If you carry a whip for jumping, you’ll need to get your hands on a competition legal whip ahead of the season. Now that the majority of governing bodies require riders to carry a baton-style whip, it’s not as simple as finding one that catches your eye – it needs to conform to the rules. We’ve rounded up a selection of competition legal whips that are suitable for a range of disciplines in this guide.

British Show Pony Society (BSPS) are the latest body to bring in the rule that only baton whips will be permitted in certain classes. This rule already stands in British Showjumping, British Eventing, Pony Club and British Riding Club competitions. Each whip in this guide is listed with the length options so that you can ensure it’s legal for your discipline.

Competition legal whips: what are your options?

What are the BE/BS whip rules?

British Showjumping bought in the padded baton rule in 2020 and state that “no rider may carry, use or permit to be used a whip other than those detailed below in the arena, the collecting ring or anywhere on or in the immediate vicinity of the showground”.

British Eventing state that, when jumping, riders can carry one whip that complies with the details below.

Whips must comply with the following rules:

• Whips must be no less than 45cm and no more than 70cm (for BS) or 75cm (for BE) in length
• There must be no binding within 17cm of the end of the pad
• The minimum diameter of the shaft, which must run through the entirety of the whip, is 1cm
• The overall weight of the whip must not exceed 160g and must be evenly distributed throughout the length of the whip
• The contact area, which is considered to be 2/5 of the overall length, must be covered with a pad
• The pad must be smooth, with no protrusion or raised surface (such as embellishment or embroidery)
• The pad must be made of shock-absorbing material throughout its circumference, giving a compression factor of at least 6mm
• There must not feature wording, advertising or personalisation

What are the BSPS whip rules?

In 2026, the British Show Pony Society announced a change to its whip rules for working hunter and working sports pony classes. Under the new rules, the maximum length of baton allowed is 75cm.

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A new guide on whether to use a whip, and in what way, has been published as part of ongoing attempts to see the world through horses’ eyes – and strengthen our relationship with them.

World Horse Welfare’s guidance, titled “Should I carry or use a whip?” is published today (29 January), the result of years of extensive work.

The aim is to start a conversation on whip use in equestrianism. The message is not that whips are bad; used wrongly, they can cause great harm, but there is a place for them if used correctly, which the guide aims to set out.

Equine vet Janet Douglas, who works with World Horse Welfare, said: “Challenging our own habits and beliefs is never easy but it is important that we start to consider whip use from the horse’s standpoint.

“If we can be brave and open-minded, ask questions of ourselves and others and follow ideas where they lead, the horse-human relationship will almost certainly be better for it.” Read Dr Douglas’s thoughts.

The guide states that the whip is an “optional piece of equipment that, when used correctly, can be an ethically acceptable way to train horses”.

“There may also be times when riders may feel that its use could be helpful in maintaining horse and rider safety,” it states. “However, when used in the wrong way or at the wrong time, a whip can cause a horse to become confused or scared, endangering both horse and rider. And undoubtedly, in uneducated or angry hands, its use can constitute abuse.”

Read the guide in full

The guide aims to encourage people to talk and think about whether they need to carry or use a whip. It explains equine learning theory, and how whip use can align with this in training.

“We’ve talked to a lot of people, from those who don’t think we should be using whips at all, all the way through to those who believe that actually using a whip with force at times is needed, not least for safety, and everyone in-between,” World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers told H&H. “Everyone has a perspective and it was really important to understand that.

“The origin of this was very much to simply ask the question: why do people pick up a whip? Because for so many people, it’s an instinctive thing. You’re going for a ride, you pick up the whip. I include myself; I’d feel almost naked if I didn’t have one. So it was: why do we do that? And the other question was: when we use a whip, does the horse understand?”

The key themes that emerged were ensuring that we understand how horses learn, and training them in a way that puts the horse’s experience at the forefront.

The guide explains operant conditioning, the way horses make associations between their actions and the results of these. It explains positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement (pressure and release) and punishment (see box) and asks riders to consider which approach they are taking and what the effects might be.

It then sets out how minimally aversive whip use can be used in training, giving examples of using light pressure, removed as soon as the desired behaviour is shown, and includes a series of questions to ask, to determine whether in any given situation whip use is appropriate or not.

“Very much the intention is to ask the questions, to be a conversation starter,” Mr Owers said. “One key challenge, I think, is that a lot of people think they know how horses learn, but when you start to dig under that, general understanding of how horses learn is not as good as it should be.

“Before you have a view on using a whip, or any aid or equipment, I think that’s a really important basis. It’s widely recognised that horses can get confused; they don’t think like us, and if they don’t understand what’s being asked of them, they can get confused, and that can have real negative consequences.

“So if I am to look through the horse’s eyes, I have to start with ‘how do they learn?’ It’s so important that as a first step, people really commit to understanding that better if they need to.”

Changing rules

Different governing bodies have changed whip rules in recent years; British Showjumping, the Pony Club and British Riding Clubs have all banned use of the whip to discipline or punish, reflecting not only a focus on equine welfare but scientific research that has found such use is ineffective in helping horses learn.

Equine vet and Horse Trust director of equine behaviour Gemma Pearson, who was involved in creating this guide, told H&H she was very impressed by how much work has gone into it.

“It’s not a document saying, ‘Don’t use whips in this scenario,’ it’s about how we should use them,” Dr Pearson said. “I think the whip can be a really valuable tool; it can make things easier for horses, it can make things clearer for horses, the problem is that people have traditionally used it very badly.

“I think first of all, you have to have the knowledge, and I don’t think many people have explained to them how we would use whip taps from a negative reinforcement perspective. And after that, the next thing really is changing that mindset, which is hard if you’ve been brought to believe something different.

“If you’ve been used to using a whip in a certain way for decades, someone saying that’s wrong can feel like a threat to your personal identity, to who you are as a person. I think the mindset change is going to take time, but the nice thing about this document is that it’s not telling people what not to do. It’s giving them options and telling them how to use it.”

Feedback

Mr Owers added that the guide’s publication is a first step; feedback will be taken on board and it will evolve as our understanding of equine learning and behaviour increases. There are other areas for it to expand on, such as safety.

“We absolutely recognise the paramount importance of rider and horse safety, but I think we need to be open when we say we’re using the whip for safety. Is that really the case, and is it really having the impact we think it’s having,” he said.

“We’ve just got to be open to challenging: that may be appropriate on occasion, but really, every time we think about using a whip, we’ve just got to challenge ourselves, and I hope that’s where the decision tree is so helpful.”

