No Whip debate

Once upon s time jockeys used to have spurs.


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Riding crop is the proper name , and used correctly will have no negative effect on a horse .
Horses are individuals, just like humans , some need more encouragement than others to achieve but they also learn bad habits quickly that need to be sorted out .
Watching racing on TT these days it is easy to see which jockeys are good ,well balanced and will get the best out of a nag and others that bounce around knocking the h#ll out of the poor animals .

An apple was fined last night for unnecessary use of the crop on a horse that was not in contention and never would be.

Sharky wrote: Great post!

I think the starting stalls is a big problem in SA Racing..

Shoes falling off is the biggest problem in SA by far.
We the world leaders in that department.

Craig ,What are racing rules on the use of a crop ?

whip in racing to be banned was rejected by the British Horseracing Authority on Wednesday.

DECEMBER 13, 2018
Respected journalist Matthew Syed said in his column in The Times newspaper that the racing industry was “in denial” and that “pain is being inflicted upon animals for the purpose of making them run faster”.

He added: “It is in the interests not only of horses but of racing itself to consign the use of this device for the purposes of increasing speed to the scrapheap of history.”

Responding on Twitter, the BHA said: “If horses behaved as if they were in pain, then the millions of people who watch the sport – and the thousands who take part and dedicate their lives to the care of these animals – wouldn’t accept it.

“They would be horrified. In fact, our trainers, riders and owners are knowledgeable and compassionate and the last thing they want to do is see their horses hurt.

“The whip is foam-padded and air-cushioned and we have very strict rules which limit the amount of times which the whip can be used, and jockeys who care about the horses they ride.”

It added: “We are aware that a debate is ongoing about the use of the whip and the BHA is following the wide range of views very closely.”

However, while many in racing aligned themselves to the BHA’s viewpoint, former Channel 4 pundit John McCririck has long been an advocate of banning jockeys from hitting horses with the whip.

He feels the BHA should take the lead from the latest debate to outlaw its use.

“It is appalling there are people still prepared in this country to stand up for hitting racehorses,” McCririck told Press Association Sport.

“No other living creature are you legally allowed to hit, so what on earth are we doing?

“Racing would go on without it. It does go on. We have whip-less races (for apprentices). The only thing I would say is that jockeys must be allowed a whip for straightening purposes only.

“I used to be a supporter of the whip as a punter and complained if the jockey did not ride as strongly on a horse than a rival that had beaten mine.

“You do get far more suspensions now in the Group 1 and other top races.

“It is extraordinary. People will look back at this age and say this was a great chance to boost racing’s image. It’s the perception we have to overcome, whether they are feather whips or whatever.

“People come into racing, see horses being hit and are repulsed by it. Why are we defending it?

“Imagine if the whip had never been invented and if someone came along now and said ‘let’s bring whips in’. They wouldn’t be allowed in this day and age we live in.

“I’ve got the zealotry of a convert because I was a supporter of the whip when I was a punter in a betting shop – but then I listened to the late Sir Peter O’Sullevan and the greatest jockey John Francome and others.

“Views are changing on so many issues, and rightly so. You adapt and you change.

“To my mind it’s a great chance for the BHA. They could do so much for racing voluntarily by outlawing the whip.

“There would be an outcry from the racing regulars – the trainers and the jockeys – but after a month no one would think about it. We’ll look back in time and say ‘why on earth did we do this when no one else does it?’.

“They do have hands-and-heels races and this enhances horsemanship. Hitting horses is totally unacceptable and it shames us as a sport. It puts people off.

“We could set a worldwide example. It is up to the BHA to say what’s morally right in this day and age. It would cost nothing and it would help change the image of racing.” – www.racinguk.com

Couple of points with regard to horse care :

1.) As mentioned in another post - spurs were used on racehorses until well into the last century. I am sure there was a loud whinge from the usual morons when they were outlawed.

2.) The 'Horse Whisperer' has taken the 'break' out of 'breaking in' horses and shown that the previous, inhumane but widely accepted method of rendering a horse compliant can be achieved in a caring fashion.

