Are Jockeys whipping race horses hurting them …….?
Colin, there are rules that jockeys have to follow with regard to the use of the whip during races. Rules that govern the type of whip that can be used, where on the horse’s body the jockey can apply the whip, and in some cases how many times the rider can use the whip. For starters: in a lot of cases where it looks like the rider is hitting the horse, he may just be showing the whip to the horse. Some riders will do that before they hit a horse; they wave the whip quite strenuously, but the horse isn’t being hit. (Look at the riders who seem to be hitting a horse on the neck or shoulders. Chances are that the rider is showing the horse the whip, not hitting him.) A jockey cannot hit a horse that is clearly out of the running for a “place,” i.e., a part of the purse, unless they need to do so for safety. Bear in mind that jockeys ride in a crouched position that makes it nearly impossible for them to use their legs to give the normal leg aids riders use to cue a horse for a turn or to