To all equestrians, Mr Owers added: “Have a read. Keep an open mind. Challenge yourself on how much you know about equine learning and how horses learn and commit to a better understanding. With that knowledge, take the guidance and each time you think about the whip, think about that framework of questions.

“At first it’s quite a laborious process, but like anything, it will become natural. As equestrians, we’re making decisions the whole time, and it’s so important those decisions are as informed as possible. Hopefully this guidance, this discussion and the questions we raise in the guidance, will really help people make better informed decisions about whip use, and improve their relationship with their horses.”

What do you think of this guide? Please write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2026, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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The British Show Pony Society (BSPS) has announced a change to its whip rules for working hunter and working sports pony classes, bringing the society in line with other governing bodies.

On 19 January the BSPS announced that with immediate effect, only baton whips will be permitted in these classes, as are used in British Showjumping (BS), British Eventing, Pony Club and British Riding Club (BRC) competitions.

Under the new rules, the maximum length of baton allowed is 75cm, and the baton applies to working sports pony classes and both phases of working hunter classes. Lead-rein working sports pony classes are not included, as the rider does not carry a whip in these classes – and the leader may continue to carry a cane.

“The society regards welfare of the horse and pony a priority, we are continually developing and updating rules with this in mind,” a BSPS spokesperson told H&H.

“This rule change will bring us in line with current BS and Pony Club rules for jumping competitions. Our members do compete in other disciplines, so having the same rules will also help to avoid any confusion.

“Members can use any suitable whip in the flat classes, according to the 2026 rules.”

BS brought in the padded baton in 2020, in a move to promote horse welfare and as a result of discussions between the officials’ working groups and the body’s national sport committee.

In 2023 BRC introduced a rule stating that the whip may only be used to support the rider’s natural aids, and never when a horse has turned away after a refusal, or after elimination. Last year BS joined the Pony Club and BRC in banning the use of whips for disciplining or punishing the horse; they may only be used to back up leg aids.

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British point-to-pointing will trial a new “hands and heels” series this season with the aim of improving inexperienced jockeys’ riding skills.

Strict whip rules are already in place in point-to-pointing. “Hands and heels” means whips will be carried, but only used for “clear and unequivocal safety purposes”.

The series had been due to start at Larkhill on 4 January, which was frozen off, and will now start at Friars Haugh on 18 January. It is aimed at novice riders and designed to benefit rider education and training, encouraging strong fundamental skills, balance and horsemanship in races.

Point-to-Point Authority (PPA) chief executive Paul Miller told H&H he hopes the series will be well supported.

“It’s a joint initiative between the Jockey Club and PPA and re-enforces pointing’s position as the grass roots of British jump racing,” he said. “We’ve talked a lot about point-to-pointing being the ideal learning ground for riders at the start of their career, and this initiative shows we are serious about it.

“Many new riders struggle with balance when using the whip, as often they are using it for the first time in an actual race, so by removing this option we hope it will improve their riding skills.”

The series conditions state that every rider must carry a whip, although its use is strictly limited. Riders may only use the whip on the horse’s shoulder in the backhand position, with both hands on the reins, when approaching an obstacle, or for clear and unequivocal safety purposes. PPA examples of these safety purposes include when a horse continues to hang significantly although the rider is visibly attempting to straighten it with the reins, or to prevent a horse from running out.

Riders will accumulate points for wins and placings and a national hands and heels champion will be crowned at the PPA national awards in June.

Sanctions for rule-breaking are on a scale and include fines, being stripped of points and not being allowed to continue in the series.

Point-to-point trainer and former jockey Claire Hart told H&H it “is a great initiative”.

“It brings pointing up to speed and in line with National Hunt racing, and [shows that it can] continue to teach and emphasise the importance of developing a skill set before waving the stick around,” she said.

“Pointing is becoming more relevant as the development place for high quality horses and jockeys, so I think the series is fantastic to promote this.”

Jockey coach, trainer and Point to Point Owners and Riders Association chairman Charlie Poste said it “is an excellent new idea”.

He added it is “hopefully going to tie in even greater our relationship with professional National Hunt racing, as an academy providing young riders with a platform to move into the professional ranks and beyond”.

“We hope it’s well supported. It’s trying to promote the core skills and excellent riding, which is what we want to see within pointing,” he said.

New young horse bonus series ‘has a double benefit’

Other new initiatives this season include the GB Pointing bonus young horse maiden series, and the 0-100 rated series.

Mr Miller said the GB Pointing bonus is part of a wider +£4m programme aimed at increasing British foal numbers and improving the quality of British-trained horses running under Rules. Annual funding of £250,000 is provided by the Horserace Betting Levy Board and each race is sponsored by Tattersalls or Goffs auction houses.

“It really solidifies the part pointing plays as a development path for young horses and has a double benefit. While it’s hoped some big future stars will emerge from the series, it should also see an increase in the number of young horses staying in pointing,” he said.

“The scheme will last a number of years to give it momentum and assess its success, but the early signs are way ahead of anything we’d hoped for at this early stage”

To be eligible, horses must win one of 15 GB Pointing Bonus young horse maiden series fixtures held this season, and go on to have success in a qualifying race under Rules during the next two core jump seasons. The bonus payments will be £25,000 for a British-bred horse and £15,000 for a horse bred elsewhere.

The 0-100 series is targeted at horses running under Rules “who might have become a bit uncompetitive due to their handicap mark”.

“The slightly slower pace, smaller fences and different training regime can really revitalise some horses,” he said. “The early signs are good for the series, although we can already see some tweaks are needed for next season. If the series proves successful, we will potentially look at expanding it or making it a race-type in its own right.”

• Visit the GB Pointing website for more information on the “hands and heels” series and full criteria for the GB Pointing bonus young horse maiden series

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Whip use, flag penalties and ensuring that horse and riders are ready before they move up a level are among the topics under discussion in the FEI eventing rules revision.

The first draft of the 2026 rule change proposals has been published, as the eventing rules undergo a full review this year.

The US federation has called for the whip to only be permitted “to support the natural aids in encouraging the horse forward” and not to be used “to discipline”. The FEI eventing committee supported this and added that the whip is not to be used when its action is not related to a fence in cross-country or showjumping.

The FEI also proposed that pressing a tired horse should mean an automatic 25 penalties, and the existing recorded warning.

British Equestrian (BEF) tackled the topic of horse and rider experience, proposing that in addition to minimum eligibility requirements, the horse form index (HFI) – developed by EquiRatings and the FEI to track performance – be used for three-star competitions and upwards.

A BEF spokesperson said this would “stop those athletes, parents and owners” who take a “because I’m qualified, I’m ready, approach to competition”.

