lee1984
Well-Known Member
Lanky loll
Ill pm you.
Ill pm you.
Misconceptions about harness racing?
- Thread starter Crosshill Pacers
- Start date
Lanky Loll
Well-Known Member
Got it Lee
CPT - sadly your view is the most frequently seen. Not helped by a lot of the media coverage being devoted to the illegal racing
If you get chance (and remember) next summer S4C show the BHRC racing on a Monday night (programme is called Rasus), much of it is in Welsh but they usually do a "lifestyle" segment where they do a pretty good job of going behind the scenes and trying to explain some of what goes on. As for the turkey trussing - harness looks restrictive even when it's not sadly so unless people know why things are being done or why the straps are there it does look quite intimidating.If it helps one of ours used to absolutely dive for the bridle to put it on (you had to watch she didn't catch your boob at the same time
) and would stand with her teeth over the bit if the bridle was hung up in front of her but she was rather special As we all know horses have many ways of telling us they're unhappy, ours have always happily lifted legs to have the hopples put on - to the point of almost waving at you at times and getting impatient if you're not quick enough so I don't think they find them that uncomfortable.Bojingles
Well-Known Member
Burmilla and CPTrayes, I'm with you on this one. I'd gladly be disabused of these perceptions but sadly I've never seen any evidence to the contrary.
wallykissmas
Well-Known Member
My only experience is some locals thrashing young horses with their heads kept down by some straps along the roads, not slowing for anyone or anything inc other horse riders. It scares the other horses and riders
Or what they show on tv ie big fat gypsy wedding style.
I'm not keen on the road work at a fast pace but would be interested in seeing and learning more if it was held at local tracks. With horses that were correctly tacked up.
I think education and advertising is the key.
Or what they show on tv ie big fat gypsy wedding style.
I'm not keen on the road work at a fast pace but would be interested in seeing and learning more if it was held at local tracks. With horses that were correctly tacked up.
I think education and advertising is the key.
Crosshill Pacers
Well-Known Member
Thanks to everyone who has responded. It is clear to me that the general view of harness racing is the road racing shown through the media which is used to illustrate negative aspects of a section of society.
As Lanky Loll (for one) can confirm, the harness racing that we take part in is far from what most people imagine it to be. We do not race on roads, and rarely on hard surfaces at all. I live for the grass track meetings in random farmer's fields dotted about the country!
But obviously as a sport we're doing something wrong. We're not getting out to you what it is we're even doing!
My colleague at STAGBI is also the press officer for W&BC and she sends a write up of results to all local papers following each weekly meeting. This should be something that each BHRC club do after each meeting. I've been guilty for too long of hoping someone else will try to change things. I can see me volunteering myself here for yet another job!
As Lanky Loll (for one) can confirm, the harness racing that we take part in is far from what most people imagine it to be. We do not race on roads, and rarely on hard surfaces at all. I live for the grass track meetings in random farmer's fields dotted about the country!
But obviously as a sport we're doing something wrong. We're not getting out to you what it is we're even doing!
My colleague at STAGBI is also the press officer for W&BC and she sends a write up of results to all local papers following each weekly meeting. This should be something that each BHRC club do after each meeting. I've been guilty for too long of hoping someone else will try to change things. I can see me volunteering myself here for yet another job!
lee1984
Well-Known Member
Thats the problem the media never show the postive side of it.
c4 wales sometimes show the racing but its only in welsh.
As said it needs more positive advertising.
Beausmate
Well-Known Member
I used to really enjoy watching Rasus, sadly no longer in an area where I can receive S4C and I've not seen any harness racing for a long time. One of my college lecturers was in to his harness racing-he said he'd always been too heavy to ride racehorses, so he drove them instead! Would point-to-point tracks consider holding the odd race? Would they even be suitable?
I'd love to have a go at it-probably be terrified though!!
I'd love to have a go at it-probably be terrified though!!
