I hate most* kinds of animal cruelty, and find it inexplicable how anyone could intentionally hurt an animal. *except spiders....they deserve everything they get.
Especially these ****ers. Pretty harmless but they make my life hell cos the Mrs is **** scared of them. please log in to view this image
Animal rights groups can get to ****, tbh. They're like an over protective Mother. That doesn't mean they're right, though. The whip doesn't hurt the horse. It makes a popping noise which is what the horse responds too. You can see horses before, during and after the race showing signs that they're happy to be there. You'll see them at the business end of the race pricking their ears up. That's a sign they're happy and switched on to the job. I've been around a few trainers stables and these racehorses are incredibly well looked after and live in luxury, frankly. I'm yet to meet a bigger animal lover than myself. If I thought for one second that horse racing was cruel or the horses didn't enjoy what they're doing, I wouldn’t take any interest in the sport and I'd call it out for what it is.
Yes of course The horses can hear a popping noise above fifty thundering hooves. And why would they make the popping noise at the wrong end, as far away from the ears as possible
Because that's the softest part of their body. They're hardly going to be told to start whipping the horse over the head. These are foam cushioned whips so it doesn't hurt the horse and they are designed to give off a loud bang which startles the horse and gets it going.
So the 'loud bang' whips are an upgrade on the 'popping sound' ones, fair enough ... .... but why so far away from the ears when that's nearer to the next horse. And why can't they have something that makes a noise without having to let go of the reins with one hand.
This is where you and me totally disagree mate, the fact you have to break a horse just so can ride it tells me all I want to know, that’s without stuffing an iron bar in its mouth to make it go where you want it to go.
The whip generally doesn't get used until the business end of the race when they're heading towards the finishing line. At that point, the horse is almost always off the bridle so the jockey has let go of the reigns and the horse is flat out. The whip is used at that point as motivation and to keep the horse focused until the end of the race.
Stuffing an iron bar in its mouth... You made that sound bad. Its placed in its mouth so the jockey can direct it around the course otherwise you'd have horses running all over the place. How do you feel about people wrapping a collar around a dogs neck so you can make it go where you want?
Its nothing to do with pain. The whip was designed with input from the RSPCA. It doesn't hurt but people are obviously going to believe whatever they want.
The same as putting an iron bar in a horses mouth, I am not going to argue with you mate, if someone likes something they can always find away round thinking something is cruel. We’ve had horses on the farms since I was a kid and I have never seen one that wants to be ridden or likes that bar stuck in its mouth.
The RSPCA study above suggests otherwise chief. In the below link, the RSPCA call them painful and unesseccary. https://www.rspca.org.au/take-action/animal-welfare-in-horse-racing
If it's of no real benefit and looks like a man whipping an animal, which it's clearly is, it doesn't set a good example ... ... no one can deny that. No wonder idiots believe there's no harm in it and abuse other animals.
People convince themselves that swans go around breaking people's arms, that bats deliberately fly into your hair and that foxes are a danger to civilisation ... ... any old excuse was given so people could entertain themselves hunting and killing otters, badgers, birds of prey, etc. Thankfully we're slowly become more educated.
Very slowly mate if truth be known. I hate all cruelty, especially what goes on in this country where people turn a blind eye to most things, but revel in anything they can get a petition up for that’s happening abroad.