“This has been successfully used in Ireland. This is especially relevant to the CCI4* and CCI5* events where good pictures of the sport and social licence are very much in the public eye,” said the spokesperson.

The FEI eventing committee disagreed with this and “would instead like to encourage federations to be more vigilant and review what competitions riders are entered”.

The Swedish and German federations and the European Equestrian Federation (EEF) eventing working group suggested a reduction in the penalties for activating a frangible device from 11 to four, stating that there are more frangibles now and “therefore the chance to get a MiM is much higher than it was”.

The FEI responded: “The eventing committee is not in support of reducing the penalty of activating frangible devices, especially as it has improved cross-country riding; it is meant to prevent a rotational fall, and the consequence of activating it should remain as is.”

But the FEI was in agreement with reviewing missed flag penalties. The Pan-American Equestrian Confederation suggested this be reduced from 15 to seven as while missing a flag is an error, it is one that “does not result in potential harm to horse or rider”.

“The eventing committee agrees that the penalty for missing a flag should be less than that of activating a frangible. However, it should still be larger than that of knocking down two obstacles during the jumping test,” said the FEI, proposing that missed flags should result in nine penalties.

Dressage scores at championships and five-stars was raised by the BEF, the Swedish federation and the EEF eventing working group, who called for a permanent judges’ supervisory panel to ensure a “level playing field”, following a pilot on this last year.

The FEI said although the idea of introducing a remote review process was discussed at the Sports Forum, there are cost concerns. But “as a compromise” the eventing committee suggested changes to dressage scoring disputes.

“If the score for a flying change, halt or rein-back varies by three points or more between judges, the ground jury will review the official video as soon as possible after the test,” said the spokesperson, adding that the review must be on the same day, score corrections will only be made with ground jury agreement and “should be based on one or more of the original scores”.

The Polish federation has called for under-18s to wear safety helmets at trot-ups. The FEI medical committee is “investigating” – but felt that safety during horse inspections requires a broader approach, “not solely based on age”.

National federations have until 26 August to give feedback on the proposals. A final draft will be published in October, ahead of voting at the FEI general assembly on 7 November.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Blood eliminations in international showjumping continue to be a major focus – and padded batons are proposed as a replacement for traditional whips.

The FEI jumping rules are undergoing a full revision, and the first draft of proposed changes has been published by the FEI.

The International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) has continued its calls for proportionality around sanctions for micro cases of blood, particularly when riders are eliminated at championships, as was the case with Brazilian rider Pedro Veniss at Paris.

The IJRC has proposed that when blood is found on a horse’s flank, if it has occurred by an “inappropriate act”, or “remains bleeding after wiping”, the combination is immediately disqualified. But in the case of a “micro lesion or mark”, deemed accidental by a vet, the combination instead gets a “not classified” result. For first-time micro cases the IJRC suggested riders be given a warning, second warnings result in yellow cards and third warnings “heavier” sanctions.

“One of the fundamental principles of law establishes the proportionality between sanctions and violations of the norm, something which is not currently contemplated by our regulations,” said an IJRC spokesperson.

“For this reason, micro lesions which do not cause suffering to the horse cannot be considered in the same way as lesions caused by excessive use of spurs or horse abuse.”

The Swedish federation called for horse abuse and blood rules to be “harmonised” across disciplines – and the Irish federation suggested the blood rule be amended to specifically state “blood on the horse caused by spur or whip”, as the federation has had cases of horses “cut by hitting wings, flags etc, which is nothing to do with the rider”.

In response, the FEI proposed that if blood on a horse is considered to be “minor and a result of natural causes”, for example biting the lip or an insect bite, this may be wiped and riders may continue. But if bleeding persists, or there are welfare concerns, officials may eliminate the rider.

The FEI proposal states that the rider would not receive a recorded warning, if this applies – but goes on to state that “any minor blood cases” will result in a recorded warning for first and second offences – and should a rider receive two or more warnings in 12 months, they will be fined CHF1,000 (£933) and suspended for a month.

Blood not considered to be minor will result in elimination or disqualification, and maybe separate disciplinary proceedings. H&H asked for further clarification on this and was told by the FEI it is a “first draft”.

Fairness and horse welfare

Discussing the FEI’s proposal, IJRC director Eleonora Ottaviani told H&H that the club “acknowledges the difficulty of drafting rules that fairly distinguish between intentional and accident violations”.

“It is essential to balance three key factors; public perception, the respect and welfare of the horse as an athlete and partner, and the proportionality of the sanction,” she said.

Ms Ottaviani added that the IJRC welcomes a “revised approach” to the blood rules but would prefer that a vet rather than an official assess whether a case of blood should be considered minor or not.

“This is the most crucial aspect of ensuring both fairness and horse welfare,” she said.

“The IJRC agrees with the implementation of a one-month suspension in case of repeated warnings, as it provides a clearer distinction between isolated accidents and repeated negligence.”

The IJRC has called for an amendment to provide clarification on when a ground jury president can ring the bell to eliminate a rider mid-round and suggested that in “doubtful or unclear situations”, the president should allow the rider to complete the course.

“This ensures that official footage or other available technology can be reviewed to determine whether the rider should be eliminated or not. The president may notify the rider at the end that the result is under review before confirming the final outcome,” said the IJRC spokesperson.

The FEI rejected this owing to “subjectivity” around the wording “doubtful and unclear”, and that elimination decisions were for the ground jury president to decide.

Calls for change to whip rules

British Equestrian (BEF) proposed that whips allowed in FEI competitions be changed to padded batons, as was introduced in British national competitions in 2022.

“Prior to this we regularly had horses which had been marked (or blood drawn) by the use of traditional whips and since the introduction of the padded baton we have not had a single horse marked (or blood drawn) in warm-up or competition arenas,” said a BEF spokesperson.

“During this time, we have continued to see horses in FEI competitions marked by excessive use of the whip and sanctioning the rider after the event while a deterrent still means that a horse has been hit excessively.”

The FEI responded that current tack and equipment rules will remain in force in 2026, and proposed to remove tack and equipment requirements from sport rules to separate standalone documents for each discipline to allow changes to be made outside the rule revision process, when needed.

Stakeholders have until 26 August to give feedback. A final draft of proposals will be published in October, before voting at the FEI General Assembly on 7 November.

What do you think about the new rule proposals? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine. Letters may be edited for clarity and length.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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If you’re planning to compete in affiliated showjumping competitions this year, you need to make sure you fully understand the new British Showjumping whip rules for 2025.

As previously, anyone competing under British Showjumping (BS) rules can carry a “padded baton” as an aid to help encourage the horse to maintain an appropriate pace to jump the fences safely and in good form, but the rules about how it can be used have been updated, with horse welfare in mind.

