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'Ban the Whip' is a campaign organised by Neal Wailing aimed at banning the use of the riding whip in horse racing in Brittain. Neal is organising a petiton on the WebPetitions website.
Living Ethically has decided to adopt this campaign for 2007. We believe the time has come to look at why the use of a whip to engineer greater horse speed should no longer be tolerated in horse racing.
Background
Clearly, with no wild horse populations in the UK, except for isolated pockets of ponies, and with no custom of eating their flesh, horses are almost exclusively used for recreational purposes. Owning, caring for and riding horses gives pleasure to thousands. Horse racing additionally provides pleasure for millions of people in the UK and in itself is a multi-million pound industry, securing income and employment for thousands, especially in rural areas and via the gambling industry. Without these motives, there would be little reason to own a horse and the horse population would reflect this. Sensibly, to campaign for a ban on horse racing is perhaps too much, but that doesn't mean horses should be denied rights in their relationship with humans.
Animal welfare is best dealt with by organisations such as the RSPCA in our view, and since the riding whip is currently permitted in racing, it is safe to assume its use is not deemed as cruel per se, else it would surely already be banned. We believe its use should be banned for a more subtle, but equally powerful reason - namely that the use of the riding crop in horse racing is unheathy for furthering human and animal relationships and it contributes to the undermining of humanity's governence of our planet and its many species.
As humans, we have a special responsibility for the way we treat animals - we already do not pay enough attention to the impact of our species upon the planet and the resulting suffering and extinction of other species. It is our assertion that the relationship between humans and race horses is imbalanced and needs redressing in favour of the horses.
The Reasons
Why should the whip be banned?
- ITS USE IS TO PROMOTE UNNATURAL SPEED - The overiding reason for using a whip upon a racehorse is to get it to perfom at its absolute optimum - to encourge it to try harder or run faster than it would under natural conditions. This is of little benefit to the horse itself. Surely, to demand a horse runs at an artifically engineered speed through using a whip is done merely to satisfy human expectations and desires to see how fast horses will go in competition with each other.
- A RACE IS STILL A RACE IF A WHIP IS USED OR NOT - The point of horse racing must be that they race against each other over a predetermined course and distance and the horse that passes the finishing post first wins. Whether a whip is used or not in this process is immaterial - without whips, a race could still be run and winners declared.
- FOR SAFETY REASONS - Some horses veer or at least run away from a whip, especially if inexperienced - this means that if for example a jockey is using his whip in his right hand, the horse will move to the left. This can potentially cause accidents. Also, by running at an unatural speed - flat out - horses can make mistakes, especially when jumping.
- WHAT WAS ACCEPTABLE THEN SHOULDN'T BE NOW - We do not use physical persuasions upon humans to control their behvaiour any longer, eg corporal punishment - why should horses be physically persuaded by the use of the whip to give unreasonably beyond their all? In different times, using a whip upon an animal was viewed as acceptable as it could be used on a human being, but this should no longer be the case.
The Alternatives
We fully accept for safety reasons, that riders should be able to carry whips to use as is necessary to control a horse in the last resort to prevent injuries and possibly deaths. After all, a horse weighs a considerable amount and is extemely powerful, and if out of control could pose a considerable threat, endangering itself and those around. Tapping a whip down the shoulder of a horse to control it, to keep it on a straight line for instance, is not the same as striking its hind quarters to encourage maximum gallop in our view. Therefore, to ban the whip entirely is not practical and possibly reckless.
So what's the alternative to using a whip? The best example of racing, that works with the horse, is possibly 'hands and heels.' Hands and heels suggests the jockey uses physical riding skills to enourage his horse to run up to its potential. Indeed, races are sometimes won under the present rules using hand and heels, and without the jockey employing their whip at all. Also, it is well known that some horses do not respond favourably to the whip and require horsemanship to give their best.
Why couldn't races be held under hands and heels urging only? Races could still be held and won and in a way that respects the horse more properly than hitting it.
The Conclusion
We believe that using the whip is more about pleasing the ego of man to ensure horses potentially give maximum value and effort than what is best necessarily for the horse. We contend that under the present rules, the horse is a junior partner in its relationship with humans - and that its will is subservient to our expectations, enforced partly through the use of the whip.
Even using hands and heels to encourage, is asking horses to express themselves in a way they may not want to, but it is probably the equivalent of asking them to do so, rather than telling them. In terms of human/horse relationships, this would probably lead to the appearance of less domination and more co-operation. Such a shift in the pattern of human behaviour should be welcomed.
We realise after centuries of use, to discard the whip will be strongly opposed, but in a wider sense, for humanity to be better balanced with our planet Earth and all its species, new attitudes must prevail and come through, where we 'work with' rather than dominate for our own purposes, whatever these may be.
If in agreement with our views, you can register your opinion by signing the petition.
© Ethical Earth Limited / Neal Wailing February 2007
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