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Would the same people outraged by todays goings on not also think that physically shoving a horse into a place it clearly does not want to be (a stall) was abuse too? hmmm.
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Blindfolding a horse and shoving it in a stall is also animal cruelty. If the horse has no desire to be raced it shouldn’t be forced in there for the sake of punters and connections but of course the horse could just be troublesome and like to do this sort of thing .
Blindfolding a horse and shoving it in a stall is also animal cruelty. If the horse has no desire to be raced it shouldn’t be forced in there for the sake of punters and connections but of course the horse could just be troublesome and like to do this sort of thing .
And so?….
Connections of Caprio say the colt is ‘invariably good natured’ at home and only plays up on the racecourse.
He’s misbehaved on all three starts for Mr Dascombe this term and chances are the horse will do it again. He’s fully aware that his actions will go unpunished on a racecourse.
That’s the problem, the horse has been allowed to get away with it. You simply can’t punish the horse after the event because it won’t relate the punishment to the incident. To discipline a horse long after it’s misdemeanour will only confuse the horse, having a detrimental effect on its relationship with humans.
A horse needs to be disciplined on the spot. This will never happen at the racecourse. As we have witnessed with this very incident, the average racegoer, uneducated on this subject, will call for the head of anyone who only does what is necessary.
It’s part of a horses nature to recognise the ‘dominant horse’. I remember Kieron Fallon posing for the cameras with the late George Washington, who tried to take a chunk out of his arm. Kieron always said that Aiden O’Brien was the only person the horse respected. Mr Dascombe should play a more prominent role at the racecourse.
The stall handler, Mark Wilson, is an experienced horseman, boasting more than 25 years in the profession. He has probably forgotten more about understanding these animals than most of us will ever know.
I do not condone animal cruelty. Mark Wilson was correct to administer punishment if he had the authority to do so. What he did can not seriously be considered abusive behaviour. He struck an animal who had bitten and headbutted two people, sending one to the hospital. Now that’s what I call abusive behaviour!!
Sadly, I can’t envisage poor Caprio remaining a colt much longer…
Don’t think you have to have authority to defend yourself from an attack, whether the attack be from a human or equine.
Folks, horses are known to "take the piss", OK, not every horse that has to be blindfolded and shoved to get them into the stalls is "taking the piss" but a large number of them are, they just love all that ‘touchy feely’ attention.
Sadly, if they are not persuaded to go into the stalls their future, certainly as a ‘flat’ racehorse will be at an end. They can look forward to slogging it up the hill twice at Towcester or perhaps even turning up in some doggy’s food-dish. One has to be realistic about this.
Oh! and Mr. Wilson I have to agree with the above poster that you really don’t know Rory at all, if you think your posting about him is anywhere near correct.
Colin
Blindfolding a horse and shoving it in a stall is also animal cruelty.
Are you a member of Animal Aid perchance?
It is just that some of your views seem to be as barmy as theirs.
"Blindfolding a horse and shoving it in a stall is also animal cruelty"
If you truly believe this, have you considered finding another sport to follow?
Perhaps Rory would like to give his opinion on how the stall handler should have dealt with the situation?
I think it is important to realise that this occurrence is extremely rare on the racecourse and it is the first time a stalls handler has hit a horse since stalls were introduced in 1964. Racing can’t allow horses to be hit in this manner and it should not be allowed. I think that if a similar situation to the one with Caprio occurs again then the horse should be withdrawn.
ATR didn’t explain the full story of the incident and in this case, I’d agree with the person who said that the stalls handler who slapped Caprio should only be reprimanded and he should not lose his job.
I remember reading about a sprinter called Ubedizzy who many years ago won a race and then hurt his handler so badly that he was hospitalised for a while. Ubedizzy was then banned from racing in the UK. Racing has to take the same hard line with Caprio in my opinion and he should not be allowed to race again in this country.
Pete
That proposal makes sense, Swalow Cottage.
Firstly, as someone mentioned, he should really have those balls whipped out – I’d give him one chance after that then if he’s still behaving as badly at the racecourse you’d want to ban him really. Hopefully connections will come to a similar conclusion – Dascombe’s no idiot and I daresay such ideas have probably crossed his mind too.
I think it is important to realise that this occurrence is extremely rare on the racecourse and it is the first time a stalls handler has hit a horse since stalls were introduced in 1964.
Petein fairness you cant know for sure if this is the case? it might be the 1st time it has been captured on camera but to suggest it’s the 1st without having the evidence to back it up is a bit wide of the mark IMO.
although in regards to banning a horse might not be a bad idea but not for life maybe a couple of months so the Trainer can teach the horse "manners"
in fairness you cant know for sure if this is the case? it might be the 1st time it has been captured on camera but to suggest it’s the 1st without having the evidence to back it up is a bit wide of the mark IMO.
I am quoting from the RP which stated that according to Brad Higgins ( Chief executive of Racetech ) it is the first time a handler has hit a horse since stalls were intoduced.
Pete
Any one who has ever worked with racehorses and not just watched them on TV will know that occassionally it is necessary to hit them – they don’t understand English, surprise, surprise, and it is the only way of communicating with them when they are being recalcitrant, or downright vicious. The kerfuffle over this case is coming from people who do not know what they are talking about.
the welsh wizard, spot on.
Too many TV racing people have very strong opinions on things they have only experienced by watching pictures.
I remember reading about a sprinter called Ubedizzy who many years ago won a race and then hurt his handler so badly that he was hospitalised for a while. Ubedizzy was then banned from racing in the UK. Racing has to take the same hard line with Caprio in my opinion and he should not be allowed to race again in this country.
Pete
Ubedizzy was a very rare example of a horse who was so dangerous that he really should have been put down, but wasn’t because he was a useful sprinter; what happened at Newmarket was truly remarkable. After running second in the Abernant Stakes, Ubedizzy knocked his lad to the ground, knelt on him and began to savage him. That lad, Andy Crook, lost a finger in the incident. I will try to dig out a report of the incident from the time.
Excellent posting from Bosranic and others btw.
Having worked with horses all my working life i feel qualified to speak on the stall handler ‘slapping’ situation.
Caprio is obviously a difficult horse and in my exprience a quick slap or yank on the reins often calms a potentially difficult situation.
The person in question is an experienced horseman and if he felt a slap was necessary – he gets my full support.
I’d rather be slapped on the nose than galloped down a steep hill on rock hard ground !
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