topic Re: Do they whip the race horses? in Sports

Do they whip the race horses?

geegerbee — Sun, 07 May 2017 03:30:57 GMT

I don't understand. The jockeys seem to be whipping those poor horses. Is it possible it doesn't hurt them? If I were a horse I would just quit--no faster running for me. Say this isn't abuse!

Re: Do they whip the race horses?

Math — Sun, 07 May 2017 04:22:51 GMT

They do beat them with whips. I stopped watching a long time ago after they put down a filly because she broke her leg trying to keep up with the other horses. Remember Barbaro

Re: Do they whip the race horses?

phoenixbrd — Wed, 10 May 2017 01:33:57 GMT

Animals are abused in racing...sometimes entertainment is not entertaining if you peel back the curtain.

If you want to read the truth....take a look at the article in Huffington Post, The Atlantic, or PETA...not just horse racing, but Greyhounds are terribly abused also.

Re: Do they whip the race horses?

Kitlynn — Sun, 07 May 2017 06:17:15 GMT

They are required to carry a whip when they ride. There are also strict guidlines regarding using it and if they are suspected of abusing that then there will be an official investigation. If a race horse or any horse for that matter is trained properly all they have to do is bring the hip through the air back behind them and the horse will automatically respond with more speed and they don't even have to actually touch the horse. Of course there are jockeys who have abused the whip through the years and that is why they now have strict guidelines regarding use of them. A good jockey will use his legs and his hands to get the horse to move out faster when needed.

Re: Do they whip the race horses?

Foolywooly11 — Sun, 07 May 2017 06:36:11 GMT

Wonder what makes them automatically pick up speed when they see the whip in the air? Reminds me of my grandfather's dog, who would run as soon as he picked up a rolled up newspaper! He'd obviously been hurt with it before!

Re: Do they whip the race horses?

Kachina624 — Sun, 07 May 2017 06:58:47 GMT

Anyone who has ever ridden a pokey horse knows that all you have to do is pick a switch off of a tree and the horse will immediately pick up its gait. Don't use it, just hold it.

Re: Do they whip the race horses?

Plaid Pants2 — Sun, 07 May 2017 11:24:37 GMT

No, they do NOT beat or whip the horses in the race.

That is a common misconception and fallacy that a lot of people have.

They tap the horse, not beat it or whip it.

Re: Do they whip the race horses?

hoosieroriginal — Sun, 07 May 2017 11:37:39 GMT

Oh, I can't even stand to watch horse races! It is so cruel! My sweet greyhound had three years of hell - she has many scars on her from injuries from racing. I look at her sometimes and try to imagine what she went through, living in a bare crate stacked on top of other crates for three years. She has a wonderful home and is a happy girl now. Wish I could afford to rescue more. She's such a happy and grateful girl.

Re: Do they whip the race horses?

PhilaLady1 — Sun, 07 May 2017 13:52:23 GMT

So maybe the horses are not being whipped during the race. I can accept that as the truth.

Sure... not when the lights and cameras and thousands of human eyes are watching. But where oh where do those creatures get the fear of the whip by it just being held.....

I know how much people love their traditions and how hard or impossible it is to see what is really going on. I firmly beleive this is cruelty no doubt about it in my opinion. And for the love of money, it is not going away any time soon.

Re: Do they whip the race horses?

Big Joanie — Sun, 07 May 2017 13:22:26 GMT

@PhilaLady1.....One thing I know for absolute certainty.. Money is the

root of all evil....

i was never so happy as the day the Ringleys Circus shut down ....

Re: Do they whip the race horses?

Big Joanie — Sun, 07 May 2017 13:52:36 GMT

Don't know why .. but the dog racing bothers me more than the horse

racing ....

I live in FL. and I mute the TV whenever ads come on for the dog

track ....

Re: Do they whip the race horses?

cah — Sun, 07 May 2017 14:04:23 GMT

Having had many horses in my life. The racing is not cruel.
Horses love to run, they just love it.
There is rarely any whipping, just suggestion with that crop sometimes makes them gallop faster.
They love to win, and racing is in their blood.

I do worry when the track is wet as I hate to ever see

them get hurt..