Is your whip BS legal?

Firstly, you need to ensure your choice of whip, which is described as a padded baton by BS, complies with the rules.

The correct dimensions of the padded baton are between 45cm and 70cm in length and it must not weigh more than 160g. The shaft must have a minimum diameter of 1cm and this must run throughout the length of the baton. Two fifths of the baton must be covered by the pad, which must be smooth, with no protrusion or raised surface, and made of shock-absorbing material. There must be no binding to secure the pad to the shaft within 17cms of the end of the pad, which must not have any wording, advertising or personalisation on it.

The rules about the type of whip allowed have been in place since 2020, but if you’re unsure about whether your whip is legal, check with the BS steward before you start warming up.

What are the new BS whip rules?

The new British Showjumping whip rules state under what circumstances the padded baton can be used, and how it should be applied.

“The aim is to clarify how the padded baton should be used,” BS CEO Iain Graham told H&H, adding that equine welfare is the driver for the changes. “The aim is for people to use them to back up the leg aid, not for punishment.”

It is important that you understand what is acceptable use as the rules state that “any misuse of the padded baton in the arena, practice arena or anywhere on the show ground will result in disciplinary action being taken”.

So what is permitted use of the whip?

The rules state that the padded baton can be used in two places on the horse; behind the rider’s leg to encourage the horse forward, and on the shoulder to encourage the horse to move in a particular direction.

The whip can be used up to a maximum of three times while in the competition arena.

If used on the horse’s shoulder, the rider must keep both hands on the reins while making contact or applying direct pressure.

What is deemed excessive use?

The rider must not raise their arm above the shoulder to use the padded baton.

When using the baton on the horse’s shoulder, both hands should remain on the reins.

The whip must not be used more than three times in total while in the competition arena.

The baton must not be used to discipline or punish the horse/pony, nor to vent an athlete’s temper.

It should not be used immediately after a refusal, run-out or case of elimination in either the competition or the practice arena.

If a horse’s skin is broken or marked, as a result of the use of the baton, this is always considered excessive.

What happens if you use the whip incorrectly?

If you use your whip in a manner that it not in line with the rules at a BS show, or a show run under BS rules, then you may be called to the judges’ box. Depending on how serious the error is, you could be fined or even banned from competition for a period.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

A ‘massive step’ as new whip and spur rules are making a difference

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Ban on using whips after refusals, elimination and ‘out of temper’ in competition

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A gauge to measure noseband tightness will be trialled by British Dressage (BD) late this year, before its national implementation in 2026.

The introduction of the device, which must pass freely under the noseband on top of the nasal bone, has been delayed in FEI competition until this May, but will be piloted by BD in late 2025. BD said it will notify riders “in advance of any competition or championship to confirm when this universal measuring tool will be used”.

In other welfare-related BD changes, trimming the hair “within the rims of the auricles” – the visible part of a horse’s outer ear – is banned from July. The only exception is when the hair has been clipped for veterinary treatment, in which case riders must submit a certificate to BD’s head office for verification.

A new maximum whip length has been introduced across all BD competition levels; whips may now be no longer than 1.2m (measured from the top of the handle to the very end), 1m on ponies.

As part of BD’s four-year equine welfare action plan, it has also updated its complaints and disciplinary procedures and introduced a new whistleblowing policy.

“BD recognises that the decision to make an allegation can be a difficult one,” a spokesperson said. “However, [BD] will take appropriate action to protect a whistleblower who makes a serious allegation in the reasonable belief that it is in the public interest to do so.”

Whistleblowers are encouraged to make allegations to BD CEO Jason Brautigam directly and will receive an acknowledgement in writing within five working days.

There will be no repercussions for whistleblowers who make an allegation in the “reasonable belief that is in the interest of the welfare and wellbeing of the general public to do so” but “disciplinary action may be taken against a whistleblower who makes an allegation frivolously, carelessly, maliciously, or for personal gain.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Whip and spur rules brought in across disciplines are having an effect – in making riders consider their use as much as the use itself.

Those competing under British Showjumping (BS) rules join The Pony Club and British Riding Clubs (BRC) riders in that whips may only be used to back up leg aids, never as discipline or punishment of the horse.

The Pony Club rules on spurs now apply from this month; riders who want to use them must either have passed their C+ test or an assessment showing that they understand spurs’ use and have a stable enough lower leg to wear them appropriately. Coaches and officials may remove spurs if at any time they feel they are being used incorrectly.

Leading physiotherapist Gillian Tabor was stewarding at an Eggesford Hunt branch mini showjumping competition in early January, and she told H&H the rules are making a difference.

“It was amazing,” she said. “All the kids had their tack checked as they came into the warm-up and anyone carrying a whip, I asked if they knew the rules and they all did. I don’t know if there were fewer children carrying them, but we didn’t have to pull anyone up [for misuse].”

Dr Tabor pointed out that using a whip on a horse who has refused a fence “doesn’t make sense” in light of what we know about horses’ learning processes and cognition, so it is ineffective as a punishment anyway.

She said the spur rule is a “massive step forward”.

“There were a handful wearing them at the show and I’m sure there would have been a lot more previously,” she said. “One member usually wore them; she took them off and there was no difference to how her pony went. These are steps in the right direction.”

The Pony Club CEO Marcus Capel told H&H that the club’s responsibility is to help young riders and their parents improve understanding and foster the mindset of putting the horse’s interests first at all times.

“We’ve got people talking, which is good. I’m so pleased people are talking about it and about The Pony Club,” he said. “All-round horsemanship is what we’re teaching. We’re getting back to where we should be as the source of knowledge for young riders and their parents.”

The new BS rule applied from 1 January; the padded baton, which replaced the whip in 2020, “may only be used as an aid to support the natural aids in encouraging the horse forward; [it] may be used to support the shoulder to encourage the horse in the desired direction.

“The padded baton must not be used to discipline or punish the horse/pony nor to vent an athlete’s temper,” the rules add. “Such use is always excessive.”

BS CEO Iain Graham told H&H there had been no negative reaction to the new rule.

“It’s not a rule where it’s been hard to get the message across to members about why it’s come in,” he said. “I think they understand the need to change, to show we’re treating and training horses in the correct way.”

BRC brought in similar whip rules last year and, from 2025, may be used a maximum of twice per incident. Any mark means excessive use. Spurs will only be allowed for prelim level dressage and above at BRC qualifiers and championships.

“Spurs must only be used to enhance the normal leg aids and allow for better communication from rider to horse,” the rule states. “Spurs must never be used to vent a rider’s temper or to reprimand a horse; any use for such a reason is automatically excessive.”

