If a non-horsey person was lying on a psychiatrist's couch and the psychiatrist said:
"I'm now going to say a word and I want you to tell me the first thing that comes into your mind.......WHIP"
No doubt the person would think of something unpleasant like beatings or lashings (note to Malcolm Tomlinson - no more lashings, please).
If the main reason for the new rules is perception then maybe we need to come up with a new name for the 'racing whip'. Which isn't unreasonable if it has been uniquely designed for persusding a horse to race / quicken / keep it under control.
Definition of a whip: "a length of leather or cord fastened to a handle"
Are the new whips made of leather
Whatever, we need to change the name.
I'm happy to go with the "tickler", though I'm happy to settle for the "persuader" or the the "cajoler".
Defintion of "beat" - hit someone repeatedly and violently.
That is definitely not what we do to horses. A new name for the 'horse whip' is definitely required, imo.
How about - 'the quickener' - as in an object designed to encorage a horse to quicken.
A whip suggests an object with which to "beat". Defintion of "beat" - hit someone repeatedly and violently.That is definitely not what we do to horses. A new name for the 'horse whip' is definitely required, imo.How about - 'the quickener' - as in an
There is no welfare issue with the whip - all this furore because of its name.
People hear the word "whip" - and some think violence, while others like duncan think of something perverse.
Having given the subject a deal of thought, I'm going to write to the BHA and propose they rename it the THE TICKLER.
The public will love it - after all, who doesn't like to be tickled? So in future the public won't think of a horse being "beaten" by that nasty whip, they'll just think it's being tickled by the tickler.
There is no welfare issue with the whip - all this furore because of its name.People hear the word "whip" - and some think violence, while others like duncan think of something perverse.Having given the subject a deal of thought, I'm going to write t
I'm warming to the idea of having a slapper. The idea of a jockey being accompanied on a horse by a slapper could attract an entirely new audience to racing, imo.
I'm warming to the idea of having a slapper. The idea of a jockey being accompanied on a horse by a slapper could attract an entirely new audience to racing, imo.
I suppose they could introduce some sort of digital device... expensive no doubt, and of course open to fraud. Maybe something that attaches to the reins and gives the horse a *gentle* sensation... and can only be pressed/squeezed so many times.
Or a digital whip that registers when it's used and changes some sort of output on the horse's head so the jockey knows to stop.
then again... perhaps not
I suppose they could introduce some sort of digital device... expensive no doubt, and of course open to fraud. Maybe something that attaches to the reins and gives the horse a *gentle* sensation... and can only be pressed/squeezed so many times.Or a
Get rid of the whip once and for all and get spurs back on the boots of jockeys.. (Joking!) we could change the name of the whip to the 'spurrer' so we spur the horses on.. see how he spurred the horse on their classic horsemanship..
Get rid of the whip once and for all and get spurs back on the boots of jockeys.. (Joking!) we could change the name of the whip to the 'spurrer' so we spur the horses on.. see how he spurred the horse on their classic horsemanship..