Russell Baze is one of the finest human beings in this sport. He would never intentionally abuse an animal. He simply thought the horse gathered himself after taking a bad step...

I remember a spill Russell took about 10 years ago on a horribly muddy and sloppy track. After he stopped tumbling, he bolted to his feet, ran to the horse (whose head was face down in the slop) and held the horse's head upright so the animal could breath properly.

Baze is clear on this. It was simply a case of him feeling the horse had gathered himself back up