ANIMAL welfare organisations have a role to play in racing. Their influence is becoming more pronounced on how racing is run and they also have a large role to play in the perception of the sport among the public in general. In drawing up the new whip rules the BHA’s Review Group consulted with Britain’s three major horse welfare organisations. World Horse Welfare was one of those.
World Horse Welfare wanted to see a major behavioural and attitudinal shift in perceptions of the whip by jockeys, trainers and owners. They felt that the new rules were a step towards producing this. However the organisation’s chief executive, Roly Owers, was extremely disappointed by the changes made to the rules.
“We have said throughout the review that it is important for any penalty structure to be aimed at changing the behaviour of jockeys as well as trainers and owners. The rules and the penalties have now been weakened, which must decrease their chances of working,” he said.
The charity was particularly dismayed by the removal of the limits on how many times a jockey can use the whip after the last obstacle in jump racing, fearing that the scenes many animal rights groups found distressing at the end of this year’s Grand National could be repeated.
Owers welcomed the fact that financial penalties remain for some infringements but was disappointed that overall these have been made less stringent. “It is unfortunate that this has been watered down, but we appreciate that a significant financial deterrent for jockeys that overuse the whip remains.
“We feel that by hitting the pockets of the minority who do so will make them think twice before they use their whip. No one should profit at the expense of the horse.”
However, like many people involved in animal welfare organisations Owers thinks that the rules do not go far enough to protect the welfare of horses involved in racing and that if these new rules do not provoke the attitude shift the organisation believes is required, then more drastic measures need to be taken.
“If these rules do not change behaviours and attitudes of all those directly involved in racing, we see no other choice but to call for a move to hands and heels racing, with the whip used only for safety.”
Danielle Crosbie is a volunteer with the DSPCA in Dublin and a horse owner. She agrees with Roly Owers call for a move to hands and heels racing. “Riding skills should be enough and jockeys should use hands and heels. At the very most they should be allowed to carry a whip for safety but it doesn’t need to be cracked off the horse’s side every two minutes.”
Crosbie never carries a whip herself when out horse riding but accepts jockeys’ arguments that they need to carry one for safety reasons. However she believes that this is the only reason they should be allowed to use the whip and that using a whip to increase the horse’s speed is wrong and should be banned.
She argues that it would nullify jockeys’ concerns over safety and the effect of the new rules on their concentration.
“It’s understandable that they would be concerned. They have a lot to think about, worry about and focus on. They should only use it if they are in trouble and that would rule out having to try and remember how many times you hit the horse before and how many times you can hit him now.”
Crosbie agrees that the penalties are excessive for being just one strike over the limit but for constant infringements she feels the sanctions are not strong enough. “On the one hand it is excessive for just one strike over the limit but on the other hand the ban should be severe for going over the limits. Whips cause stress to horses in an already stressful situation.”
* This article first appeared in The Nationalist on 8 November 2011
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