This Wednesday, the ORC will host an industry working session about whipping. Thank. God.
In the past few months, I’ve engaged in several warm (meaning nearly hot, not hugs and kisses) discussions about the topic. So, the whipping issue has been on my radar for a long time — years, to be precise.
I won’t give the Bill Gates sermon about how much the world has changed in the past 10 years. Anyone with even half a brain and an iPhone can speak to that (or Google it for specifics).
But, I’d hate to see Wednesday’s discussion ensue without at least some mention of the marked shift in how North Americans regard their domestic animals.
Changing the whipping culture in our sport will not (on its own) increase attendance or wagering today, tomorrow or next year. Those in opposition of the change contend it may cause a decrease. Maybe, but I doubt it. The change in whipping culture is an investment in the future of the sport. Without it, prospects for fan base renewal are limited.
They’re limited by this fundamental resistance to recognize that the general populace is no longer comfortable with striking animals. Or children. Or women. Or the elderly. Not so long ago in North America it was legal and culturally okay to strike all four.
The ancestors of today’s general populace once required horsepower for transportation and survival. Animals serviced people. Animals play an entirely different role today — that of companion replacement and lifestyle accessory. The pet industry is on a steady increase, generating billions of dollars annually from vet visits, premium pet food, and gadgets such as clothing, beds and toys.
Pooches in purses, doggy daycare and cardigan sweater puppies: these pet owners aren’t the freaks of yesteryear — they’re today’s societal norm, fueled by a burgeoning consumer industry that is apparently way smarter than ours in manipulating societal shifts to their advantage.
Society doesn’t split hairs about abuse anymore. The spanking debate is closed. The law says if you’re going to spank Billy, you may as well thrown him down a flight of stairs — same thing. Slugging Senility Sam in the retirement home because he grabbed your ass for the thousandth time during rounds is no longer excusable or understandable. You lose your job and/or go to jail. Punching your wife in the chops is finally considered beastly, even if she deserved it.
Under the same standards, whipping a horse is animal abuse and the general populace won’t buy into our self-indulgent parameters. Whipping is still whipping, regardless of whether the horse is advancing through the field; regardless of whether the horse responds to the whip; regardless of where the whip lands.
If the whip smacks, you can pack up your parameters and long-winded explanations and head for the hills. People can’t get past the wince-factor of hearing and seeing whipping during a horse race. It won’t fly in today and tomorrow’s general populace.
I dont see the problem in
I dont see the problem in whipping a horse if you want it go faster. I never put money on a horse if it has a "no whip" tag. You need to whip it good to get max speed.
I'm pro-whipping.You
I'm pro-whipping.You wouldn't get some of these horses in the stalls let alone winning the race without using the whip.75% of races in the UK are won by horses that get whipped so it proves it works. There clearly need to be limits. No one wants a horse getting a thrashing if it stands no chance of winning. But that said I would let jockeys whip their horses as much as is required if they're in contention.
I'm definitely pro-whipping
I'm definitely pro-whipping as long as its in a controlled non-abusive way. You shouldn't whip your horse (or dog or son) just because youre angry but because they need it. Some horses need whipping, as do some dogs and some teenage boys - I know I was one! I'm glad my dad whipped me (and my brothers). Sure it hurt - it was meant to. But it toughened us up and was not done in anger. I'm a young man now, who like my brothers have kept out of serious trouble - thanks to the whip.I think whipping is a good thing and we shouldn't be afraid of using the whip so long as its done properly.
I recomemnd to anyone who
I recomemnd to anyone who posted a negative opinion about whipping to drive a horse in a race mid-pack and have them go off stride and try to stop before entering the safety lane. the whip "IS" a very neccessary tool and it would be dangerous to take it out of our game.
The move by the ORC should
The move by the ORC should be applauded. it is about time the industry did something for the horse. I also want to comment and raise a question about drivers putting the whip between the legs of a horse then pulling back between their legs. I'm sure horses don't like this action. I'm sure I wouldn't appreciate this kind of attention! Can someone please enlighten me about this driver tactic plus confirm this isn't fair to the horse. I also read recently drivers do not use whips in Europe, why here in North America. Bottom line, more horsemen and the patrons of the sport need to speak up on behalf of the horse.
I have been employed in the
I have been employed in the industry for many years. Unquestionably, there are many very abusive drivers, particularily with the cheaper, sorer horses. Their aggression has really got out of hand!! Kudos to the people who have stepped up to the plate for the horses.
When the media publicizes an
When the media publicizes an article on harness racing it is not about whipping. It is about the drug abuse in the industry.You actually think the bettor thinks about whipping before they think about doping. Spend the money on advanced testing instead of polling horseman and the public on whipping rules.Ask a trainer if their horse has been abused during a race?Better yet ask everyone that enters the grandstand if they are concerned about drugging or whipping?
Whipping is not the bettors
Whipping is not the bettors problem,(they love to see a driver try). Drugs are what has driven away the bettor.They think trainers and drivers cheat.You don't think if a bettor sees a driver coming down the lane motionless in the bike they think horseman cheat.The betting public doesn't think of cruelty, they see dollar signs when a horse crosses that finish line, regardless of what the driver is doing.The people who wish to ban the whip have obviously not stood outside of the grandstand while the horses are coming down the stretch.The people who want to ban the whip probably don't eat meat because it's cruel.The whip has always been necessity for the SAFETY of the driver and other participants in the race.Show me a example where a horse has died due to the existing whipping rules in place and then show me where horses have died due to lack of drug rulings? Maybe that is why the higher ups have to resort to blaming the drivers!
