Ban The Whip, says The Harlequin.
Tony Ridgway writes in the Sporting Post Mailbag that The Harlequin has been around since Sea Cottage.
He’s seen 50 + years of SA racing.
He welcomes change, especially if it pertains to the welfare of the horse.
In fact, the welfare of any animal reliant on any human…
He suggests this: if horses can run free, sans buffetting, euphemistically speaking, the best horse will win.
I suggested to The Harlequin that he might be a little idealistic?
“It’s called philanthropy”, he replied. A trait every human being has inherited, but not nearly enough human beings display.
“What about the jockeys?”, I asked. And how they’ve been trained and schooled?
“They need to be reschooled”, was his immediate reply. Now, more than ever, need we be benevolent and humane.
“Whipping a horse is inhumane”, I stated. Even though modern whips are far less severe…
Even the gesture, the want, the will, to whip a horse, or feign to, is no longer acceptable. Him. Me, I was silent.
A mere gesticulation toward an animal showing improper encroachment and /or aggression should be outlawed. And The Harlequin took a deep drag on his Colt.
I had nothing to say. But then, I said: “Man will always be an aggressor. He always will believe he is more important than any animal. And he will always want to chastise an animal to behave the way he wants, or wishes.”
“Only education can change that”, saith The Harlequin. “It’s time for the whole world to become aware.”
Aware?
Aware of morality. Aware of philanthropy. Aware of selflessness.
Aware of animal rights?
Absolutely, son.
“Ban the whip?” I ask.
He nods and I shudder to ask him about tongue ties or twisted snaffle bits, or…
“Ban the whip”, he says, again. And takes a sip of his Macallan.
I switch my recorder off.