Head of BRC Rachael Hollely-Thompson told H&H: “Throughout all BRC competitive opportunities, the welfare of the horse is of paramount importance. To make sure the best practices are followed, we regularly review the rules we have.

“We believe these revisions will play a key role in supporting all those involved in BRC events and activities, helping us to continue to uphold the highest level of horse welfare.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Padded whips may only be allowed to back up leg aids – and not to punish the horse – in British Showjumping (BS) from 1 January, in part of rule changes with a “strong focus on equine welfare”.

BS revisions to come into force in 2025 include changes to use of the padded batons, which replaced whips in BS competition five years ago.

“As everyone will be aware there is a strong focus on equine welfare and it is the responsibility of everyone who rides, trains or cares for horses to ensure that they are always treated correctly,” a BS spokesperson said.

From 1 January, the padded baton “may only be used as an aid to support the natural aids in encouraging the horse forward; [it] may be used to support the shoulder to encourage the horse in the desired direction.

“The padded baton must not be used to discipline or punish the horse/pony nor to vent an athlete’s temper,” the rules add. “Such use is always excessive.”

The baton may not be used more than three times in total while in the arena, nor may it be used immediately after elimination, or a refusal, run-out in the competition or practice arena.

The rider’s arm may not come above the shoulder, and the baton should make contact with the horse behind the rider’s leg.

If used to support the horse’s shoulder, the rider must keep both hands on the reins. If the horse’s skin is broken or masked as a result of baton use, this is “always considered excessive”. Misuse of the baton anywhere on the showground will result in disciplinary action.

“The aim is to clarify how the padded baton should be used,” BS CEO Iain Graham told H&H, adding that equine welfare is the driver for the changes. “The aim is for people to use them to back up the leg aid, not for punishment.”

In another change, members will only be allowed to use equipment allowed in the competition arena for the jumping warm-up. This means draw reins are not allowed to be used for warming up on the flat in the same arena as the jumping warm-up takes place. If there is a separate warm-up area for riding on the flat then they can be used there, and they are allowed to be worn in prizegivings.

An additional provision has been added for riders with hidden disabilities, after it was highlighted by the BS equality, diversity and inclusion group

“We are pleased to confirm that it has been agreed to allow members to have a caller at Club and Just for Schools competitions/classes if the athlete dispensation panel has granted dispensation that this member has sufficient medical needs to permit the use of a caller in competition,” the spokesperson said.

“The caller will stand with the course-designer in the arena, and they will only be able to give directions to the rider, no other guidance or instructions will be allowed.

“It has been agreed that a British Showjumping yellow ribbon in the horses tail will be offered for those who have been granted a dispensation, this should alert other riders to give the horse/rider more space in the practice arena.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout major shows such as London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Graham Fletcher shares his thoughts on Stockholm International Horse Show, whip rules and ongoing Brexit issues

After a lifetime of going to shows around the world, it now takes something out of the ordinary to impress me. However, last month’s Stockholm International Horse Show did just that. Our son Olli was invited as one of the 18 riders to compete there, and what an experience it was.

The venue, the National Arena of Sweden, also known as the Strawberry Arena, is a fantastic modern stadium and they’d got the ground as good as any I’ve come across. It’s a big stadium to fill. But it was packed with enthusiastic spectators who understood the sport and really showed their appreciation, especially of their country’s superstars Henrik von Eckermann, Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, Peder Fredricson and the darling of the crowd, Malin Baryard-Johnsson.

In fact, such was the ovation Peder received for his classic jump-off round in the grand prix, a football crowd couldn’t have made more noise!

The show treated the riders really well. And I was pleased with Olli’s results as he more than held his own. It’s definitely on the top of his wish list to be invited again in 2025.

New whip approach

At the riders’ meeting before the classes started in Stockholm, the ambassador for the show, Malin Baryard-Johnsson, warned that Sweden’s national rules on the whip were more proscriptive than the FEI ones.

Their rule stipulates that you can’t take your hands off the rein to use the whip. Malin also emphasised that the Swedish public is so sensitive that any rider using the stick in a forceful manner would be asked to go home.

So, do I think the Swedes have got this one right? Yes, I definitely do. William Funnell (opinion, 28 November) was spot on when he said we shouldn’t have to apologise for the sport we love. But any overuse of the stick, and we’re on the back foot already.

I caught up with former National Hunt champion jockey John Francome about it recently. Many years ago, he advocated that a stick should be kept in the hands to keep a horse straight, but never used behind the saddle. He remains adamant about it.

John was one of the best jockeys of all time. Indeed, he was ahead of his time in both his riding position and thinking in the saddle – just as he was with his philosophy about using the stick.

John believes that if a “hands on the reins” whip rule was brought in now, the best horses and jockeys would win more. Meanwhile, he remains very critical of the people running racing who permit horses to be hit seven times in a jump race and six times on the Flat.

There’s currently a survey under way to gauge opinion, something for which John has the same amount of respect as I do. If Winston Churchill had done the same, we’d all be speaking German now.

If whip rules were changed, says John, people would quickly forget that the stick was ever used to try and bully half a tonne of horse. I think he’s right – and so are the Swedes.

We’re all cattle class now

I make no apology for bemoaning again the equine welfare issues – as well as increasing costs – of taking horses across the Channel since Brexit. Sadly, horses are still being forced to wait around on lorries for border checks, even when the paperwork is all correct and paid for.

It’s also a big problem for people flying. It took us a good hour-and-a-half to get through passport control for a British Airways flight to Stockholm, instead of what used to be 20 minutes. It was the same going to Brussels recently.

There’s nobody more impatient than me in a queue. In fact, the only thing that kept me sane was the thought of those MPs who campaigned for Brexit, and then lost their seats, having to travel cattle class and wait for hours like the rest of us. Now they know how the horses feel…

● What do you think about whip rules? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events including London International, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You might also be interested in:

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Whip use in showjumping, horse abuse sanctions and the use of hoof boots during trot-ups are among the issues covered in proposed changes to FEI rules – as the double bridle debate in dressage continues.

The first draft of proposed rule changes has been published with suggestions across the disciplines.

The Swedish federation has called for a tightening of whip rules in showjumping and proposed, “as guidance only”, the rider may use the whip twice maximum, before and during the ride, by “gently tapping with the whip on the shoulder or behind the saddle”.

The federation also wants to expand the excessive use definition to state that “all other means of using the whip is considered excessive”. The current rules state that the whip should not be used more than three times in a row, and that using a whip on a horse’s head is always considered excessive.

