Whip arguments (From York Press)

Whip arguments

11:22am Tuesday 18th October 2011 in Letters By Readers' letters

IN response to Ken Holmes’s letter (The Press, October 12), I believe that the recent introduction of the British Horse Authority’s new rule on the use of the whip in horseracing is appropriate for the welfare of race horses and the sport.

It may well have changed the face of racing possibly forever and I do believe the jockeys deserve credit for having to adopt to these rules of use of the whip.

Terry Smith, Classic Cutz, Fourth Avenue, York.

• I AGREE with Rita Johnson that whipping of horses is barbaric and outdated and should be banned.

No member of the public could walk down the road whipping a horse without being charged with cruelty.

Let’s not forget, also, if the horses don’t make the grade they are destroyed.

The same rules apply to hunting with hounds: if they don’t make the grade they get a bullet in the head. Then there is greyhound racing: these poor dogs when they get past their racing best are dumped at the roadside or worse.

There are no retirement homes for any of these sentient beings. They are just kept for making money and entertainment and then their lives are over.

Future generations will never forgive our cruelty.

D Fillingham, The Crossway, York.

• IN REPLY to Mr Spinks (Letters, October 13), I have attended York Races for 60 years, going back to the days of the colourful tipster Raz Prince Monolulu.

The jockeys are in a no-win situation. If they don’t whip the horses enough, they are accused of not trying. That is why the whipping of horses must be banned.

Now the jumping season has started, resulting in serious injury and deaths of many race horses – and not only at the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National but every day.

Let us not forget the abominable sight of last year’s winner of the Grand National being whipped to the point of exhaustion. Also the two beautiful horses that died.

For more information visit animalaid.org.uk or write to Animal Aid, The Old Chapel, Bradford Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1AW.

Rita Johnson, Bishopthorpe Road, York.