As a relative newcomer to
As a relative newcomer to the Standardbred industry, I find the whole debate about whipping quite ludicrous. On television this week, I watched six horses rushing to the finish with whips flying from all the drivers. Last week, at a live race I watched the last place horse, six lengths behind the field and the driver pounded the horse all the way down the stretch. It seems to me that there is a very simple solution - ban whips. No fines, no confusion, an even playing field for all drivers and the whole debate is over.
In reply to As a relative newcomer to by Caroline Thornton (not verified)
Their is a safety issue for
Their is a safety issue for drivers having them. If a horse got spooked by something it could be the only option left between a horse going about his work or stopping on a dime and creating a giant pile up. Banning whips as it's own danger issues.
In reply to As a relative newcomer to by Caroline Thornton (not verified)
first of all the whip is
first of all the whip is extremely needed when a horse goes off stride. The horse will immediately try to slow down no matter what is behind him. Secondly if that horse in last was being chased it is probably because the driver did not believe the horse would make the qualifying time and tried to keep him in the required time.
As a long time horsemen I
As a long time horsemen I agree with changes must be made,for the simple fact that everything changes, every effort must be made to improve our fan base and to protect our animals as well as the people who participate in our sport.
Every major league sport tweeks their rules and so should we. I beleive that a line in each hand and flick of the wrist is all that should be allowed as far as the whip goes. I watch stretch drives with two year old trotting fillies and think that's what our races should look like. To acheive this I would first try with a b-track with a pre determined set of rules and penalties. I think that $100 fines do nothing I would rather see a percentage of the drivers pay be given back maybe even part of the trainers and owners percentages should be part of fines to encourage proper driver choices and it would make aggressive drivers more accountable.Flagrant missuse could bring a disqualification from the race.
I would rather a driver strike a wheel disk then the horse they very rarely get fined for that so make it legal, and judges in this day and age of video replay, what are you waiting for to watch the replay of stretch drives and fine the guilty you are as much to blame for all of this. ALL of Canada can see it every Monday on the Score with the camera angles they have.Stiffle shots every single race. Do you realize that it sometimes cuts them.
I kinda like the idea that whips should be redesigned and handed out by the track. Has anyone seen how long their snappers are, I mean cmon!
Would'nt it be better for our own breed if the horses that won races we're doing it out of will and not fear?
i do not like to see
i do not like to see whipping a little tap is enough take away rawhide whips replace with fly swatters.
Good story, good
Good story, good perspective...BUT,,, I remember those days when I was a kid , then a young adult and almost to today when the pop of Whips on saddlepads and sulky shafts and the scowls and howls of the drivers at the top of the stretch was as good as any all day sucker !!! and that's the way it was... It wasn't cruel or heartless, it was just a great part of the sights, sounds and smell of the Sport we all love to love... The horseman loved their horses back then, maybe, even more than they do now. It may be for the better, BUT, I'm gonna miss it.
only people who sit behind
only people who sit behind horses on a regular basis know the importance of the "WHIP"
ALL THOSE WITH ALL THESE OPINONS SHOULD!!make sure they know what they are ranting about horse racing,training of any breed needs to have whips.
People can beat on each
People can beat on each other as in UFC and people love it.
The judges simply need to do their jobs thus there would be no blogs, no poll questions, etc about whipping.
Keep whipping going and
Keep whipping going and harness racing will be one of the next targets of the people who have basically killed off the greyhound industry in the United States. Rest assured the same people consider whipping of t-breds just as offensive as in harness racing.
Kicking of the horses should be outlawed as well; there is no place for it.
I constnatly hear people talking about how unsafe it would be without whips. Well in Scandanavia they outlawed the whips and they seem to be doing very well without them.
People don't realise that if
People don't realise that if there is not a whipping rule drivers will find a difflerent way to get there horse to go fast. Kicking the horse kinda comes to mind. just leave it to the juges of the various tracks
I do hope when this workshop
I do hope when this workshop discusses the whipping rules they really take a good look at it. There is still a place for it. Do not forget the safety factor. When a person is warming up or scoring out a horse they can have a tendency to go a little sideways when spooked. A little shot to the butt or saddle pad straightens them up in a hurry. Keep in mind the drivers do not have an outrider for every horse as they do with the runners. If a horse makes a bad break in front of the field there are times they need a little more incentive to go faster to get out of the way of the trailing horses.
There are some guys who over due it,there is no doubt to that. Shorten the whip, shorten the snapper and hands in the handholds at all times will really decrease the sights and sounds of the whip. Make it hurt in the pocket book, that usually works.
I do have a question, are the jockeys going to give up the crop or is that acceptable? I am not sure of the rules but they can hit them anywhere accept in the head. If this is correct, and the crop is acceptable to the public, are we barking up the right tree or did the squirrel get away again?
In reply to I do hope when this workshop by Greg Parke (not verified)
Does Mr. Parke's statement
Does Mr. Parke's statement "There are some guys who over due it" mean they use the whip after it is too late to have any effect on the horse, or does he mean they 'over do it' as in using their whips to excess? Just wondering.
I understand some of the
I understand some of the points of view of the drivers and trainers regarding the whip as a training and safety tool,Mark MacDonald among one of those who say it's a necessary evil, but I've seen the whip mostly misused and with excessive force in most races,it's about time to phase this part of our sport out,for the sake of dignity and love of these animals.