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Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind
You probably pay a lot more attention to the whipping, and how it affects horses, so I can't argue with you about that. In this case it's not hard to believe, however, that the wet track may have at least exacerbated any reaction the horse had.
But, I do generally agree with you about the whip, and really don't understand in general why riders pound away. I understand sometimes the whip may help keep a horse's mind on the business at hand, but it seems to me that logic dictates a more fluid riding motion would be more proficient.
Just another reason I don't pay attention to riders.
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I could be wrong as this is something I've begun to focus on only after I started riding fixed gear. It makes sense that jocks aren't aware of this as they're not the ones doing the 'work', the horse is, and the jocks' intent is to get the horse to run as fast as it possibly can. From their perspective, beating it up is the best way to do so. So, for example, Coa repeatedly busts a game Lear's Princess with the whip, when she's tired and courageously giving her all, while being asked to go a distance of ground that's probably too far for her. IMO, he cost her TWO wins because of this.
Of course, track and field athletes realize that the best way to RUN FAST is by keeping in good form and stride; as speed loss results from the loss of form. If your form is good you'll run straight. If you're tired, and your form falls apart, you won't. If you're tired and you're getting beaten on, you'll run even more crooked --- especially if you've already started to bear out or in.
Horses not keeping straight paths because of excessive whipping is a common occurance. AND, it costs horses wins, in my opinion.