Viral videos show animal abuse at Dreamworld and the Melbourne Cup

A video recorded at the Melbourne cup on Tuesday has gone viral for all the wrong reasons.

It’s the race that stops the nation and a day of celebration, dressing-up and having a laugh with friends. But behind the brightly coloured fascinators and the sparkling champagne we got a glimpse this year into the dark side of the Melbourne cup.

The viral video features jockey Dylan Caboche punching his horse in a fit of anger. The video shows Caboche trying to steady the horse as it nervously shifts around workers setting up for the race. When the horse does not calm the jockey hastily dismounts and proceeds to punch the horses torso. The horse flinches and jumps.

A local jockey has been suspended for two weeks for punching his horse before a race in Port Lincoln. Details in 7 News at 6pm. pic.twitter.com/7pnpCY68CI

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) November 8, 2017

Paul Stevenson, the RSPCA state chief executive officer told the ABC that he was “appalled” by the behaviour of the young jockey, exclaiming that he only got a ‘token’ punishment. The young jockey only received a two-week suspension for his actions, which he has the option to appeal.

“Given what it’s saying about what is acceptable behaviour within the industry, it just isn’t anywhere near sufficient,” Stevenson said.

“Obviously the jockey just lost his temper, but that’s just not acceptable from a professional sportsman.”

There are often concerns around the Melbourne Cup bout the welfare of the horses involved, especially with some dying or collapsing after the race. While there are many owners that treat their animals with love, there will always be things that go on behind closed doors the public is not aware of.

It’s just the Melbourne Cup in the spotlight though. 

Another damning video surfaced on Thursday featuring two workers at Dreamworld abusing one of the captive tigers. In the video the one worker pulls the tiger back by its tail and another punches the tiger in the head. 

 

Wtf is going on there dream world?? ?

A post shared by Xy Latu (@xylatu) on Nov 8, 2017 at 5:32am PST

While PETA was quick to condemn the actions of the Dreamworld staff, Dreamworld released this statement to try and explain the handlers actions:

“The media commentary to the circumstance misrepresents the context of what was occurring in the brief footage,” they said in a statement, reports Nine News. 

“The handler’s actions to refocus Akasha were explained to guests immediately after the tigers were separated.

“The tigers in this video were showing antagonistic behaviour and needed separating before they had an opportunity to hurt each other.

“Open hand taps to the facial area is the safest way to refocus tigers who are challenging each other and this is consistent with the way in which tigers communicate with each other in similar situations.

“The tiger’s tail is one of its strongest parts of the body. Tigers and handlers routinely play with the tail.

“Akasha and Kai are both 100kg animals and the intervention of our handlers prevented a situation that may have escalated.”

Do you think our laws need to be changed to increase penalties for those who abuse animals? Do you think what the Dreamworld workers did was abuse?