Inside Scandinavia's brave new world when it comes to the whip

Around the world, whip rules in racing are changing. Over the past year a consultation on the use of the whip has been taking place in Britain, and the recommendations of a steering group including the likes of John Gosden and Tom Scudamore are expected to be published imminently.

The subject is a contentious one both inside and outside the sport. Many outsiders see the whip as a welfare issue, while the sport itself is split between those who believe further restrictions – or even an outright ban – is merited and those who fiercely oppose any toughening of existing rules.

Where Britain will end up remains to be seen, but clues about what the future might hold can be found close at hand in Scandinavia, which recently moved to outlaw the use of the whip for encouragement entirely.