Indonesia
English
Follow
SARGA.CO – If you’ve ever watched horse racing or visited a training track, you might have noticed jockeys or staff asking spectators not to open umbrellas near the track. At first glance, it seems trivial—just an umbrella! But surprisingly, this simple object can panic a racehorse, even make it behave wildly on the track.
By nature, horses are prey animals. In the wild, they remain highly alert to sudden movements or unfamiliar objects, as these could signal predators.
An umbrella that suddenly opens or flutters in the wind is perceived as a threat by a horse’s instinct. Their sensitive eyes detect the movement as potential danger, and their natural response? Flight or panicked leaps.
Horses have almost 350-degree vision, but they don’t see details as clearly as humans do. They are far more sensitive to motion than to object clarity.
So shadows from a spinning, fluttering, or wet umbrella reflecting sunlight can confuse or intimidate them—especially when they are running at full speed. This can cause a horse to lose control, putting the jockey at risk.
Racehorses are extremely trained and finely tuned to their jockeys’ cues. They are used to being in a controlled, focused environment. Even minor visual or auditory distractions—like the snap of a folding umbrella or its movement in the wind—can disrupt their concentration, sometimes dangerously.
Imagine sprinting at 60 km/h and suddenly seeing a colorful, round-headed “creature” appear beside the track. You’d probably panic too!
At many racetracks, both in Indonesia and abroad, there are (written or unwritten) rules prohibiting umbrellas near the track. This isn’t just because horses are afraid—it’s about protecting everyone: jockeys, horses, and spectators.
A startled horse could veer off course, crash into the rails, or even jump into the stands if it panics. That’s why officials immediately warn spectators or ask them to close umbrellas before a race begins.
During rain, spectators are usually allowed to wear raincoats or stay under covered stands, but not to open umbrellas near the track. Sometimes umbrellas can only be opened in designated areas far from the racing lanes.
For us, an umbrella is just protection from sun or rain. But for a racehorse, it can become an unfamiliar “monster” that appears suddenly and threatens safety. Understanding this is important, especially if you plan to watch horse racing live at the track.
Install SARGA.CO News
sarga.co
Rekomendasi