The federation said the current rule is “clearly not in line with social licence”, and “as a minimum, the rules should be acceptable to the public and all stakeholders”, adding that Sweden had successfully introduced the proposal nationally in 2023.

The FEI jumping committee agreed to “discuss the use of equipment currently available”, but said that these changes will be discussed with all stakeholders as part of showjumping’s full rules revision planned for 2025.

The FEI has put forward changes to some sanctions, including expanding the list of offences to “catch all wrongdoings”. An increase to horse abuse sanctions was suggested, “especially taking into account social licence” and the Equine and Ethics Wellbeing

Committee’s action plan, published in April at the FEI Sports Forum (news, 9 May).

Under new proposals “top-end” cases could carry double the maximum suspension: 10 years. Less serious cases would carry a potential suspension of up to six months, and mid-range issues six months to three years. But there is a potential softening to the maximum sentence for the worst offences, with proposed bans of “up to” life – instead of life.

Hoof boots at trot-ups are also in the spotlight, with the FEI aiming to “harmonise horse inspections”. The FEI said horses should be “presented in the manner in which they are to compete”, and is proposing that barefoot horses who compete without hoof boots will not be allowed to wear them during trot-ups.

Horses who compete in hoof boots must wear these at the inspection, but they must be removed if requested by the panel to evaluate the horse’s hooves.

The double bridle is back on the agenda – the Dutch and Swedish federations are asking the FEI to “re-evaluate its decision” on this being mandatory in dressage at CDI3* level and upwards.

“We think it is in the best interest for the sport to allow riders to use a snaffle if they deem this in their best interest as a combination,” the federations agreed.

The FEI stood by its previous comments on use of the double bridle, “that the use of a double bridle is a sport matter and not a matter of wellbeing/welfare”, but said that the dressage technical committee is willing to be part of a round table to discuss “correct fitting and possible modernising of the double bridle”.

National federations have until 21 August to give feedback on the proposals. A final draft will be published in October, and this will be put to the vote at the FEI general assembly on 13 November.

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The use of whips has been banned in some rides by Endurance GB (EGB) as it “remains committed to being at the forefront of equine welfare”.

The board and members of the national governing body for endurance voted “overwhelmingly” in favour of banning the use of whips, and the use of any other item as a whip, in all competitive endurance rides (CERs) affiliated to EGB from 2024. Whips will still be allowed in graded endurance rides.

The vote, at the EGB AGM on 25 November, brings EGB in line with the FEI, which also bans whips, and any item used as one, at all times on the field of play and in training areas.

“Key elements of the AGM are board and member proposals to make changes to the rules that govern the sport,” an EGB spokesman said. “These rule changes are voted on by the membership and ensure the sport remains agile and in touch with the environment in which it operates.

“With the current focus on the equestrian world’s ‘social licence to operate’ the board of Endurance GB and members voted overwhelmingly to ban the use of whips (or the use of any other item as a whip) in all competitive endurance rides affiliated to Endurance GB.

“Endurance riding in the UK remains committed to being at the forefront of equine welfare and biosecurity.”

EGB chair Phil Nunnerley told H&H the welfare of the horse is “considered to be paramount in endurance riding”, and that the ban on whips is “consistent with the priority attached to welfare”.

British international endurance rider Harry Ingram added: “We haven’t had whips at FEI level for a long time so this rule brings the more competitive national classes in line with the international rules.

“Horses generally want to eat up the miles in endurance, so there really is no reason to carry a whip and what better way to really put horse welfare first than to ban them altogether?”

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The new racing whip rules that came into force in Britain this year have been amended following a six-month review – as the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) said it is continuing to see a reduction in the rate of offences.

The review formed part of the “ongoing dialogue” between the BHA, the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) and jockeys, which started before the introduction of the new rules and has resulted in a number of alterations.

The changes focus around the penalties for using the whip above the permitted levels. Under the rules, which were introduced in jump racing on 6 February, and on the Flat on 27 March – both following soft launches prior to these dates – the number of times a whip may be used in a race was reduced to a maximum of seven times in a jump race and six times in a Flat race.

Under the amendments as of 31 July, if a rider has been found to have used the whip once above the permitted level, the minimum penalty may be reduced dependent on the race type and rider’s previous record.

Other changes include the races in which a double penalty for use of the whip above the permitted level will apply. Previously this applied to all class one or two races, but under the new framework it will apply to all class one and some class twos.

Riders will now be referred to the BHA judicial panel for “totting up” of whip offences after four, instead of three, in a six-month period.

If a jockey has exceeded the maximum threshold for whip use by just one use, now they may elect to have the potential breach dealt with on the day by raceday stewards, instead of waiting for the whip review committee (WRC) to meet and assess the ride. In these cases the jockey will waive the right to appeal any decision.

The WRC will now only be able to retrospectively review a ride within a maximum of seven days, except where it involved a potential horse disqualification, which may be considered at any time. When considering whether a rider has breached the rules, the WRC may in “exceptional circumstances” exercise discretion and discount individual uses before the starting line, providing the use was “reasonable, proportionate, and clearly and equivocally for a corrective purpose only”.

Read the amendments in full

WRC chair Sam Angell said the changes reflect an ongoing process to “improve the new whip rules and penalties, while retaining the original objectives, to ensure more judicious use of the whip for encouragement, improve the perceptions of the whip and ensure the outcomes of the races are fair”.

“The BHA remains extremely grateful to the PJA and the senior riders who have engaged so constructively with this process. This dialogue will remain ongoing,” he said.

“We continue to see a reduction in the rate of offences, which is a testament to the measures being taken by the jockeys as they continue to adapt to the new rules, for which they deserve great credit.”

Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare chief executive, told H&H it is “sensible” to keep rules under review to “best ensure they are fit for purpose, especially ones that have been recently implemented”.

“However, the real test for the whip rules is whether they are having an overall impact in significantly reducing the number of rule breaches and it is still too early to assess this,” he said.

“World Horse Welfare still believes that the whip in racing should not be permitted for encouragement, but ultimately it is for racing to justify why this use is in the interest of the horse, and having an effective system to minimise transgression must be at the heart of this.”

The BHA has released six-month data of referrals to the judicial panel and offences since the introduction of the new rules. Out of 37,428 rides there were 425 referrals, of which 360 were found to be breaches. The offence types included 219 above the permitted level, 79 without giving the horse time to respond, 15 above shoulder height and one excessive force. 55% of the offences in the review period were committed by professional jockeys.

“We continue to see a reduction in the rate of offences, which is a testament to the measures being taken by jockeys as they continue to adapt to the new rules, for which they deserve great credit,” said Sam.

