Opinion

A painless horsewhip

The Australian Racing Board has set 18 as the maximum number of times a jockey can whip a horse in a race, and as punters will know the jockeys are not at all happy about that. They're threatening more strikes this week. Err, not strikes of the whip.

Evidently the racing board sees more than 18 applications of the whip as cruel and 18 or fewer as not cruel, and it has the support of no less than the RSPCA in this assessment. The RSPCA in Victoria says it will prosecute a jockey who uses the whip more than 18 times, so it is clear that the royal society charged with preventing cruelty to animals sees 18 or less lashings of the whip as painless.

Or does the RSPCA see a certain amount of cruelty as acceptable if it's for entertainment?

The use of the whip that's restricted is the full-arm application to the horse's rump, by the way, not the slap of the whip on the horse's shoulder or the backhand strike.

Jockeys and other outraged members of the racing fraternity are earnestly assuring everyone that the new padded whips introduced in the past few months don't inflict pain. Why, then, use the whip at all? And why would the Australian Racing Board impose the limit of 18 strikes?

Can you tell us whether whipping a horse causes it pain? Or why 19 lashes of the whip is cruel and 18 is not?

Posted By: Jeff Corbett on 11/09/2009 5:55:00 PM | Comments (68)

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first

Jeff. Do you really want an unbiased opinion about the RSPCA from me. They are in major damage control as now their prosecution of a 73 year old woman from Pilliga when in the middle of the drought, they drove onto her property, shot 42 head in contravention of their own policy and charged her. Magistrate found offence proved but dismissed under Section 10 Crimes Act. Now she has appealed all is coming to light (See extensive report of incident + others www.sosnews.org) This is just more feel good publicity. If you closely study King Charles rescue recently ...Hmmm

Posted by MizJasper, 14/09/2009 10:03:10 AM, on The Herald

do you reckon horse can count to 18?...what will the horse do if it gets hit 19 times, just pullup and refuse to run?....nah , that's it, not running anymore , had enough

Posted by suzhousid, 14/09/2009 10:13:51 AM, on The Herald

Horse racing is a cruel sport overall, and it should go the way of cockfighting and be banned altogether.

Posted by Jim M., 14/09/2009 10:29:41 AM, on The Herald

One could design a whip that breaks if its hit beyond a acceptable level of force and a certain number of times? That creates an entire new skillset amongst jockeys and an equal amount of force amongst all horses. Horses are probably by now, conditioned to associate the sting of the whip with an instruction to excert maximum effort. The humaniarian amount of force that creates distress beyond good stimulation is a subject i would like to research with a few skilled, competent, motivated and experienced lass's of extraordinary physical atributes (not brawn). I will be happy to share my research findings that will focus on "the effect of a bit of a lashing at the right time on a males exertion of effort" . I'm looking for funding and jeff might ask a few of the lass's at his haunts if they are interested to make voluntery contributions -all in the name of prevention of cruelity to animals -of course!

Posted by easilysolved, 14/09/2009 10:38:47 AM, on The Herald

Jim M - I am with you. Jumps racing is even worse - 12 dead horses just this year. All sports involving animals should be banned - the behind-the-scenes cruelty, neglect and deaths involved in all of them is disgraceful, but as long as there is a buck to be made by humans, it will be done. A riding crop should be allowed, but to be used only against other jockeys.

Posted by Monke, 14/09/2009 10:55:52 AM, on The Herald

Alcohol and Gambling, the NSW Government is addicted to the revenue and WILL put it's head in the sand with any suggestion that could interupt the flow of money. Look at the hurdle races in VIC there are still owners, trainers and jockeys willing to take part for money, while horses crash and die. Horses can be motivated and trained differently, the Parelli system of horse breaking and riding is a great example. We have owned and rode horses trained under this system, no bridles and bits only a halter, the horses were a pleasure to ride at any pace. hands and heels boys, drop the whip nothing looks better.

Posted by Buell, 14/09/2009 10:58:50 AM, on The Herald

No comment on the practice of whipping race horse, but the RSPCA. I for one do not believe they have an animals interest at heart. Only speaking from a past experiance.

Posted by intouch, 14/09/2009 11:09:24 AM, on The Herald

Still we have progressed since 1770, we don't whip people any more.

Posted by intouch, 14/09/2009 11:12:04 AM, on The Herald

Jeff, for 3 years I have been investigating this RSPCA with finding of funding being the main target, publicity exploiting their original charter, with animal care and concern running a very sad third place. NSW and VIC have the most functional PR machine to shine the inspectors public perception. The grass roots of the RSPCA, volunteers and staff are dedicated to prevention of animal cruelty, management chasing the dollar. The horse whip you have you have covered, enter the clowns, and they will ride trhis one right to the post.

Posted by Editor SOS-NEWS, 14/09/2009 11:21:30 AM, on The Herald

Jeff, off subject 60 minutes last night had a segment on the Congo, near 6 million people have died in last ten years to gain control of gold and diamonds. The same gold and diamonds that end up here. At one orphanage they lined up about 40 young children between 1 and 2 years old to show the cameras. Absolutely tragic. Maybe they need more westerners to come in and shoot the wildlife to save them.

Posted by Buell, 14/09/2009 11:42:07 AM, on The Herald