科研之友
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摘要
Despite its likely role in the treatment of racehorses and their likelihood of being whipped when tired, the opinions and beliefs of jockeys surrounding whip use have not been explored under a scientific framework. We administered a questionnaire directly to jockeys in Australia (n = 806), Ireland (n = 178), and the United Kingdom (n = 265). This questionnaire included questions such as whether jockeys saw whip use as essential to get the best possible finishing position and to promote racing performance and, if so, how they had arrived at that view. There were also questions related to information on horses' responses to the whip and the most common causes of horses' failing to respond favorably to the whip. Other questions included were whether jockeys feel under pressure to whip more than they would really like to and, if so, the main source of that pressure. It also enquired about jockeys' opinions on the current Rules of Racing for their home country and on racing in other countries where the rules about whip use differ from their own. Finally, it explored how jockeys perceive the ways in which dogs, horses, and humans feel noxious stimuli. There was evidence that, despite being invited to contribute to the design of the survey, the Australian Jockeys' Association had advised their membership not to participate. The low numbers of respondents (n = 24) mean that we cannot claim that the sample is in any way representative of jockeys at large. That said, the current data are offered as some triggers for further research. For example, there was no disagreement with the suggestion that whip use is essential to get the best possible finishing position, but one-third of respondents also acknowledged that some horses move sideways dangerously in response to whip use. How these 2 apparently contradictory perspectives can sit together merits further investigation.
- 出版日期2013-4
