Whip Abuse? Just curious...........

Just happened to catch one of the replays from Kenilworth and, in particular, the last (?) race involving a horse called Heaven.

Was wondering what the current rulings regarding whip abuse or excessive use of the whip are these days as this horse was absolutely thrashed for much of the last 200 metres. The head on view suggests to my inexpert eye that this horse was struck about 14 times in the latter phases of the contest and in some cases twice in the same stride.

Or was this just simply a case of the rider getting even for being dumped on the way to the start?

Whatever the facts I am just interested to know what constitutes abuse these days.

Anybody out there know? Or care for that matter..........

Most of us do care Garrick, the whip abusers need to watch the top Jocks,they always give their horses time to respond to the whip..

Top, top ride from Bernie on Heaven in that race, he is so powerful in a finish. The way he kept that horse going was a sight to behold, the horse looked done 200m from home. Hands down, the best jock in Cape Town in a finish.

Good question would like to know what type of whips are used and if there is a limit to the amount of usage ?

I went and looked on the NHRA website under the rules section,but I never managed to find anything about whips.

There certainly is a limit, but offhand I don't know the specifics. For sure you can't whack them the way Piggott used to!

Overuse of whips and spurs in races and the use of batteries and electric goads on training tracks are all illegal but they all still occur. In the wild, or when playing with pasture mates, horses run fast only for short sprints. In order to make them race over the longer distances at race tracks, a jockey must push them on, to encourage greater bursts of speed.



According to a survey conducted by the British non-profit organization, Animal Aid, jockeys in England whip their horses as many as 30 times during one race. The whip is used even on young horses, during their first race. Horses in a state of total exhaustion and already out of contention were also beaten. The whip was used on the neck and shoulders, as well as the hind quarters.

Use of Whip
The British Horseracing Authority will not tolerate abuse of the horse and consider its welfare, and the safety of the rider, to be paramount. The whip should be used for safety, correction and encouragement only and they therefore advise all riders to consider the following good ways of using the whip which are not exhaustive:

1. Showing the horse the whip and giving it time to respond before hitting it.
2. Using the whip in the backhand position for a reminder.
3. Having used the whip, giving the horse a chance to respond before using it again.
4. Keeping both hands on the reins when using the whip down the shoulder in the backhand position.
5. Using the whip in rhythm with the horse’s stride and close to its side.
6. Swinging the whip to keep a horse running straight.

The British Horseracing Authority has asked Stewards of Meetings to consider holding an enquiry into any case where a rider has used his whip in such a way as to cause them concern and publish the following examples of uses of the whip which may be regarded as improper riding:

Hitting horses:

* to the extent of causing injury;
* with the whip arm above shoulder height;
* rapidly without regard to their stride, i.e. twice or more in one stride;
* with excessive force;
* without giving the horse time to respond.

Hitting horses which are:

* showing no response;
* out of contention;
* clearly winning;
* past the winning post.

Hitting horses in any place except:

* on the quarters with the whip in either the backhand or forehand position;
* down the shoulder with the whip in the backhand position; unless very exceptional circumstances prevail.

Hitting horses:

* with excessive frequency.

When examining cases of Excessive Frequency, the Stewards will consider all the relevant factors such as:

1. Whether the number of hits was reasonable and necessary over the distance they were given, taking into account the horse’s experience;
2. Whether the horse was continuing to respond and
3. The degree of force that was used; the more times a horse has been hit the stricter will be the view taken over the degree of force which is reasonable.

Excellent thanks

Yes chicken and chips horses in the wild do only run in short bursts,but where have thoroughbreds ever been wild?
Thoroughbreds are completely MAN MADE and they were never bred to sprint they were bred for long distance it was bred for endurance and speed .
In response to electric goaders was trainer B Botes not suspended because he was using a cattle prod,I think it is so despicably cruel to use any form of electricity on Thoroughbreds as they are already so highly strung.
Many jocks in SA are fined for excessive use of the whip read the stipes reports , I personally think we should do away with bits and whips then we can get down to watching these magnificent creatures doing what they were bred to do.
I love racing but i love horses more....

Not that it's exactly an A List racing country but I think Norway banned the whip years ago. It can be carried but only used for a tap on the shoulder for steering purposes, with both hands on the reins at all times. I stand to be corrected, though.

Perhaps Kannemeyer's horse,Silver Apples should move to Norway then.