A PJA spokesman said the organisation is “pleased” that “extensive negotiations” with the BHA over the past six months have resulted in the penalty reductions and other amendments, “that mean sanctions are now less onerous for jockeys”.

Dale Gibson, PJA interim chief executive, told H&H a “highly respected, talented and knowledgeable group of riders” took part in the review; Flat jockeys Ryan Moore, William Buick, Luke Morris and Richard Kingscote, and National Hunt jockeys Bryan Hughes and Harry Skelton.

“We will continue to work with the BHA to review all aspects of the rules and sanctions, with the plan to meet again in the autumn to discuss any further potential amendments,” he said.

“The process has been time-consuming, however we believe the alterations to be a step in the right direction.”

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Equestrian commentator, broadcaster and British Showjumping/FEI judge, Adam Cromarty, shares why he believes social licence is the biggest challenge faced by equestrian sport

Although I can’t be sure of the timeline, I believe within 10 years, whips and spurs will no longer exist in competition. There’s no point in giving an opinion on whether I believe this to be a positive thing. In fact, I believe the views of those within our sport will be inconsequential.

Social licence is the biggest challenge we have ever faced. The world is continually changing and the evolution we’ve seen in a broader sense over the past few years is enough to raise an eyebrow. I remember when the term snowflake was reserved for wintertime.

The results of a YouGov survey showed 20% of those asked did not support the continued involvement of horses in sport under any circumstances and 40% would only support their involvement if welfare was improved. If you’re thinking that these people don’t know what they are talking about, I’m with you.

However, given that racing over fences was banned in Australia, I agree with Nick Skelton’s column that it’s time for us to be proactive to protect the sport, its Olympic affiliation and our livelihoods.

The whip is there to back up a leg aid and help create forward momentum. That’s my go-to response when asked why athletes carry them. As someone who watches hundreds of showjumping rounds on a weekly basis, I’m not sure how often I see it used for this purpose. If a horse refuses, could we really apply my stock answer?

Spurs are there as an additional aid or when a sharper reaction is required. Used correctly, they can be such a useful tool but from a layperson’s point of view, they are unnecessary “sharp”, pointy things.

I suppose we need to applaud British Showjumping (BS), who changed the national whip rule to only allow a padded bat. These operate in a different way and now just make more of a noise. To my knowledge, they were the first federation to take this step. BS also incorporated the FEI rule disallowing the use of a whip after an elimination, something that not all nations have adapted.

Potential for an instant PR crisis

Live-streaming has meant that more of our sport is available to watch than ever before, but that also brings its own challenges. I recently watched a Nations Cup that featured a rider finishing with 48 faults. It wasn’t pleasant to watch, and he backed up his leg aid a lot, just to get home. Put together enough clips like that and we would have an instant PR crisis.

The FEI recently provided a power for judges to eliminate a rider if allowing them to continue would be contrary to the principles of horse welfare. As an official, this is a rule I welcomed and one I would be willing to implement, if required.

I know some top riders had their reservations, calling into question the level of experience within jury boxes. My own interpretation of this rule is that it is there for a horse who is struggling, not for a young horse that comes out a little spooky. Like it or not, this rule is as much about public opinion as it is horse welfare.

With this topic in mind, there is some irony that the new Olympic format, as implemented in Tokyo, encourages partnerships who are having a bad day to push through to avoid their country being eliminated. The drop score of a fourth team member was of great value and I am surprised it hasn’t been brought back for Paris 2024.

We all need to do our part

Owning a media company means that technology and social platforms are a big part of my life. For those climbing the ranks and wanting to attract sponsors, it’d seem a social following is almost as important as show results.

Eyes cannot be avoided. Smartphones are everywhere and the result is that competition is going to be less and less about producing horses and more of an exhibition of what work has been done at home.

We all need to do our part. The media needs to educate, riders need to smile, pat and school outside of the competition arena. We need to be proactive before the public forum has our sport looking like a glorified dog show.

● Do you agree with Adam’s thoughts? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your views published in a future edition of Horse & Hound magazine

• This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 1 June, 2023

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Rising showjumping star Joe Trunkfield discusses the power – and dangers – of social media to equestrian sport

Despite the difference in the set task and routine, one common problem all spheres of equestrianism are experiencing is new rules and regulations being made, in order to protect the image of the sport in the general public’s eye.

Recently, I was invited to the office of my sporting federation (British Showjumping) to gain further knowledge on the why and how of some of the rules under which we, as professional horsemen and women, compete.

While I’m one of the first to argue about a lot of the rules that I, and many others, find mind-boggling and think make no sense – especially with the difference in rules nationally and internationally – I now look at things differently. Some of the things I learnt and stats they gave me put a new perspective on the future of our sport.

As we know, the top end of the sport, from show centres to riders, needs sponsorship support from big companies. With this in mind, it was worrying to learn that in a recent poll, 52% of the British public don’t agree with horses being used for sport.

We all know how much our horses show clear motivation and desire for the sport, and we provide them with the highest standards of care and devotion, so this is a definite area of concern. Will big companies be comfortable supporting our sport if they could potentially upset 52% of their own customers?

Another interesting statistic was in reference to a TikTok video of a professional which had been edited and promoted negatively and gone viral. The power of that particular TikTok poster is scary, having 360,000 followers. My local MP was elected with 60,000 votes (a very safe Conservative seat), British Showjumping has approximately 17,000 members. It is clear to see how much damage can be done to our sport with one misinterpreted video going viral.

Looking forward

My fears as a producer are that we could be facing rules to accommodate the public eye, rather than to benefit our equine athletes in the sport.

For instance, the now legal whip is very horse friendly, weighing no more than 160g, being two-fifths padded and smooth. This gives a soft touch and, making more of a noise than other whips, the artificial aid works well if a horse requires extra encouragement beyond

the leg.

However, to the general public and camera – and with so many shows being on a live stream – a gentle aid from this persuader creates a much louder sound (in the silence of a high-level competition arena), again giving a bad image to the public.

It leaves a lot of concern over the future of our sport and what rules will be coming next to accommodate for the dangers of TikTok.

Our super-grooms work tirelessly and devotedly with their horses, giving them the best of care and the best life. Hopefully, they can be given platforms so 360,000 followers can see their efforts.

The question is: what can we do to protect our sport and promote the brilliant lives our horses have?

● How do you think riders can show the care their horses receive on social media? Write to hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your views published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

• This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 30 March

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Rule changes must be considered carefully or the sport risks facing unintended consequences, warns Mark Phillips

With social licence in the news, horse welfare is top of the agenda for horse sports. There are many who think use of the horse is abuse of the horse and that horses should be fat and happy in a field. There isn’t much media coverage of the fact all sport horses have truly five-star love, care and attention, nor of the plight of those poor animals left neglected in paddocks.