3.) I have no problem with 'showing the whip' to guide a horse.

4.) I have a big problem with the uncontrolled panel beating going on in South African racing at present; an issue which I first started commenting on after the 2016 July meeting. I have lost count of the number of jockeys I have observed flailing away on a horse which is clearly tiring and dropping away through the field. Consequently I endorse Louis Goosen's very valid questions regarding who, if anybody, is actually regulating racing.

I only have one horse left in training. It will be my last as the 'game' is now a grubby, uncontrolled, over priced circus offering almost no pleasure and certainly no pleasant social interaction and camaraderie. My personal rules are simple:

a.) 'Rest' is not a four letter word.
b.) You had better have a very good reason if you administer any/most medications to my horse.
c.) The use of the whip ( yes - it's a WHIP) on my animal is strictly prohibited. Jockeys are under no obligation to ride for me if they cannot comply.
d.) No horse of mine will ever race as a two year old & may only debut as a late three year old. I'm not in this game to fatten up vets and even the brain dead should know that a horse only reaches maturity at 5. So what's the hurry?

My source influence in 'how to treat horses' was formulated in the 1970's by the Countess Of Kenmare. She imported and raced a number of Australian fillies in the Cape. Older racing fans might remember Miss Lindeman, Miss International & Marysa to name a few. The Countess had a strict 'no stick' policy which didn't stop her horses winning a slew of Grade 1 races.

Garrick a well thought out post as per usual. You are clearly not the norm when it comes to horses, whilst I admire you for your views and actions, the bottom line is the course you have chosen is not sustainable from a financial point of view, and it is no surprise to read that this will be your last racehorse.

So before this is construed as being a negative post, let me give you my views. I have been following racing for many years, and this will be my fifth decade of following the "sport". When I look back to when I started, and compare things then to now, it is a different landscape. From an owners perspective I believe that the biggest change has come in regards to the ease in which any Tom, Dick or Markus can enter the owners ranks. Back in the day ownership was a privilege indeed. As mentioned previously, I had a few friends who owned horses and when an invite to join them at the races came, it was akin to receiving an invite to the promised land. With a shiny owners "guest" badge attached to the suit jacket, you could enter members quarters, sit outside in the owners and trainers designated areas on the packed stands, and felt as if you were the elite. And you were. The hordes of the great unwashed did their thing and you were in an isolated cocoon. Anybody interested in racing would aspire to become an owner.

These days is a numbers game. The costs of keeping a horse in training have become prohibitive and owners numbers are falling year on year. Anyone can be an owner, applications are scanned through and approved - the criteria these days are fees must be paid to the Jockey Club and let the mug trainer carry the risk when the owners realise that 12 months down the line they will be lucky to place in a maiden and those dreams and promises are exposed for what they are in 99% of the cases - fairy tales and pipe dreams.

The pressure on particularly smaller trainers puts pressure on horses because of the need to perform. More and more horses, many of them yearlings are taken straight into training establishments straight after the sale. An empty stable in a trainers yard means no income from that resource. It's no wonder we have less and less older horses campaigning amongst the lower handicaps. The majority get stumped early and never make it. Its a conundrum - how many owners are prepared at R10K a month to wait 2 years and more before they see their horse debut?

Some good comments and i remember well "wearing the badge or swinging invite to parade ring etc"

To be fair if Jooste had to go via a finacial check to be a good standing owner, its probable he would have past with flying colours.

OTA - An absolutely brilliant and totally realistic analysis. Clearly your summary of modern ownership will NOT appear in the opening pages of the next yearling catalogue any time soon.

.........but then neither will Audi tell you that if you buy an RS5 today @ R1,5 million it will have a resale value of (if you're lucky) R1 million by next June. Lol. The only difference between a car and a horse (as a financial exercise) is that a decent car usually does what it says on the tin.

The only difference between a car and a horse (as a financial exercise) is that a decent car usually does what it says on the tin.

Another classic Garrick

I think hitting behind the saddle should go as many jockeys hit too low and hit the horse's flank which is extremely sensitive. A tap down the shoulder to urge him on and to straighten him would be as far as I go.