paultheagle wrote: 16 Apr 2023, 11:40
I don't want horse racing banned, after all it's the sport of kings but I do want the jumping variety stopped. It's cruel and why do the jockeys need to whip them like they do. I don't like horse racing full stop but understand that many enjoy it and it's a hugh industry and contributes to the economy back take the fences down.
Hi Paul, fair point, (for your information)…”The whips used in British racing are foam-padded and energy-absorbing, and the thresholds for use are extremely low – the whip can be used only seven times in a flat race or eight times in a Jump race before the stewards will review the ride.
If used properly, there is no welfare problem associated with use of the energy-absorbing whip in Britain. Indeed, Britain is among the world leaders in terms of the regulation of use of the whip in racing.
Due to the fact that the limits on use are set so low, and the padded design of the whip, only in the most extreme cases would a breach of our whip rules constitute a welfare issue.
Despite this, the sport continues to impose strict penalties on breaches of the whip rules, in order to act as a deterrent against misuse. In addition, a further review of our whip rules has recently been announced, to ensure that the rules and penalties are providing a sufficient deterrent to prevent rule breaches”.
You ask the question “why do Jockey’s whip them like they do”? fair question, and one which I will try and answer…One shouldn’t think of the whip as a tool that inflicts pain (see above) the whip has several functions one of which is to keep the horse concentrating on what it is supposed to be doing, a slap on the a*se or shoulder reminds the horse to stay focused especially as they are approaching jumps, they also help horse keep going straight. Whilst I agree that it doesn’t look nice I think as far as NHR is concerned more horses would get injured by not having their minds made up at fences than allowing the horse to second guess and jump awkwardly.
On that note, my sister phoned this morning and said…”did you see all those horses carry on jumping the fences without their jockey onboard” ?
Horse racing brings a significant economic benefit for the UK, with the industry generating £4.1 billion in direct, indirect and associated expenditure annually for the British economy.
