Why the Grand National 2015 is Not So Grand at All

Much has changed about the way people live nowadays. As the world continuously evolves, our perception on morality also becomes affected. The Grand National 2015 may be a big hit especially for people who love the horse racing industry, but it is definitely not pleasant to the eyes of those who have developed empathy for all life forms. Here and there, you can see protests from different groups that fight for the rights of animals. And yes, it is absolutely agonizing to watch this not so grand ‘Grand National 2015’, and here are the reasons why:

Fun vs. Violence

There is a large difference between the words ‘fun’ and ‘violence’. While it may be very entertaining for a lot of people to see the horses race to the finish line, they do not realize that the lives of these animals are at stake just for what they deem as ‘entertaining’.   It is absolutely stressful to watch these animals on this event, especially since many of the horses crash towards the ground because of the difficult obstacles that are on their way. It’s like watching ‘Hunger Games’, except that the ones involved are horses that are brutally forced to run side-by-side on a field, risking their own lives for the sake of what you call ‘fun’ and ‘entertaining’.

Horses are Intelligent and Sensitive Animals

Watching a car racing event is entertaining, but betting on who wins a horse race? Well, I don’t think so. Horses, unlike cars made for racing, are far from being machineries we can use to suffice our need for thrill and excitement. They are very intelligent and sensitive animals that need love and care. They were not made to compete with each other on a hazardous race track just to gain people’s approval. Putting all of those horses into a race is definitely a recipe for disaster.

The Grand National 2015 is Brutal and Exploitive

Last year, only 18 horses made it to the finish line. This is a figure that is not even half of the number of horses that were a part of the race. While some of the participants stopped because of extreme exhaustion, others collapsed. Not to mention, the horse jockeys carry a whip that they unfailingly crack. Plus, some of the horses used in this very famous event are still young and vulnerable to sustaining long-term injuries. If this is a norm in the society, then we cannot call ourselves a civilized society capable of providing love and compassion.

Dead Horses are Not a Norm

The problem with supporting these types of events is that we are unknowingly turning into a society where brutality to animals is becoming a norm. For instance, a commentator from BBC in the year 2011 referred to the body of a dead horse as ‘an obstacle’ in the race track. Where is the compassion there? Where is humanity?

By tolerating the violence and brutality in the Grand National 2015, we must ask ourselves, are we turning into monsters incapable of providing empathy?