OPINION: WHY IS ABUSE OF HORSES TOLERATED?
"Can you imagine the fuss if there was systematic whipping of dogs?" That is the premise of this column by Paul Carpenter in The Morning Call this morning. Where do you stand on the issue of whipping? Do you support the new padded whip and do you believe it’s as effective as hoped?
Click here for The Morning Call article
Then come back to the Paulick Report and let us know what you think
Tags: bradford cummings, horse whipping, padded whips, Paul Carpenter, Paulick Report, The Morning Call
January 20th, 2010 at 10:58 am
Thank you Mr. Carpenter and Ray.
I am sad and stunned that horse racing is able to operate above the law.
January 20th, 2010 at 11:10 am
Let’s not forget the spectacle of Calvin Borel whipping Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra down the stretch in the Woodward several dozen times. I invited several friends who were not racing fans to watch the race on TV and they were appalled. Several said they would never watch a race again. Of course, if she had lost the race, she might not have been chosen as HOY. The end justifies the means…
January 20th, 2010 at 11:37 am
To remove whips you will need the Jockeys Guild to sign off. If steering is the case, then use it to steer. “Reaching more than 6″ up from the waist should not be tolerated. Then the racetracks will quip that the costs of monitoring it would be prhobitive. It is that exact thinking that will hurt the sport in the long run. Dog tracks are already being banned in the north east via constitutional amendments. How long do you think it will take for horse tracks to be banned the same way. The “Reaper” is standing ready with his scythe, and Horse Racing better take notice. A padded whip will only hold off the arguments against racing as cruel for so long.
January 20th, 2010 at 11:47 am
Racing authorities everywhere should mandate padded whips – to be used for signaling and urging – never, ever, for beating.
Unfortunately, whip rules, like all the other rules, vary state-by-state, even track-by track. (ANOTHER reason racing needs central governance and a Commissioner) The padded whip may be mandated at one track but not another, and all of racing ends up with a black eye when any horse anywhere is injured by a “legal” whip.
If the padded whip were mandated everywhere, the jockeys would soon adjust and learn to work with it. Mike Smith says he uses the padded whip regardless of local rules, and he’s done pretty well.
January 20th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Just a few days ago, Freefourme broke down at Aqueduct while ridden by Saez. I didn’t watch the race, nor do I want to, and have no idea if a whip was used at that time. I do agree that the whip should be disbanded completely. However, I am of the belief that the process of the jockey shifting his/her weight on a horse moving at 35 to 40 miles an hour will adversely affect the legs of that horse. Shifting of weight takes place when standing to cheer in victory as well as using a whip. Is there such a thing as a formal school for the training of jockeys?
January 20th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
the tone of the article concerns, the substance is questionable. this what we get when we fail to conduct full investigations of fallen horses. An investigation into the death of 8Belles would have uncovered the egregious training negligence that led to the breakdown. Instead of giving that trainer year end rewards, an investigation would have shown the probable cause of death had nothing to do with the whip. Would 8 Belles have pulled herself up without the whip. probably, but then so would have half the field.
I hope a jock chimes in on whip use. As a mere exercise rider for the last 10 years the effect on the horse of whip use is uncertain to me, but I doubt that it bothers the horse in terms of what is understood as abuse or cruelty. Please keep in mind that we already have rules relating to whip abuse, and primarily these are well enforced. Most riders use the whip judiciously instead of a tool of abuse. My personal opinion is that 4 or 5 hard swats down the stretch in the heat of competition merely communicates to the horse, and I believe most horses are in sync with that.
Padded whips should be looked at, even while I personally believe they are unnecessary. I favor whip rules as follows:
1. End the rule that requires the jock to “persevere with their mount.” See Kent Desormeoux and Belmont. The jock should have the absolute right to decide when their horse is done in the race. A lot of injuries and breakdowns would be prevented.
2. The jock is limited to x number of strikes in the stretch. My own number would be 6.
January 20th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
The day will come - sooner than later - that the lack of urgency on these issues will destroy the sport, with a couple “major” states still retaining tracks. This is not 1959 and the moniker - “Sport of Kings” - is an antiquated as a Studebaker Light Four.
