Off Topic How To Have Your Entire Life's Work destroyed by a nanosecond of thoughtlessness

A single photograph, a nanosecond in time, taken some time ago but maliciously leaked by someone to the media just two weeks before Cheltenham, leaves a major trainer watching in shellshock as his entire life's work and achievements are left in tatters...not to mention all of his staff being left in a completely precarious position about their futures.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...iott-horrific-dead-horse-photo-racing-comment

 

Unbelievably foalish.

 

I canter believe this nightmare. A National disaster.

 

It's a bit of a RUM deal really .
He will probably be Saddled with this for life now !
As long as his family stick by him that will be the MANE .

 

You're flogging a dead horse.

 

His life isn't ruined it'll blow over. Might get a fine or a short suspensio.

I don't for one second belive his excuse though.

Whether people think it's distasteful or not he's posing for that photograph.

 

It's a bit of a Mare.

It's not helped by the IHRB clearly stallion for time. They should have closed the door before the horse bolted.

 

I've been GLUED to this story all week.

 

Give it a rest You lot ffs




You’re flogging a

 

I'm not sure how he can defend himself. The guys smile tells us everything we need to know about him and how he treats horses.

Lifetime ban and a good kicking

 

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I don't think his entire life's work is in tatters.Gordon Elliott has done something extremely foolish and should face the consequences but those consequences are highly unlikely to see the end of his career.

Elliott's stable is made up of a huge amount of 'gigginstown' horses(O'leary of Ryanair's horses), O'leary has had strong words to say but has pledged his support in terms of keeping his string at Elliott's stable.I would suspect that Elliott will receive some sort of ban from training for a reasonable amount of time but that will not stop horses being trained and running from his stable(his assistant trainer would be licensed to train and would do so).

I'm a huge fan of horse racing and was genuinely shocked to see this photo of Elliott.I could never envisage Henderson or Nicholls(The top 2 trainers this side of the water) doing anything like it(I've seen both in tears at the loss of a horse).Elliott is a fine trainer,he's made a huge error,he'll be punished for doing so but there is very little chance of him being warned off for life.

 

Yeah, trotting out the same old excuses.

Seriously though ..... " it will simply reinforce an existing belief that the sport is abusive and cruel". I hope so, as it is.

 

That's a sweeping generalisation that comes through a distinct lack of knowledge of the sport.

 

It really isn't Ric!
I'm not saying that trainers & others involved are all 'bad', just as all farmers aren't 'bad' .... although some involved through the chain clearly are. It's not so much about individuals. It's like saying the meat & dairy industry is kind and ok because we have 'happy cows / pigs / whatever' and they are free range blah blah. Bollocks, and misses fundamental points. Anyway, I really don't want to open up another argument about the atrocious way we view, treat and abuse fellow animals, so I'll leave it there.
p.s. yes, I knew what was coming!

 

I enjoy a good day watching the racing, but it's a tricky one, that's for sure.

One the one hand, while they have the potential to provide a good income, the horses are cosseted beyond belief. It's what happens when that isn't the case that is an issue. My own position is pretty much selfish and hypocritical, as I enjoy the sport, so choose to see the positives, and convince myself they outweigh the negatives.

I've a friend that was brought up with race horses and works in the veterinary area, and their family are still involved with race horses, and they are very much against it as a sport on the grounds of the welfare of the horses. I've never had an in depth conversation about it with them, as they are the sort that have their (well informed) view, but don't preach so are happy to let others make their own decisions, but they get directly involved in welfare issues when they can.

There was an interesting programme about horses presented by Martin Clunes. It pointed out that from the horses evolutionary perspective, anything on it's back is trying to eat it, and the race is effectively the faster horses running so that the predator eats the slower one.

Of course, like vegetarianism, a counter argument is that if they weren't reared as they are, the numbers would diminish to the point that some species could well become extinct, and other species that co-exist as a consequence of 'farmed' animals would suffer as well.

 

I agree with some of what you say in terms of the food put on our tables and the treatment of some of the animals involved.Thoroughbred racehorses are not bred to eat,they are trained athletes who are exercised on a daily basis,loved and adored by stable staff,housed in a clean environment but expected to work on 4 or 5 occasions during their 'season'(winter or summer dependant on whether they are flat horses or jumpers).

I have 2 horses(small shares in both),trained by Paul Nicholls at Ditcheat.These horses have never been abused,do their 'work' over the course of the season and are then sent on holiday to 'equiprep' where they enjoy the freedom of open fields,swimming and eating their hearts out!!

They come back Aug/Sept time and regain their fitness in preparation for races..They are not unlike the footballers we watch on a weekly basis.

 

What will happen to your horses when they are no longer up to competitive racing?

 

I think that’s the tough part. Im trying to remember wasn’t it a grand national winner, Andy Pandy, without googling that ended up left for dead in a field.

 

There are several horses who have retired(some through injury,some age) from the syndicates I'm involved in and we normally receive notification that these horses are to be retired.Funds are then set up to move the horses on to prospective new homes and most people that I've been involved with and myself,have no qualms about funding their retirement..

Some of these syndicates involve 1000 or so owners,who pay, for talking sake £100-£200 a year whilst the horse is in training.They may be asked to contribute £25-£30 to see the horse settled in a new environment.I

I'm involved with 2 6 year olds and when their racing days come to an end I'll gladly chip in to make sure they enjoy their retirement.Racehorse owners aren't the barbaric/ blood thirsty lot they are sometimes portrayed as.