Do they hurt the horses in horse racing?

Do horses feel pain from whips?

A landmark scientific paper published today shows that horses have the capability to feel as much pain from whipping as humans. The publication comes as the Australian racing industry is debating the use of whips and follows the $50,000 fine handed to jockey Kerrin McEvoy for excessive whip use in the Melbourne Cup.

Is pain in horses considered misbehavior?

Unfortunately, pain in horses is VERY often incorrectly categorized as misbehavior. Changes in fitness, a diet or stabling routine that is not conducive to the horse’s optimum health, veterinary issues, equipment that does not fit properly, and a whole host of other factors can cause discomfort or pain.

Do horse racing whips need to be padded?

The racing industry assures us that every whip used in racing must be padded and that “when used properly, the whip stimulates a horse and should not cause pain”. However, my analysis of high-speed videography shows that the padding fails to protect horses in 64% of strikes.

Is whip-free horse racing better for the horse?

What’s more, in “hands and heels” races, the jockey’s centre of mass is likely to remain directly above the horse’s centre of mass for more of the time, compared with when the jockeys are whipping the horses. So, the biomechanics of whip-free racing are arguably better for equine performance.

Can you use a whip in a horse race?

The whip. In British racing the use of a foam padded, air cushioned whip is permitted, with strict controls on its use. Existing evidence and scientific knowledge shows that, with the appropriate design and these strict controls in place, it does not compromise the welfare of horses during a race.

How has the whip changed in British racing?

There has been progress in British racing on the whip – it was redesigned several years ago with more padding to make it softer, and new rules were put in place to limit where, when and the number of times a jockey could use the whip. As a result, the number of horses wealed (bruised) by whips in racing each year has significantly declined.

Why do jockeys have to use a padded whip in Australia?

Since 2009, all jockeys in Thoroughbred racing in Australia have been required to use a whip which is padded at the end, replacing conventional whips which have no padding, This change was introduced in response to concerns raised about the pain caused by the use of whips and the introduction of the padded whip in other countries.

Could jockeys lose riding fees if they break new whip rules?

Jockeys could lose their riding fees and percentage of the prize pot if they break tough new whip rules announced by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

Are foam-padded whips a welfare issue in horse racing?

Racing’s leaders do not believe use of a foam-padded whip is a welfare issue, but accept there is a negative perception among some sections of the wider public. In December 2018, then BHA chief executive Nick Rust told the BBC that tougher penalties in big races were likely to be introduced.

When will the whip rules change in British horse racing?

From the section Rules on use of the whip by jockeys in British racing are likely to change by the spring of next year. A delayed consultation on the whip will be started on Thursday by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) after plans were postponed in 2020 due to Covid-19.

What happens if a jockey overuses the whip in horse racing?

In British horseracing, when a jockey overuses the whip, s/he is likely to receive only a few days’ suspension. The results of races are unaffected, regardless of whether a winning or placed jockey has breached the whip rules.

Is the use of the whip a welfare problem?

While use of the whip is not normally a welfare problem – it is only as dangerous as the person whose hands it is in – it can be a welfare problem. There is also an ethical question of using a whip to make a horse run faster.

How do horse racing whip rules affect betting outcomes?

The data reveal that there was a significantly higher frequency of recorded breaches by riders of horses that finished first, second or third. This suggests a desire to win may motivate whip rule breaches and potentially affect race and betting outcomes.

Do jockeys really want to hurt horses?

“There’s no way a jockey would want to hurt a horse. The sticks nowadays are fantastic and designed to startle the horse with a loud bang. We use them to create that sound, which is what people don’t realise, and that’s the problem.”

What is the whip used for in horseracing?

In horseracing, the whip is also used in many countries to ‘encourage’ the horse to run faster. This use of the whip is increasingly controversial.

Can a whip keep a horse safe?

The answer is that a whip can have an important role in keeping the horse and rider safe when it is used to get a horse’s attention to steer it away from danger. A rider should be able to use a whip to keep horse and rider safe.

Is whipping a welfare problem?

As a result, the number of horses wealed (bruised) by whips in racing each year has significantly declined. However, the principle of whipping still causes concern. While use of the whip is not normally a welfare problem – it is only as dangerous as the person whose hands it is in – it can be a welfare problem.

Should a rider be able to use a whip?

A rider should be able to use a whip to keep horse and rider safe. This is as true for racing as it is for any equine sport. In horseracing, the whip is also used in many countries to ‘encourage’ the horse to run faster.

Is this a tipping point for whips in horse racing?

This is surely a tipping point. RSPCA Australia has repeatedly agreed with this position and calls for the introduction of hands-and-heels racing where whips are no longer used for performance but may be carried for safety purposes where proven necessary.

What is a breach of the whip in horse racing?

A breach of the whip rules, as defined by the Australian Rules of Racing in place at the time, was reported in 348 starts and of these, 37 included a second breach. Not all the race rules were breached, so what’s interesting is to look at the breakdown of what breaches occurred, and when during the races.

Why do horse riders and jockeys carry a whip?

We are often asked why horse riders and jockeys carry a whip. The answer is that a whip can have an important role in keeping the horse and rider safe when it is used to get a horse’s attention to steer it away from danger. A rider should be able to use a whip to keep horse and rider safe.

How does whipping affect performance in racing?

Research examining the effect of whip use on performance in racing has indicated that horses are whipped most during the last 100 metres of the race, in an attempt to make them run faster towards the finish line. Yet how the horse ran prior to this stage was found to be the most critical factor in racing success [ 1 ].

Do jockeys whip their horses more often?

On the contrary, the report by Deuel and Lawrence, in Quarter horses, suggests that whipping is likely to change locomotion but not change velocity [7]. To summarise, the results of this study show that jockeys in more advanced placings at the 400 and 200 m positions before the post in races whip their horses more frequently.

Is a breach of the whip rules a welfare issue?

Due to the fact that the limits on use are set so low, and the padded design of the whip, only in the most extreme cases would a breach of our whip rules constitute a welfare issue. Despite this, the sport continues to impose strict penalties on breaches of the whip rules, in order to act as a deterrent against misuse.

How can you prevent escaped horses from escaping?

By catching weakened or damaged fencing areas early on, you can prevent escaped horses. There are some days when the footing in your pasture just might not be safe to turn a horse out onto. Always check the footing before bringing your horse out.

Should jockeys be allowed to use whips in racing?

The use of the whip in racing continues to be a contentious and divisive issue. There are many who believe it does not hurt the horses because it is padded and it is viewed as a necessary safety device for jockeys.