTE]Guide and assistance dogs dont save lives Azz, I cant imagine why you would think that? They allow people more freedom and allow other people more time for themselves, nothing more. Some alert dogs may save lives I grant you, but even then they are an "extra" such people are rarely alone anyway.

Lol, You'll have to tell my family that me having my poor abused service dog, gives them more time to themselves...I mean, more time than they already had. You'll have to wait until they get back from their holliday though.

Which begs the question, who's babysitting me then?

Without meaning to argue, your argument for horse racing is that they're animals bred to do a job, so what's the difference?.

I'm sorry Azz I'm sure you meant it well but, that has to be one of the most miss-guided, (no pun intended) ignorant statements I've come across in a long while...and trust me, its got a lot of competition.

I don't know about service dogs saving people from being driven to suicide, but if there's one that could save me from being driven to distraction...I'd like one now please.

Neither am I. I know I didn't/don't feel that way. I'll have to ask my non service dog owning partly/totally blind friends if they've contemplated throwing themselves off the nearest bridge lately.

Can't believe I'm actually having this conversation...Now I'll let you both get back to talking about me and others like me, like I'm not in the room again.

[QUOTE=tazer;2233591]My God!! I don't know wether to be amused or insulted.

No difference to me Tazer, I think service dogs are bred to serve, Race Horses bred to race. I was stating as much.

I don't think it's misguided at all.

Humans are social creatures, and the companionship of a pet should not be underestimated, especially for those with disabilities, IMO.

[QUOTE=Borderdawn;2233599] Yep I'm in total agreement as well.