October
SeptemberClockwise unwise?
I would like to know why strappers in Victoria and some other areas in Australia have to walk their horses clockwise in the mounting yard, which means they have weight/pressure from the horses on the turns.
If you note, in Singapore and some parts of NSW and Queensland strappers walk the horses anti-clockwise and the horses do not fight/run over the top of them.
Can you find out why this direction is set in place please?
Tina Anyon
Stawell (Vic)
• Reply: Our enquiries yielded various theories on this. The consensus seems to be that if a horse kicks out while being walked clockwise, it is more likely to kick towards the centre of the mounting yard (away from the strapper). If it kicks out while being walked anticlockwise there is more chance of it collecting spectators or bystanders. The clockwise direction also places the strapper between the horse and the spectators.
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