Victor Molina Is in Trouble

[Linny]

Originally Posted by declansharbor

He deserves to be punished if these allegations prove to be true.

You can see it, plain as day, on the simo feed. The horse was held by an outrider on a pony as VM removed his saddle. The horse stood fine and after the tack was off, the jock booted him in the lower abdomen. It was not a means of gaining control over a horse that was currently unruly. Animals need punishment on occassion but you must punish them during the offense.

Whip abuse occurs and is punished. Stewards may ban exercise riders who use rough tactics. Some would say that racing itself is abuse. I have used lip chains, punished horses with the whip and even bitten a horse on the ear (no wonder I can't get dates). There is a difference between gaining control of a 1000lb animal that has different opinions from yours and booting a horse who is being held, standing quietly. I have to assumethat Victor was angry with the loss of the income resulting from the actions of the horse leading to the gate scratch. He took his anger out on the animal which could not associate the kick from the jock with his poor actions at the gate.

What Victor needs is tough love. Maybe a visit from a PETA rep...say Pamela Anderson. Might need his face slapped around by her huge melons. And if he doesn't comply he's sentenced to a hepatitis C infection adminstered by Pamela.

[Scurlogue Champ]

Originally Posted by whodey17

You know, this is pretty well said. Good job BTW.

Agreed....

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I am not offering a defense of Victor Molina, or those kind of actions, but I think that there is a basic hypocracy in these kinds of threads. Considering all the lousy things that go on in horse racing, and the general blind eye most of us turn to them, I'm not sure this specific situation should get everybody up in arms. I have a friend who was an exercise rider and backstretch worker, one day I asked her what she was doing that afternoon and she said " pulling manes. " When I suggested that sounded boarderline cruel she said " we do a lot of mean things to horses. "

It's a brutal game that we love....let's not pretend we're animal rights activists here.

Although this is the sort of offense that activists run with too. When that jockey headbutted that horse in Europe, there were videos made saying horse racing is nothing but a bunch of horse hating headbutters. I get your point though and from pulling lots of manes myself I can say it sucked for me too. (just kidding)

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by declansharbor

Victor Molina was in my GA class two years ago at Nazareth Hospital.

.

There is a reason that those things have 'anonymous' at the end of them. I guess you missed that day....

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I have a friend who was an exercise rider and backstretch worker, one day I asked her what she was doing that afternoon and she said " pulling manes. " When I suggested that sounded boarderline cruel she said " we do a lot of mean things to horses. "

It's a brutal game that we love....let's not pretend we're animal rights activists here.

Pulling manes is much more brutal on the person doing it than the horse.

[SentToStud]

I would think kicking a horse in the stomach is more a failing of the one doing the kicking than the horse. I doubt it has any redeeming value.

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I am not offering a defense of Victor Molina, or those kind of actions, but I think that there is a basic hypocracy in these kinds of threads. Considering all the lousy things that go on in horse racing, and the general blind eye most of us turn to them, I'm not sure this specific situation should get everybody up in arms. I have a friend who was an exercise rider and backstretch worker, one day I asked her what she was doing that afternoon and she said " pulling manes. " When I suggested that sounded boarderline cruel she said " we do a lot of mean things to horses. "

It's a brutal game that we love....let's not pretend we're animal rights activists here.

Well said blackthroat.
As you might have guessed, most times it's not about being "mean" or "cruel",
but rather to remain in control of a very big critter that needs to learn that you're not willing to allow it to hurt you.
This doesn't happen often with me.
A quick story, and I was not the kicker.
A nice mare named Miss Lewis showed up at the farm. She's not mine. I was just trying to help give her a bath.
She's on a lay-up since running at Aq this past winter. I think she won in Feb, but I really didn't follow her.
She's a nice looking mare but must have stepped on something that hurt her left front. She tried to kick the blacksmith the day before, so we held her other leg when he drained the absess. She was quite grouchy.
So, the next day when we were giving her a bath and I held the lead, she goes off again. Those hooves can reach quite far.
It was like, three of us trying to hold an angry crocodile.
Then came the kick that told Miss "Crazy" that her antics weren't appreciated.
She settled down.
We ended the "game" when I put her back in her stall and when I was taking the chain off her bridle, she tried to take off my fingers. I got the snap undone and didn't react further.
I'll be watching her the next time though.

[robfla]

[ELA]

I think there is one important distinction here. We are not talking about people's experiences, keeping control of a dangerous animal, discipline, or anything of the like -- we are talking about this specific case. In addition, we are not talking about whether or not it hurt the horse.

This is disgusting and deplorable behavior.

Eric

[Scurlogue Champ]

Horse petters unite!!!

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by ELA

I think there is one important distinction here. We are not talking about people's experiences, keeping control of a dangerous animal, discipline, or anything of the like -- we are talking about this specific case. In addition, we are not talking about whether or not it hurt the horse.

This is disgusting and deplorable behavior.

Eric

Eric,
OK...you're right. I took a "specific case" and personalized it.
There's no reason to "hurt" a horse. Heck, there's only about four seconds to get the message across. Beyond that, my guess is that they missed the connection with their action, and the human's reaction.
Just my 2 pennies worth.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Pulling manes is much more brutal on the person doing it than the horse.

I was wondering when this was going to be brought up...

If done correctly, pulling a mane doesn't hurt them all that bad. I used to do it after a workout because the sweating opens up the pores and makes it a bit easier on both human and horse.

As for kicking a horse in the gut, I can honestly say that I've never done that before. I've pulled out the riding crop a few times when needed, but have never been ticked off so much as to drop kick a horse in the gut.

[deltagulf]

my two cents he should not have done it. no need to be cruel. just chill out and go on with your business.

[Left Bank]

He must be good friends with Victor Carrero!

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by ELA

I think there is one important distinction here. We are not talking about people's experiences, keeping control of a dangerous animal, discipline, or anything of the like -- we are talking about this specific case. In addition, we are not talking about whether or not it hurt the horse.

This is disgusting and deplorable behavior.

Eric

Agreed. He deserves whatever fines he's got coming towards him.

[LARHAGE]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

I guess I'm the only person here willing to admit I have kicked a horse in the gut for being a ass.hole.

I too have had to get quite rough with a few aggressive horses, however, they were MY horses, and not simply because I couldn't ride them. He has no business kicking someone elses horse, I personally NEVER kick a horse in the gut, there are far more effective ways to discipline, the horse in this instance certainly can not equate the belly kick with acting up in the gate!

[sumitas]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I am not offering a defense of Victor Molina, or those kind of actions, but I think that there is a basic hypocracy in these kinds of threads. Considering all the lousy things that go on in horse racing, and the general blind eye most of us turn to them, I'm not sure this specific situation should get everybody up in arms. I have a friend who was an exercise rider and backstretch worker, one day I asked her what she was doing that afternoon and she said " pulling manes. " When I suggested that sounded boarderline cruel she said " we do a lot of mean things to horses. "

It's a brutal game that we love....let's not pretend we're animal rights activists here.

If this is accurate then horse racing needs to be policed much closer and the abusers run out of the game.

[LARHAGE]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Pulling manes is much more brutal on the person doing it than the horse.

AGREED!!!!!

[LARHAGE]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

What Victor needs is tough love. Maybe a visit from a PETA rep...say Pamela Anderson. Might need his face slapped around by her huge melons. And if he doesn't comply he's sentenced to a hepatitis C infection adminstered by Pamela.

She's no longer available, is performing in Las Vegas with a magician, maybe they can make Victor disappear, think anyone would even notice?