Animal Rising protesters were to blame for Hill Sixteen's death, says the horse's trainer

‘These horses, jockeys and officials were put under so much pressure.’

Sandy Thomson explains why he thinks Animal Rising protesters are to blame for the death of Hill Sixteen, the horse he trained, at the Grand National.

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[darrenwoodley]

Just to add, whilst the protests may well have contributed in some way, if the horses welfare were put first, the race should have been cancelled, delayed, or those specific horses should not have been allowed to run but I guess the money at stake was more important than the lives of those horses, so they went ahead anyway in the full knowledge that they could shift the blame on the protestors. That's pretty shameful.

[SarahH-hd]

So why did the race go ahead? If it was so obvious the horses were stressed why not postpone? All I can think of is money!

[stratfordbaby]

I think Nigel was correct. The horse completely missed the fence, jumped too late, not too early.

[romulusful]

If the jockey knew the horse was riled, then why the fuck did he continue with the race?!

[rtk]

Its more likely that the jockey was unsettled and his misjudging of the fence caused the horse to fall, after all many horses continue to jump further fences after unseating their jockey without any problems.

[darrenwoodley]

Oh come Nigel, in regard to the protesters, I agree they are misguided. However, if you take a look at the stats on horse deaths throughout the year, far too many die already. These deaths occur all year round and this is a long way off the highest number of deaths during the grand national, even since the changes mine years ago. Happy to provide the stats on this, including the races and names of the horses that have been needlessly killed for the sake of entertainment, the vast majority without a protest.

[annfinnegan]

Dont agree with horse racing but these people who no nothing about horses.they were responsible for the death of the horses.the instinct for these horsesis to ju p I still don't agree with that but get it together stop killing the horses with Startling them . Find a more humane way to protest against this you make people antagonist to animal rights stop stop stop think ir out don't e da get horses which you have done

[elainewhitelock]

Too many horses competing in this race

[Tuffluk]

Its all about money and forget about animal welfare!

[carolinerowland-ynfh]

Absolute rubbish. Had they got their way and managed to stop the race horse would absolutely still be alive . This is a ridiculous reach.

[angieogden]

What's the excuse all the other years horses have died

[geoffhodgson]

If he wasn't going to enter the horse in a race it wouldn't have being alive they are bread to race

[zaramayne]

Nigel I totally agree shameful behaviour of these demonstrators

[janetbarkwith]

Just shows how little these protestors understand animals. Anyone who knows and understands horses would tell them that they are not stupid: all their experience (and those running in the National particularly are not novices) has taught them that they walk around the paddock; they are mounted; then the Parade happens; then they canter down to the start, and then they race. Interrupt that sequence for any reason and they are perfectly aware that something is amiss with the routine, and it stresses them. Also, the jockey and connections are stressed, which the horses will pick up on, being sensitive creatures. Some will deal with it better than others, but some will be badly affected. The numbers of horses falling or unseating their riders at the first couple of fences this year as compared to the last several years is indicative of the stress piled on the horses and riders by the fools who disrupted a tried and well-understood routine. Shame on them for being the direct cause of the the death of a fine animal.

[An-Alien-On-Earth]

I normally support you but on this occasion

[TTH]

There's alot of clap trap being spouted in the comments here no doubt 99% of you have never been to a racing stables & seen first hand how fantastically well & loved these horses are. Fact is if it wasn't for racing they wouldn't of been born in the first place that's the whole point of it all. Do any of you with the negative comments actually know or understand how & what it takes to look after half a ton of horse. Vets; mucking out general welfare. You wouldn't know where to start. So if you've not been you can't talk about it. You should of seen the GN fences in the 1970's now they were dangerous. Its a completely different race now more like an endurance race. Massive improvements have been made. Without doubt the idiots wearing the pink tops contributed to the events with extra stress on horse & Jocky's. Any of you in the comments going to the Scottish Grand National this Saturday to further your education? No thought not.

[BlueSteel]

So it turns out that horse would still be alive if those maniacs hadn't scared the hell out of it !

[stephfoxwell]

Yes, that 12 minute delay was life or death to a one ton horse.

[samuelgoddard]

so most people commenting here are anti horse racing so how many of you are going to go around putting a bullet in all the soon to become redundant racing/show jumping horses? these animals are athletes not paddock ponies you take away the reason for their existence then your killing the very animals your so say trying to save.

i suppose shire horses shouldn't be used for ploughing or pulling other implements as it's so cruel to use an animal for the purpose it has been breed for over 100's of years. should football be banned cause you get the occasional player have a heart attack on the pitch and die?

[BlueSkyLtd.]

The jockeys whip the horses...lawfully? 🖤