Whips in Horse Racing, Research Paper Example

Horse training and riding is a multi million dollar business predominately used by the western world for recreation, entertainment, competitions, and performance purposes. For many decades the welfare of horses has been discussed. The focus of these debates has been on the physical state or harm of horse at fast speeds, use of drugs, whipping of horses. Laws have been set up to deal with the welfare of the horse races, practices and handling including the use of the whip to accelerate the speed of horses (Deuel and Lawrence 3). Each has been set up to deal with the reasonableness and acceptability of the use of the whip and the effects on the horse. The ethical framework of this discussion has centered on the legislation and objectives laid down in the influence of the training and riding of horses during races. There are two points of view on the matter, those who are for and those who are against the use of whips during horse races.

McGreevy et al., (2) believe that the extensive use of the whip on a horse risks injury and the well being of the horse. This is evident from the chronic stress created in the horse from the inhumane whipping technique used during the race. The argument is that the drive created in the horse due to the whip may result in the physiological and musculoskeletal insult. This implies that the race horse is put under a lot of stress to increase speed from the repeated use of the whip. Moreover, this stress may drive the horse to suffer physiological damage due to the ridden work of the rider and the aggressive use of the whip.

Aggressive use of the whip has been very common among the harness and thoroughbred jockeys who made use of the whips during their races. Horses used in such races have been reported to suffer from huge welts and stifles that bleed from the marks left by the whips (Durso 1). From ancient times the use of the whip in such races was believed to enable the rider to increase the speed of the horse. Then the whip was a harsh and cruel belt of multiples strips that had hooks which often created welts and cut the hide of the racing animal. The traditional use of the whip reflected a time in human history when animal interventions were painful and justifiable by man. With time, man has perfected the art of horse racing and with it has reduced the cruelty of the whip. Current whips used in races consist of softer whips that are seen to reduce the physical pain and hurt to the horse, with padded whips being a requirement in races (Durso 1). However, the question arises if this reduction of pain is ethical enough, or should there be an overall eradication of the use of the whip in horse races.

Regulations have been created to reduce the cruel use of the whip during such races. In a standard bred race, the whip is used to crack shaft or the saddle pad of the sulky rather than the horse itself (Jones and McGreevy 7). The only effect or contact this whipping has is the aura created that the horse is being whipped and the encouragement for the horse to haste. The use of the whip is increasingly being discouraged due to the fact that it creates a counter productive aspect in the horse. Repeated use and harm of the horse can slow down or make the horse end the race too soon. This is because the learning theory in the horse may be poorly understood or appreciated by the jockey in such a manner that they may not realize when the horse accelerates or decelerates after being whipped (Jones and McGreevy 8). The horse may associate whipping after acceleration as punishment and thereby reduces speed, or as appreciation for deceleration. Arguments have been raised that the use of the whip should only be used for acceleration that should be followed by a reinforced mild tapping action (McGreevy and McLean 10). Therefore, the rider or the jockey should focus on the frequency rather than the intensity of the whipping. They should also cease whipping upon the appearance o the correct response form the horse. The idea is that the race is still a race even without the use of the whip. The horses should run he course of the track even when the jockeys do not make use of the whip. They should compete until the winner of the race finishes the track as the first without the encouragement of the whip.

The argument presented to objections like those of McGreevy has been that the whip is very effective in motivating the horse to complete the race (McLean and Mclean 5). This is more so important for the jockey who has to encourage the horse in the last leg of the race when the horse is very fatigued. The expectation is that such scholars and animal rights activist will see the logic of the need for the whip in a race where winning and entertainment are a major focus. If the horses cannot perform their duty as entertainers or winners then there is need for the whip. Such jockeys and riders do not see the objectivity of such studies or opposers to the whip. This is because many seasoned jockeys and riders often know the importance of the whip and will use it three times lesser than the apprentice.

Attorney Mindy Coleman ruled that the use of the whip in the US is restrictive to the welfare of the horse, and that the riders and jockeys need whips to control the horses safely (Durso 1). Therefore, the law in the US does recognize that there is need for the use of the whip during races but under safety standards. The argument of the attorney was that there are many jockeys who have been hurt, with 60 with permanent damages due to racing accidents. The view of this attorney is that without the riding crops and whips the jockeys are not able to control the horses to safety as they race down the track full of many horses at high speeds. With the risk of horses colliding and tripping over each other during races, the only defense the jockey has to protect themselves is to steer the horse with the help of the whip. Jockeys use the whip to control the animal while encouraging it to reach its optimum speed. They try to drive the animal to perform better and faster than it would under natural circumstances (Harris, Marlin and Snow 5). This view is taken into consideration since horses are very big and powerful animals, that if not well controlled can cause a lot of damage and threat by endangering themselves and their handlers.

Jockeys and riders are encouraged to make more use of their hand and heels to encourage horses on. This is the traditional physical riding used by horsemen to encourage their horses to gallop faster. This requires the rider or jockey to have adequate riding skills to direct and control the speed of their horses. This is more so useful in a horse that does not appreciate the use of the whip. Control is achieved through training; therefore the jockey cannot abandon the use of the whip due to the law. If a racing horse is trained to respond to a left whip they will veer to the direction of the conditioning. If they are whipped on the opposite direction, the horse will collide with others and cause an accident. Therefore, jockeys make use of the whip to give directions to the horse, like hand signals whips assist the jockey to direct the animal in which direction to turn to or how to avoid obstacles. This tool is seen as very effective especially for the jockey and the animal at very high speeds.

The fact remains that the horse is an animal that has the ability to respond either favorably or unfavorably to the whip. With many riders suffering serious lifelong physical damage or a maimed for life, there is need to reach a consensus on the best method of handling horses during races. As the horse has a relationship with its master many feel that the use of the whip is detrimental to the results of races or this relationship. While, the horse may e a junior to a human, we cannot ignore the fact that it has the capability to respond to the whip, with many showing counter productive behavior to the whip. As the horses express themselves, in varied ways not even the use of hand and heels can guarantee the safety of the rider. However, the concept of control of the racing horse is paramount in the mind of those who use the whip. For this reason many are not ready to drop its use.

Work Cited

Deuel Nelson and Lawrence, Mane. Effects of urging by the rider on equine gallop stride limb contacts. Proceedings of the Equine Nutrition and Physiology Symposium 10 (1987): 487–494.

Durso, Joseph. Horse Racing: Applying the Rule on Whips a Delicate Issue in Racing, Jockeys Travel a Fine Line Between Use and Abuse. NY Times. Accessed 27^th may, 2011, http://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/26/sports/horse-racing-applying-rule-whips-delicate-issue-racing-jockeys-travel-fine-line.html, 26^th Aug, 1998.

Harris, Colins, Marlin, David and Snow, Hill. Metabolic response to maximal exercise of 800 m and 2000 m in Thoroughbred racehorses. Journal of Applied Physiology 63(1987): 12–19.

Jones, Bill and McGreevy, Philip. Ethical equitation: applying a cost-benefit approach. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 5 (2010): 196–202.

McLean, Anna and Mclean Mercy. Academic Horse Training: Equitation Science in Practice. Victoria, Australia: Australian Equine Behaviour Centre, 2008.

McGreevy, Philip and McLean Ann. The roles of learning theory and ethology in equitation. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 2 (2007): 108–118.

McGreevy, et al. How Riding May Affect Welfare: What the Equine Veterinarian Needs to Know. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2011.