Is not about time the whip was done away with in horse racing?

Question

Is not about time the whip was done away with in horse racing?

Answer 1

I most definatly agree. One of the best horse and dog racing trainers said, an animal can only be taught to do with they want if you treat them with respect and compassion.

Nicole.

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Answer 2

The whip cannot be banned completely, because it is needed by the jockey as a piece of safety equipment.

Until you have seen the kind of devastating chain-reaction falls that can result from one horse moving into the path of another, you cannot appreciate how important the whip can be for the safety of the horses and riders in the field.

You have to bear in mind that jockeys, because they ride short-legged in a crouching posture, have effectively lost the use of their legs to give the horse aids or signals.  Normally a horse moves away from leg pressure;  if you want a horse to move to the left, you apply leg pressure with your right leg, stopping the pressure when the horse moves away from it.

A jockey can't apply leg pressure, but he can use his whip to reach back and cue the horse to move to the side, away from the whip.  This is one way a jockey can get a horse to move in or out from the rail.  

If a racehorse decides to "lug in" or "lug out," i.e., move on its own either in or out of the path it is on, either in towards the rail or out towards the far side of the track, the jockey can use the whip on the side the horse is moving towards to try to stop the horse from lugging in or out.  This is really, really, important;  a horse that suddenly cuts off another horse is setting in motion the kind of scenario that can bring other horses down from crowding and clipping heels.  If a horse makes a sudden bolt to the inside or outside, the whip may make the difference between keeping someone from coming down or having several horses suddenly in a tangle on the track.

The whip can also be used by the jockey to cue a horse to change leads, which can keep a tired horse from lugging in or out, or "backing up" through the field and getting in the way of other horses and riders.

Also, the whip is used by the rider to let the horse know when it's time to produce a burst of acceleration.  Again, it's a substitute for the leg aids that a jockey can't use because of his position.  In normal equitation, you squeeze or kick with both legs, with spurs if necessary, to cue the horse to pick up the pace and keep it picked up.  A jockey can't do this, so he uses the whip.  (Most racehorses aren't running full out for the entire race.  After the start, they settle into a pace that's comfortable for themselves and work on position, then produce a burst of acceleration in the drive for home.)

Properly used, the whip doesn't do any lasting harm to horses.  Also, recognize that some horses aren't going to give their full effort without being prodded.  Anyone who thinks that all horses are generous and willing to do what the rider asks, the moment the rider asks for it, has never been around horses!  You have to ask some of them to run to get them to run.  Ask FIRMLY.

If you watch most races, you'll see that a lot of times, the rider is only showing his horse the whip, or is using it very judiciously.  There are rules governing the kind of whip a jockey can carry, and how he can use it.  Jockeys can get days off if they use the whip on a horse that has no chance to win, or if they continue hitting a horse after it's obvious the horse isn't going to get a money placing, or if he uses the whip in an unsafe or inhumane manner or strikes the horse with it after the race is over.  

The whip can't be done away with completely, not unless you want to put a lot of jockeys and horses in peril during a race.

Answer 3

Jockeys ride with such short stirrups, perched up high, that they cannot use leg aids the way riders in other disciplines can. Other than clucking/yelling and giving a free rein there would not be much they can do up there during a race. If you watch the riders they don't beat the horses senseless, usually it is just a smack or two when it is time to make a move. The whips aren't sharp and don't draw blood. As a matter of fact, many jockeys don't even use them on the horse, they just wave them. Did you see this year's Belmont? The winning filly's jockey did not even hit her with the whip in the homestretch, he just waved it alongside her to tell her it was time to move!

Answer 4

i would stop playing, if the whip was not part of the jockeys equipment.

Answer 5

no. useful for keeping runner straight

Answer 6

well some jockeys here use a battery operated thing that gives the horse an electric shock. sometimes at the top of the stretch u see a horse pushed along then suddenly he shoots 5 lengths clear of the rest. its illegal but i think its more humane and effective than a whip.

Answer 7

No whip no racing. It is as simple as that.

Answer 8

The whip is simply one of many ways that a jockey has to tell the horse what he wants it to do.

If a jockey puts his left leg forward and taps on the horses front leg, it will turn to the right. Obviously the same in reverse.

If he is drifting into another horse on the right, a tap down the right hand shoulder with the whip and it will go back to the left.

When the time comes to go forward quicker, then it is tapped down the rear.  All fairly simple really.

Whips are necessary..... whatever next....... remember how the Grand Nation, a real test, could be won by any horse, bowing to certain peoples wishes, the fences are now much "easier" so near favourites tend to win.

Nothing wrong with horse racing as it is,other than jockeys like Fallon!!!!!!

Answer 9

It is a necessary piece of equipment to control a horse but the stewards must come down hard on abuse, as they did with frankie recently.

Answer 10

No, leave the whip.. get rid of the horse racin..

Answer 11

Observe closely - the whip rarely ever touches the horse. It does a lot of swishing and waving in the air, and is used as a signal to get the horse to try harder. The stewards will discipline any jockey who is cruel with the whip. I think the question should be - Isn't it time racing was banned altogether?

So many racehorses are finished by the age of 5, and so many fatal injuries on the track; it really is a cruel 'sport'.

Answer 12

Can you think of a better way to make the horse go faster?

As an aside, most riders don't like to use the whip unless they absolutely have to.  They know it hurts.