HY EVENTING, JOCKEY, RIDING CROP, WHIP - BLACK

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Development of a whip review committee which is responsible for evaluation of all rides and any necessary sanction or action, to increase consistency and drive ongoing improvement in riding standards The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) said the proposals were "a real missed opportunity for horse welfare". However, when a whip is used as a safety tool to prevent an injury or an accident in racing, more than one strike is allowed, and most race stewards would agree. Despite criticism, the BHA ultimately hopes the new rules remove the whip as a subject of debate, particularly at big meetings, such as Cheltenham and Aintree's Grand National Festival in April, which it sees as a "shop window" for the sport that reaches beyond its core audience.

The use of the whip in British racing is restricted to safety and encouragement. By “encouragement” we mean using the whip as an aid to activate and focus the horse, so the horse realises its potential by giving its best. Use of the whip to coerce is not permitted, and the rules are designed to reflect this. Rules and limits on use He added the board also expressed that the sport should try to avoid future situations where pertinent information comes to light after extensive consultations have ended – a point that has been made to the PJA. Following the 2022 report into the use of the whip, the rules regarding the use of the whip in British racing are being revised.

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Republic & Northern Ireland: Ireland has a rough guideline of 12 whip strikes during a race. A race steward can allow more if he chooses. Only 5 in the last 50 yards are to be used. Potential breaches of the whip rules will be referred to the committee by the stewards on raceday. In addition, the Committee may identify issues from their own review of races. Fellow conditional William Shanahan will also be unable to ride at the festival after he was suspended for seven days for using his whip twice more than the permitted level. Sam Twiston-Davies, Tom Cannon, Jamie Neild and Fergus Gillard all received four-day bans. The other major ban was handed out to amateur Alice Proctor, who was suspended for 11 days after using her whip when out of contention in a hunter chase at Taunton.

The position agreed therefore was that all suspensions imposed by the WRC should start 14-days from its written decision.

Use of the whip in racing is likely to result in pain

As part of the independent Horse Welfare Board (HWB)’s strategic plan, A life well lived – a new strategic plan for the welfare of horses bred for racing 2020-2024, a recommendation was made that a public consultation should be conducted by the BHA regarding the use of the whip in British racing.