Pale Rider
Well-Known Member
Whipping Racehorses Defies the Odds
Hitting an animal is considered an unacceptable act of cruelty in Australia - unless you are on the racetrack.
Australian racehorses collectively receive more than a million whippings a year because of a long-held belief among jockeys and trainers that the practice enhances a horse's performance and a rider's safety. In addition to the questionable morality of flogging tired horses for human entertainment, ground-breaking research has cast real doubts on the effectiveness of whipping to get horses over the finish line.
Led by Professor Paul McGreevy, researchers at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Veterinary Science have challenged the use of the whip in thoroughbred racing. Indeed, their findings suggest whipping does not increase horses' chances of finishing in the top three and that they actually run faster when they are not being hit. The researchers have proposed an ethical framework for assessing the impact of different equine sports on animal welfare.
For research underpinning the humane treatment of horses in sport, Professor McGreevy and his team have won the 2011 Eureka Prize for Scientific Research that Contributes to Animal Protection. The group comprises Professor McGreevy, Honorary Associate Professor David Evans, Honorary Associate Dr Andrew McLean and Honorary Associate Dr Bidda Jones.
The prize is part of the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, the most prestigious awards in Australian science. The winners were announced last night at a star-studded evening for the country's most inspired minds.
The Eurekas', as they are fondly known, have become the most coveted science awards in this country. Every scientist knows a eureka' moment comes after decades of singular dedication, deep inquiry and rich collaboration. Receiving an Australian Museum Eureka Prize is regarded as a pinnacle achievement for any Australian scientist.
"Professor McGreevy's team has been instrumental in bringing an ethical dimension to horse training and racing at an international level," says Frank Howarth, Director of the Australian Museum. "Moreover, the team has shown through scientific research that much of the harm currently inflicted on horses in sport bears no real benefits anyway."
Under rules set by the Australian Racing Board, the peak governing body for thoroughbred racing, only horses in contention to win a race can be whipped, yet 98 per cent of horses in the most recent study conducted by Professor McGreevy's team were whipped. Analysing data on whip strikes in the last 600m of races, it was found that horses achieved highest speeds when there was no whip use. Most whip use occurred in the final 400m when horses were fatigued.
Jockeys claim they need the whip for their own safety because it can be used for steering and to prevent collisions. However, another study by Professor McGreevy's team casts doubt on this claim. The researchers compared racing in NSW (where horses run in a clockwise direction) and Victoria (where they run counter-clockwise) and found that most jockeys hold the whip in their right hand.
The researchers concluded that whether jockeys are right or left-handed is more likely to determine their whip hand, not the direction of the track. They theorise that this challenges the view that the whip is used for steering.
In 2009, Professor McGreevy received the British Society of Animal Science/RSPCA Award for his innovative developments in animal welfare.
The $10,000 Voiceless Eureka Prize for Scientific Research That Contributes to Animal Protection is awarded to an individual or team for scientific research that has contributed, or has the potential to contribute, to animal protection
Interesting piece of research.
Hitting an animal is considered an unacceptable act of cruelty in Australia - unless you are on the racetrack.
Australian racehorses collectively receive more than a million whippings a year because of a long-held belief among jockeys and trainers that the practice enhances a horse's performance and a rider's safety. In addition to the questionable morality of flogging tired horses for human entertainment, ground-breaking research has cast real doubts on the effectiveness of whipping to get horses over the finish line.
Led by Professor Paul McGreevy, researchers at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Veterinary Science have challenged the use of the whip in thoroughbred racing. Indeed, their findings suggest whipping does not increase horses' chances of finishing in the top three and that they actually run faster when they are not being hit. The researchers have proposed an ethical framework for assessing the impact of different equine sports on animal welfare.
For research underpinning the humane treatment of horses in sport, Professor McGreevy and his team have won the 2011 Eureka Prize for Scientific Research that Contributes to Animal Protection. The group comprises Professor McGreevy, Honorary Associate Professor David Evans, Honorary Associate Dr Andrew McLean and Honorary Associate Dr Bidda Jones.
The prize is part of the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, the most prestigious awards in Australian science. The winners were announced last night at a star-studded evening for the country's most inspired minds.
The Eurekas', as they are fondly known, have become the most coveted science awards in this country. Every scientist knows a eureka' moment comes after decades of singular dedication, deep inquiry and rich collaboration. Receiving an Australian Museum Eureka Prize is regarded as a pinnacle achievement for any Australian scientist.
"Professor McGreevy's team has been instrumental in bringing an ethical dimension to horse training and racing at an international level," says Frank Howarth, Director of the Australian Museum. "Moreover, the team has shown through scientific research that much of the harm currently inflicted on horses in sport bears no real benefits anyway."
Under rules set by the Australian Racing Board, the peak governing body for thoroughbred racing, only horses in contention to win a race can be whipped, yet 98 per cent of horses in the most recent study conducted by Professor McGreevy's team were whipped. Analysing data on whip strikes in the last 600m of races, it was found that horses achieved highest speeds when there was no whip use. Most whip use occurred in the final 400m when horses were fatigued.
Jockeys claim they need the whip for their own safety because it can be used for steering and to prevent collisions. However, another study by Professor McGreevy's team casts doubt on this claim. The researchers compared racing in NSW (where horses run in a clockwise direction) and Victoria (where they run counter-clockwise) and found that most jockeys hold the whip in their right hand.
The researchers concluded that whether jockeys are right or left-handed is more likely to determine their whip hand, not the direction of the track. They theorise that this challenges the view that the whip is used for steering.
In 2009, Professor McGreevy received the British Society of Animal Science/RSPCA Award for his innovative developments in animal welfare.
The $10,000 Voiceless Eureka Prize for Scientific Research That Contributes to Animal Protection is awarded to an individual or team for scientific research that has contributed, or has the potential to contribute, to animal protection
Interesting piece of research.