Re: Do they whip the race horses?

gardenman — Sun, 07 May 2017 14:45:19 GMT

I should point out that race horses are insanely valuable. If a jockey did anything to injure a horse, the jockey would likely be the one who got whipped. And sadly there is no "People for the Ethical Treatment of Jockeys" group to rise up to defend them.

I'm not a huge fan of anyone exploiting animals, but the reality is these horses are bred and raised to race. They race a very, very small percentage of the time. The vast majority of their life is spent in a pasture grazing, or in a barn. Anyone who keeps a horse knows how insanely expensive it is, so if the horse can contribute to its care and keeping, kudos to the horse. If you eliminate horse racing you eliminate the lives of thousands of existing thoroughbreds and all those yet unborn. Without racing you don't need thoroughbreds.

When tractors replaced horse drawn plows draft horses largely stopped being bred. Some of the old breeds of draft horses are now extinct. You can say you'd rather never be born than be born to pull a plow, but once again they were seldom actually pulling a plow and spent most of their time just free to roam pastures.

I work ten hours a day five days a week. Given the choice between that or being free most of the time but having to run a race every couple of weeks that would only take a few minutes of time, I'd likely opt for the race. "You might get hurt." I'll take my chances. Sadly no one's willing to pay me to watch me race. Even plow horses got most of their lives free from the plow. Fields aren't plowed on a daily basis. In early spring they'd be kept pretty busy, but that would end soon enough once the crops were planted.

You can argue the animals are exploited, but you have to remember that they wouldn't exist if they weren't being exploited. These aren't wild animals, but domesticated animals. They were specifically bred to do what they're doing. Take away the task and you end their purpose and the need for any to be bred. Is an exploited life better than none at all? That's a decision everyone has to make for themselves, but having seen race horses romping in a pasture and enjoying themselves, I think most race horses would prefer the life they have to none at all. That's my take on the matter. Lots of breeds of horses are now extinct. Adding thoroughbreds to that list doesn't really help them.

Re: Do they whip the race horses?

Quse — Sun, 07 May 2017 14:52:36 GMT

@Big Joanie wrote:
@PhilaLady1.....One thing I know for absolute certainty.. Money is the
root of all evil....

i was never so happy as the day the Ringleys Circus shut down ....

@Big JoanieI have to correct this bcz I see it everywhere quoted incorrectly and it takes on another meaning entirely. (major pet peeve) Money is not the root of all evill. Money is a tool, neither good nor bad. It's the LOVE of money that's the root of all evil. (the willingness to obtain it at all costs, putting it above all else)

Big difference.

And I agree with the circuses...glad they are done.

Re: Do they whip the race horses?

cah — Sun, 07 May 2017 15:04:42 GMT

I also agree with the circus being done.
That is a prime example of animals being exploited.

I've always felt sorry for them even as a child.

But I still believe race horses love to race!!
I would pay to have their lives..

Re: Do they whip the race horses?

Plaid Pants2 — Sun, 07 May 2017 15:11:21 GMT

@cah wrote:
I also agree with the circus being done.
That is a prime example of animals being exploited.

I've always felt sorry for them even as a child.

But I still believe race horses love to race!!
I would pay to have their lives..

Right!

These race horses are pampered beyond belief!

They get top-notch vet care.

These horses are athletes.

Re: Do they whip the race horses?

Big Joanie — Sun, 07 May 2017 15:22:16 GMT

Sure they get top notch care as long as they can race and win ..

then what ...( and yes i know they love to race .)

Re: Do they whip the race horses?

Love my grandkids — Sun, 07 May 2017 16:05:46 GMT

Big Joanie: The correct phrase (and I believe it's biblical) is " The LOVE of money is the root of all evil."

Money in and of itself is not evil

Re: Do they whip the race horses?

Big Joanie — Sun, 07 May 2017 16:22:34 GMT

@ lovemygrandsand @Quse

Might it be true that both statements are true .....??

And frankly what difference does it make ....

Re: Do they whip the race horses?

sidsmom — Sun, 07 May 2017 16:56:15 GMT

Mt. Rushmore of Dirty Sports:

- Professional Cycling

- College Football

- Olympics

- Professional Horse Racing

(IMO)