Kitty B
Well-Known Member
I watched a lot of harness racing when I was still living in the US, but I must admit I didn't know that the UK even HAD harness racing as I knew it. I've got a friend from school who is a trainer at her husband's harness racing stable. She trains on dirt and takes exceptional care of their Standardbreds. To be clear, I am not saying that those who do not train on dirt do not also take exceptional care of their horses, that's just how she does it. I think that perhaps it is the trainers who aren't as considerate of their animals that get noticed more, or are the ones who stick in people's memories which overshadows the fact that there are good, patient trainers out there. The bad ones always seem to ruin it for everyone else, no matter what the sport is.
I think if there were more advertising it could attract more people to the sport. If I had known it was in the UK, I would have been going assuming there is a track anywhere near us. Even if there wasn't, I could see myself taking a day trip now and then to catch the races. I love to catch up with how my friend's horses are doing, but it would be nice to be able to go watch again in person.
I think if there were more advertising it could attract more people to the sport. If I had known it was in the UK, I would have been going assuming there is a track anywhere near us. Even if there wasn't, I could see myself taking a day trip now and then to catch the races. I love to catch up with how my friend's horses are doing, but it would be nice to be able to go watch again in person.
Lanky Loll
Well-Known Member
S4C is available if you have Sky - it was the one thing that finally persuaded my dad to get more than 5 channels
There are a few ex jockeys that race, and it's a popular sport with farriers too. Weight isn't such a problem for drivers nearly as much as for riders but can still be a consideration. I think most p2p courses would sadly be too uneven
wallykissmas
Well-Known Member
S4C is available if you have Sky - it was the one thing that finally persuaded my dad to get more than 5 channels
There are a few ex jockeys that race, and it's a popular sport with farriers too. Weight isn't such a problem for drivers nearly as much as for riders but can still be a consideration. I think most p2p courses would sadly be too uneven
What channel is it on sky please.
weebarney
Well-Known Member
What happens if someone was to turn up at a race and hadnt harnessed up correctly or too tightly? Would organisers or fellow competitors pull them up? Just wondering if these people i see with horses heads in the air and hollow backs only do road racing get away with what they want.
Lanky Loll
Well-Known Member
Crosshill Pacers
Well-Known Member
We have stewards who are responsible for ensuring that rules are followed on the racetrack, i.e. making sure horses have had grass nails put in prior to racing. We're like a huge extended family, so if someone thought I was doing something wrong with a piece of harness, they'd come over and tell me.
I can't comment on road racing, as I don't participate. I race under rules, both with W&BC on Saturdays (and some Wednesdays when I can get time off work) and BHRC on Sundays. The utmost care is taken when the horses are racing, they're valuable animals and family pets. I'm going to dig some videos out from tinternet so you can see how different it is to the road racing that many people imagine harness racing to be (and something that personally, I am not a fan of).
Crosshill Pacers
Well-Known Member
This is the BHRC website, full of photos and useful info:
http://www.bhrc.org.uk/
This is the W&BC website, again full of info:
http://welsh-trotting.co.uk/
S4C Rasus website (available in English):
http://www.s4c.co.uk/rasus/e_index.shtml
This is Doonbeg setting a new British and World Record (I was there, it was one of the best things I have ever witnessed):
http://s4c.co.uk/rasus/cgi-bin/rasus.pl?rm=race_watch;tx=106;race=1132;l=e
And this is a clip of my trainer (I know this is in English, because Michael is Irish!):
http://s4c.co.uk/rasus/e_extras_2012-7.shtml
http://www.bhrc.org.uk/
This is the W&BC website, again full of info:
http://welsh-trotting.co.uk/
S4C Rasus website (available in English):
http://www.s4c.co.uk/rasus/e_index.shtml
This is Doonbeg setting a new British and World Record (I was there, it was one of the best things I have ever witnessed):
http://s4c.co.uk/rasus/cgi-bin/rasus.pl?rm=race_watch;tx=106;race=1132;l=e
And this is a clip of my trainer
(I know this is in English, because Michael is Irish!):http://s4c.co.uk/rasus/e_extras_2012-7.shtml