Horse whips, shouldn't the horse just go as fast as it wants to go?

Question

or be thrashed and forced to win a race?

Answer 1

i'm a rider and i hate to use the whip. other riders i just use it as they consider it cool to whip. but i prefer even not to use the bit. but i must. i feel that horses should gallop at the pace that they want to and if we want them to go faster just nudge them gently.

Answer 2

I doesn't hurt the horse it is just a instinctual response.

Answer 3

horse whips should be banned,go for tazars,and then watch the f**ker run.

Answer 4

whipping sounds good to me,woooooo.

Answer 5

Probably, but I reckon If I whipped you you'd go as fast as I wanted you to go as well

Answer 6

Because jockeys ride in a high, "tucked" position, they cannot use their legs to cue the horse to go faster the way a rider who rides with stirrups at full length does.  So the whip substitutes for leg aids as a cue for the horse to take off.  If you watch a race closely, you'll see that in most races, the jockeys aren't whipping or urging their horses to go at full speed during the early part of the race.  They are settling the horse, allowing it to get into stride, to run at a pace that is comfortable for the particular horse and settle into a position where the horse is relaxed.

When they come into the turn for home, they will ask the horse to increase its efforts.  Some horses respond to voice and hands, and don't need the rider to touch them with a whip;  some horses need the whip to tell them to start their "run."  It varies from horse to horse and part of the skill of a jockey is knowing what his horse responds to.  

The whip is also an important safety aid for the riders, because again it substitutes for leg aids in getting a horse to move to one side or the other.  A horse will usually move away from the whip, and a jockey needs to be able to direct his horse to move away from close quarters if necessary in order to avoid crowding other horses.  

The whip is also used to cue the horse to change leads in the stretch.

Horses aren't "thrashed" by use of the whip.  There are very strict rules in force about what kind of whip a rider can use, when he can use the whip, where he can strike the horse, and how hard he can use the whip.  If a rider really did "thrash" a horse, he'd get days off for abusing the horse.  And a rider who was flailing away, striking the horse as hard as he could, would break the rhythm of the horse's stride and put himself and his mount at a disadvantage.  

If racing was all about "thrashing" horses to the finish, then you'd never have a rider like Bill Shoemaker leading the jockey stats, because someone like Shoemaker would be at a disadvantage over someone bigger and stronger and capable of hitting the horse with pure brute force.  If you watch the most successful Jockeys, you'll see that they use their whips as a tool and not as a punishment, and you'll also see that the horses are not reacting to the whip with overt fear.

Answer 7

It doesn't hurt them, it lets them know its time for them to sprint. Because the jockey's dont have their legs on them, they cant just squeeze or kick (which would hurt more), they use the whip.

Answer 8

I don't gamble on horses so say let them go as fast as they want.

Answer 9

If allowed to go as it wants to there'd be people complain because it's "rigged". As far as being forced to win a race - that cannot be done. The whip can encourage a horse to put forth effort, but some horses will quit if whipped. There is NO WAY to *FORCE* a horse that doesn't have what it takes to win do so. No matter how much it's whipped. If there was there'd be a whole lot less claimers and a whole lot more in the big races!

A horse left to his own might roll along at 1:15 for a distance - use of the whip go get his attention and encourage him to try his best might get him to complete the same distance in 1:13 but if he doesn't have the talent no amount of whip will make him win a race in 1:09 - they can only run what their pedigree, heart and will to run will take them.

Answer 10

Use the whip only few times when needed,its illegal to Thrash them or raise arm above shoulder...I dont like to see them whipped too much but the horses live good life in general,if few taps,pushes the horse to greatness,its worth it..Wish i had few taps earlier in life,idled in front..Horses are pack animals running out of fear in the first place anyway..They say a dumb horse will keep giving more but some horses stop at sight of whip,or have to hit the front,very late.....Horses are tons of flesh if a jockey sometimes needs a whip to steer a horse through a rough race,its probably safer...

Answer 11

Im a jockey by trade here in Australia,we don't flog them,it is mainly the sound coming from the flaps at the end of the whip.Some jockeys do hit them hard and probably leave a welt mark,but 99% that know how to use a whip probably don't leave welt marks,and by the way we don't thrash them or force them to win a race,they run on there merits.

Answer 12

Think of a horse race like s*x. You have an ultimate goal! With experience you will find that some women like you to be rough+ and some like you to be more gentle and sophisticated!!

With horses, your goal is to win. Some horses will "respond" to "pressure", others will "sulk" That is why some horses are never touched with a whip. The jockey shows the whip then gives him a crack, so it is eye,eye whip. The horse knows this and puts his best foot forward and unless it is a very thin skinned horse, it doesn't feel too much!

Answer 13

They dont actuallt hurt the horse, as there are strict rules regulations and guidelines that the jockeys follow, the whips are now a lot kinder to the horses than the ones in previous years.

Iagree with the ex jockey, some horses would resent the whip yet some horses may need it, most of the time the jockey does not actually strike the horse they just wave it down their flanks, the noise of this usually makes the horse pick up a bit, anyway.

Answer 14

Well your question gives a good laugh anyway.Why not take the bridles,saddles and jockey off and just turn them loose to do..wait what are they bred to do again?

Moderating the speed, balance,direction and lead  with a stick is just one part of the jockys aids..Avoiding the bord of Inquiry for not riding well is a part of racing.What you might percieve as "thrashing" usually is a crowd peasing strong "show" of the whip- which even if it lands,just gives and intelligent animal its chance to do what it is wants most to do: win.

Answer 15

Horses are actually trained to run at about 75% of speed.  This is what they do between the 2nd and 4th turns.  At the start of a race they are whipped to get up to 100% and after the final turn they are again whipped to get to 100%.  Most horse races are 11/4 to 21/4 miles long.  The horse can't run at full speed the whole time.  I've been told it doesn't actually hurt the horses too much.  Remember, they're covered in leather.  Put on a baseball glove and have someone whip it.  You won't feel too much, just enough to make you run.

Answer 16

no it shouldn't.

to both of your questions i'd say no.

most of the time during horse races, the jockey holds the horse back and doesn't give him his head until the last stretch or turn so they have all that pent up speed and energy to use to totally fly past the other horses.

i hate horse abuse. i never use crops, whips, or spurs on any of my horses. sure i'll use a rein end every now and then to remind him whose boss and all but nothing more.

horses shouldn't be forced to win the race. i guess this twists my answer for the first one.

let the horse run his pace while u hold him back.

but at the last stretch, let him loose and run.

Answer 17

as a former jockey,  i would like  2 say it depends on the horse, as horses which are lazy and relaxed by nature may need a touch with the whip to persuade them while other horses which are thin skinned may resent the whip 2 the point where they veer out or shy at the sight of a whip.

So it depends on the horse as i have ridden winners hands and heels as i have been told by connections to not touch the horse with the whip , i have also had to smash and bash a horse to win a race.