Rider Defends Whip Use: “He Thought the Horse Was Being Lazy”

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The “Radnor Hunt Races” were run in Malvern, PA, May 21 – which, as you’ll see, was a very hot day. Here are some notes from the stewards.

Race 1: 6-year-old Tom “collapsed on the course,” revived with “lots of water and ice.”

Race 2: Five horses “pulled up, DNF.”

Race 3: “This race was shortened from 3 1/4 miles to 3 miles due to the heat.” Apparently, not shortened enough: 8-year-old First Friday “was pulled up after the 6th fence and transported by the horse ambulance.”

Race 4: “This race was shortened from 2 3/8 miles to 2 1/8 miles due to the heat.” Again, not enough: Four horses “pulled up, DNF.” One of those was 4-year-old Baltimore Kid. His rider, Parker Hendriks, “was asked to explain his use of the whip…when the horse clearly was not in the race. He thought the horse was being lazy and had better form than he was showing…. He was cautioned but not fined or penalized.”

Race 5 (final race): Four more “pulled up, DNF.”

Finally, say the stewards, “It is recommended that a source of electricity for cooling fans be supplied for future meets, especially when there are excessive heat warnings.”

This is horseracing.

5 Comments

  1. This is definitely abuse and torture for these horses. I think it is one of the stupidest things that people can do to have this so-called tradition and throw common sense and compassion out the window!!!!!!
    This is obviously cruelty to horses.
    That last comment about the stewards recommendation of having cooling fans and a source of electricity for them is so over the top braindead stupid. Just cancel the damned ABUSE of horses!!!!!!

  2. Agree with you Wanda! These people are all brain dead stupid for racing horses in such high temps with high humidity as well most likely. Unfortunately most participants in this crummy, crooked, gamboling game are not very smart & those who have some intelligence are only interested in bragging rights. In states like ours there is no real $$ just bragging rights as to how their horses are better than others.Have always disliked any kind of jumps racing!

  3. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT ONCE A CERTAIN TEMP WAS REACHED, NO ONE WOULD BE RACING !!!!OBVIOUSLY , THIS RULE OF THUMB WAS TOTALLY IGNORED!!!! I CONSIDER WHAT HAPPENED AS ANIMAL ABUSE AND EVERYONE INVOLVED SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH ANIMAL ABUSE- THE HUMIDITY MUST ALSO BE CONSIDERED WHEN WE HAVE THESE TERRIBLE DAYS. THIS IS A DISGRACE!!!!!!THE GOVERNMENT DEPT THAT SHOULD HAVE OVERSEEN THIS EVENT= FAILED TOTALLY!!!!!!

    • There is no common sense or common decency involved in these pre-planned, pre-approved, pre-funded events so it is not safe to assume that they exercise any basic common sense or common decency!!!! There would have been equine casualties anyway regardless of the weather. It’s just obviously worse in extreme weather conditions. But regardless of the weather, the show of indifference to the horses must go on in these pre-planned, pre-approved, pre-funded events involving the sadistic use of horses by these phony pseudo-horsemen!

  4. There is no valid excuse for whipping a horse. There are at least two ways to put this animal cruelty to an end. One way is to exhibit the same punishment to the rider of the horse. Let him feel the same pain. He could be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for animal cruelty. But the most humane and correct way is to end this cruelty is to end this cruel sport of horseracing once and for all!

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