'It does not go far enough' - charity criticises whip review despite involvement

The chief executive of equine charity World Horse Welfare, who was a member of the 15-strong whip consultation steering group, has said he believes the new rules "do not go far enough".

Roly Owers, a veterinary surgeon as well as the charity's senior figure, believes the whip's use for encouragement is not justified on welfare and ethical grounds.

"We believe that the recommendations on whip use to be used in a backhand position only, while welcome, do not go far enough," Owers said. "We are clear that we want to see a move away from the use of the whip for 'encouragement' in horseracing, on both welfare and ethical grounds.

"We simply do not believe its use is justified, especially in light of what we now know about what makes a good horse-human partnership."

Roly Owers: 'Racing of horses, like all horse sport, can only continue to take place if the sport maintains the support of the public'

When the new rules come into effect in the autumn the whip will still be permitted for encouragement but restricted to backhand use, while there will be potential disqualification and greater penalties for significant overuse.

Owers said: "Much good has come out of the work, including the focus on education and tougher penalties for breaches of the rules, including disqualification. We are also encouraged by the establishment of the independent stewards committee which the BHA hopes will identify and address any breaches of the rules more consistently.

"An increased focus on training and education on how the whip should be used is also warmly welcomed. We would like to see this education include a focus on how horses learn so that, if the whip is used, it is used in accordance with evidence-based learning theory.

"We will continue to work constructively with the BHA and others in racing to support the implementation of the rules and the recommendations of the Horse Welfare Board. Racing of horses, like all horse sport, can only continue to take place if the sport maintains the support of the public, which will require everyone in racing to justify their use of the whip in the context of horse welfare, and show that they can be trusted to adhere to and enforce these rules."

Leading animal welfare charity RSPCA has urged the BHA to rethink its proposals, stating its belief that there is public demand for the whip to be removed for encouragement purposes.

Emma Slawinski, RSPCA's director of policy, prevention and campaigns, said: "This is an extreme disappointment and a real missed opportunity for horse welfare, and there will be complete disbelief from countless animal lovers by this news.

"The BHA has missed the chance to improve the welfare of horses in sport – and get rid of the whip for encouragement – something that is long overdue and being demanded by the public.

"By just tinkering with the rules, and allowing the whip to still be used for encouragement, the wellbeing of the horse is depressingly absent from these changes.

"After such an important review, and given the mountain of evidence of the harm done to horses, it is astonishing the BHA could conclude that it is acceptable to continue to allow the whip in racing for purposes of so-called encouragement. It amounts to a failure of leadership by the regulatory body.

"We urge the BHA to rethink these proposals; and better protect jockeys and horses by ending the use of the whip for encouragement once and for all."

A survey of 1,119 British adults, conducted by public opinion specialist Ipsos UK in April 2022, showed 55 per cent of people "supported a ban on use of the whip". However, the figure dropped by 12 per cent when further explanation of the whip's design and use was offered.

Read these next:

Full story: backhand whip use only and disqualification to be introduced in new whip rules

Explainer: the current rules and why there's a perceived need for change

Timeline: from 1889 to the present day: how the whip rules have evolved down the years

Key jurisdictions: what are the whip rules in other countries?

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