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What I mean RTB is:
Once the cush has been used in one race I suspect the horse knows what is going to happen in other races without seeing it so is therefore reacting to being pushed along because it knows the cush is coming…
And if the cush has not yet been used on the horse at all, it has no idea what the thing it’s being shown is for.Value Is EverythingYour conversation with me was indeed serious Ginger
As if often the case with these threads, it has been interspersed with some less serious comments including from myself. But this is a genuine issue worthy of debate, and there have been plenty of serious posts.
What were my hopes and aspirations, as OP, when I started this thread?
Doesn’t actually matter – when you post on an internet forum it’s best to do so with zero expectations because you can’t (and shouldn’t) try to control how others react, if at all.
People will do what they want to do – ignore the thread, interpret it as they wish, take it in one direction, maybe then another, or maybe hijack it altogether.
I’m just glad – and grateful – when any thread gets lots of responses, whatever those responses might be.
I think it’s turned out a corker, with lots of wit and lots of good points made.
In case anyone hasn’t noticed, there’s now a poll thread up and running.
Please take a look and vote – thank you in advance to those who do.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Another reason I’m unkeen on “cush” is because, where it’s not a conventional word, it will often be confused with “cosh”. So we end up with something that is not really any more pleasant than “whip”.
Fair point Marlingford.
I see what you mean, the look of the words may be similar, but the sound is quite different and the word cush is not cosh, so is not really like the whip meaning whip. Not sure how many people would make the leap from cush to cosh anyway, when to me a cush implies much more to a cushion. I believe the youth use “Cush” as slang for “good” or “cool”. Always good to keep the yout’ onside. Also sounds similar to “cushty” meaning excellent or comfortable.It may also be better to get a different name for the act too, instead of “hitting” or “striking”. How many “cushions”? No that sounds wrong. Can we say how many “cushes” did the jockey use?
My original “encourager” may be a little longer word but it did lend itself to how many times the horse was “encouraged”. However, it is another complete name change.
The pro-cush being shortened to cush seemed to make sense but if others feel the same then just call it a “pro-cush” or “cushty”.
Value Is Everything“There is also the fear of the whip. We have often heard the term that the jockey is showing the horse the whip so what does this represent, the horse is being shown an implement that will inflict pain and the mindset from previous experience encourages more effort.“
In many years of riding horses (including racehorses) I have found this to be true.
Sometimes you would carry a stick because a horse is known for being lazy. Carrying the stick (even waving it in their eyeline) can have the intended effect of motivating the horse. This is because the horse knows what the stick feels like.
“I think this thing about showing the horse the whip is a load of nonsense RTB. So too is showing the horse a hurdle or fence before a race.”
The are good reasons for walking a horse up to a hurdle before a race. It is to familiarise them with the look of the obstacle. So that when they see it travelling at 30+mph they don’t balk / spook (potentially unseating the rider).
I agree Archipenko, the horse needs to familiarise itself with the obstacle. But what I am saying is the horse has been familiarised many times by jumping similar objects at home, seeing one at the racetrack before a race imo makes no difference. I know ex-jockey Carl Llewellyn was of this view too…
The possible exception is the Grand National where some are seeing a GN fence for the first time.
If you believe showing them an obstacle at the races is important because it familiarises them with what is to come… Then do you think horses are surprised when jumping the first fence not to see Luke Harvey standing on the other side? Genuine question.
Value Is EverythingYoung / inexperienced horses would benefit from being shown a hurdle before setting off.
You often see it in show jumping, where the rider will show the horse a water tray before starting their round.
Just because a horse has been schooled over obstacles at home, doesn’t mean it won’t spook at an obstacle on the racecourse. Every horse is different and some benefit from walking up to an obstacle and others don’t need it.
Again, I believe a well schooled horse does not need it, but we’ll agree to disagree.
Value Is Everything“Just because a horse has been schooled over obstacles at home, doesn’t mean it won’t spook at an obstacle on the racecourse”.
I’d agree with that, Archipenko. But it is also true that just because a jockey shows his horse a fence at the racecourse, does not mean it won’t spook in the actual race.
Value Is EverythingI am not sure having a hurdle at the racecourse for horses to look at is up for debate?
Soz Gingercush and all for confounding your serious posts with what I think/thought was the lighthearted poll
Over the years there’ve been surprisingly few correspondents on TRF who’ve actually ridden and worked with horses; and when they do appear their posts are invariably well-worth reading: the latest being Archipenko
Experience v Opinion: a familiar dichotomy, neither one or the other being the be all and end all; but the opinionated do tend to overwhelm the experienced
Showing the whip by flashing it past the side of the head so to catch the horses attention is often used when a horse maybe idling infront to keep them concentrated??.
Crowley doesn’t count whip strokes so may benefit himCharles Darwin to conquer the World
Thanks @Drone
For those that haven’t seen it – published on Wednesday:
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