January 20th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Of course we need a whip rule, not a whipping rule.
The rule can be simple and uncomplicated: WHIPS ARE BANNED in all races, Thoroughbred , Standardbred and any other breed used to race.
There is no such thing as a HUMANE whip. I proposed a test on a human. A writer volunteered to be the horse. Unfortunately, the Blogger did not follow up and arrange the show. I did not get an explanation for that failure to see it through.
Forget all the nonsense from those who say the whip is essential to steering. The Kentucky Horseracing Commission made that ridiculous assertion after Eight Belles. Of course, not one of them had ever ridden a horse in a race.
Flogging horses to save someone’s exacta has turned thousands against racing. As long as the cruelty is condoned it will cause further defection of fans and possible fans.
Years ago we stopped flogging criminals. How can anybody justify flogging an animal that has not committed a crime?
January 20th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
I am an experienced equestrian & ride daily. My family has been involved in the breeding/racing industry for over 60 yrs. How many horses has Mr. Carpenter ever ridden?
I honestly believe that most jockey’s use of the whip is to get the attention of the horse & keep them focused. Not to beat them mercilessly as implied in the article. By Mr. Carpenter’s standards he would consider me abusive since I ride with spurs & carry a crop depending on which horse I’m riding. Like people, all horses are different.
Does Mr. Carpenter really think it as simple as Eight Belles being hit with a whip that caused her to fracture both front ankles? Probably since he also thinks that a motorcycle & horse are related because a motorcycle has a kickstand on the left side.
January 20th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Isn’t the answer obvious?
What great PR it would generate.
Announce this decision along with a series of much needed uniformity rules and I bet racing would get a lot of second looks, who knows they may become fans.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:17 pm
Paseana. #9.
I can’t speak for Mr. Carpenter, but I speak from my own experience. I rode horses before I was ten. I was an apprentice on the Curragh of Kildare when I was fourteen. Possibly I’ve ridden more Thoroughbreds than you’ve had hot lunches. I surmise that if you ride with spurs and carry a crop you are not riding racehorses. The crux of that point is not that you carry them, but whether you spur and flog relentlessly.
There is no argument, some horses may need a crack of the whip while in the educational phase. After they have learned elementary lessons, a whip serves no good purpose.
It has no place at all in racing. You are naive in your belief why jockeys use whips. If a jockey NEEDS a whip to get his mount’s attention, I ask what happened to his hands which hold the reins? Jockeys flog horses in a barbaric attempt to make the horse run beyond it’s natural capacity.
A final question. What are the riders focusing on when the horse is obviously dead-tired, without any hope of finishing in the money and the jockey “keeps him focused” ??
January 21st, 2010 at 8:24 am
“Why is abuse tolerated?”
Because there is no central regulating and enforcing authority with contemporary, evolved brains.
January 21st, 2010 at 11:34 am
Integrity, compassion and top care cost money.
Racing has fallen from a sport and hobby for the wealthy who bred and raced homebreds generation after generation to toxic dairy farms infested by greedy newbies, fly-bies, peddlers and marketers in it to milk the most out of the “inventory”, the “heads”, the “stock”, the “product” or “live product” with drugs and whips without giving a damn about the kill-rate on and off-track as long as public outrage and Congress are nothing more than occasional booboos.
The fools are digging their own grave on dead horse at a time and remain unwilling to take responsibility and reform racing as it must be, if not to protect its horses, to protect itself.
January 21st, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Joe:
Good points. I wonder how much the IRS and it’s rolling change as to business v. hobby, accent on short term ownership, breeding, sales have contributed to this dilemma?
January 22nd, 2010 at 11:38 pm
“A final question. What are the riders focusing on when the horse is obviously dead-tired, without any hope of finishing in the money and the jockey “keeps him focused” ??”
Not getting days from the stewards, just ask Joel Rosario the problems of even giving the perception of “not giving his best effort.” Part and parcel of the whole problem.