The pinnacle of all sports attracts the greatest attention. The higher the level of performance, the smaller the margin of error, therefore the higher the skill needed by the rider. But let’s be clear that horses competing at these levels love it. There is no way that 100lb of rider can make 1,000lb of horse do something against its will.

In eventing, five-star competition was much discussed at the FEI risk management forum at Jardy (news, 9 and 16 February), with a focus on reducing horse falls. We course-designers go to massive lengths to try to make fences as forgiving as possible for horses, using decoration to help them understand the question. But we cannot prevent a horse falling every now and again.

There is a strong move to have a fence automatically taken off the course if there are two horse falls at it. I can see the logic, but believe the wording should be “rotational” falls as they are the most dangerous. This should not have to be a rule – if a fence is jumping badly, the officials should remove it anyway if the pictures are not good – but this judgement is not always easy.

Some want a fence automatically taken out after one horse fall, which I cannot condone. Imagine if horse number one tips up in The Lake at Badminton Horse Trials and the rest of the field just gallop by. The competition would quickly become a farce. A fall caused by bad riding does not necessarily mean that a fence is a bad one.

The forum also discussed keeping up the standard of courses so combinations are appropriately qualified for the next level – if fences are removed after one fall, we create too many situations when too many competitors don’t tackle the key questions.

Some want riders to be automatically sanctioned if a horse falls. This isn’t right. Falling off and walking home is punishment enough and the officials can always impose sanctions if dangerous riding is involved.

The solution here is better officiating, not more rules with unintended consequences.

Flags were also on the forum agenda and I support introducing a penalty for knocking down a flag. Riders are not ski racers. This rule would mean designers have to provide more jumpable width and riders have to get straighter at skinny fences, creating safer jumping.

Whip restrictions

British Eventing had hoped to lead the way on whip rules, and only padded whips are allowed for jumping this year. They plan to introduce a rule next year that says a rider can only use the whip on a horse’s shoulder. Both the US federation and FEI are looking at the same thing, albeit worded differently. Any other use of the whip would be considered abuse of the horse, resulting in sanctions.

They’ve all been beaten to the line by British Riding Clubs, who have this year introduced a rule that prohibits a rider hitting a horse after a refusal or elimination. This is a good rule for preventing riders from taking temper out on their horse.

These days, we must see the whip only as an instrument of safety – to create impulsion, back up the leg and keep the horse straight – and not one of admonishment or to encourage more speed. Restricted use of the whip is coming and the sooner the Olympic disciplines embrace it, the better.

Horse welfare and safety have never been under more debate. Please can we have more considered discussion before rushing to a place that could unintentionally change the very nature of a sport loved by so many.

● What do you think whip rules should say? Write to hhletters@futurenet.com including your name, nearest town and county for the chance tpo have your views published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine.

• This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazie, on sale Thursday 9 March

You may also be interested in…

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A heated debate is underway about the decision to remove the whip from Rachael Blackmore’s hand in a poster promoting the Cheltenham Festival. Here is H&H’s Editor-in-Chief’s view...

In an era where Roald Dahl’s work is being rewritten, and those with a vested interest edit picture archives to remove images that could be deemed to bring their sports into disrepute, is it surprising that those marketing a highlight of the racing calendar to the wider public on London underground might choose to airbrush out a whip brandished high in a winning jockey’s hand? If only to take the wind out of the sails of some who will wade in on every posting of the picture to highlight the “cruelty” of whip use in racing, and perhaps get those on the fence thinking again about whether to attend. Many in the racing world are up in arms about it, and understandably so, but can we really be that surprised?

For those who view a whip, used correctly, as no different or more controversial a piece of kit than a riding boot or a glove, it might seem unfathomable to delete it. But in terms of public perception, it’s probably not ideal that the whip is understandably held aloft at the finish in celebration, since for those who dislike the use of whips at all in horse sport, its prominence in these images is a red rag to a bull.

But by airbrushing the whip out of an image, the implication is that we are ashamed of its presence, that we would rather it wasn’t there. And if we don’t want it there, then it shouldn’t be permitted in the sport. We can’t both accept the whip’s appropriate use in sport and then want to hide its presence in marketing, however prominent.

Is there such a lack of understanding that the uninitiated might mistake it for being used from that high position? Is that the marketer’s concern?

Is it necessary to remove something that is absolutely fine, but doesn’t look great if you don’t know that it is fine? I can see how we ended up here.

The irony is that if this whip has been removed from the marketing image to avoid hot discussion of its use in racing, it has not had the desired effect – in fact, it’s done the opposite. I have empathy for the people who made the decision. Sometimes you can’t do right for doing wrong, and it’s far easier to sit and point the finger than get it right yourself every time.

I also have empathy for what the British Horseracing Authority is trying to do to future-proof its sport. Nobody would thank them for sitting back and watching public acceptance of racing slip away.

Some ask if things like the removal of the whip here are overkill; how much does the public care? There are surveys suggesting many do care quite a bit, but are they only completed by people who care quite a bit?

We at Horse & Hound have been criticised, too, for drawing attention to the fact that without public acceptance of our sports, we cannot assume they will continue indefinitely. That perception does matter. There are those who think the problem isn’t real, or is small, and wouldn’t exist if we didn’t write about it. Happy days if that’s the case.

If there is a risk, surely we are better to try to tackle it, understand precisely, with science, what is and is not a welfare issue, and legislate accordingly? We could explain that to the public, too, though I don’t find telling people they are wrong, however carefully or scientifically you do so, is ever well received. But we can demonstrate good practice, and throw the book at bad practice.

There’s another consideration, too. The image has been cut out, and placed on a blue background. From a designer’s point of view, it’s a lot neater not to have the whip stuck out.

We might tidy a horse’s mane if a section is sticking up, or remove a noseband strap that is protruding, or a loose boot strap, on an image in our magazine. We’ll take out a mast or a spectator if the words on the cover will read better off a grass background than a mottled one. There are reasons for editing images that are not controversial.

But we wouldn’t airbrush out a whip on the front cover, tempting as it might be for neatness and legibility, because the inference would be that we are ashamed that it is there. Because like it or not, and whether those in the industry can understand it or not, the whip is a controversial object to many, not a boot or a glove.

Do I think it was the right decision to remove this whip? No. And I imagine the people who did so are rueing that decision, because hindsight is terribly helpful. But I can see why someone might have thought it was a good idea at the time – and nobody minded or cared for the first few months of its existence. The fact this poster is under discussion now highlights the complexity of the era we are in, and the challenge of such polarised views in the horse world and wider society, where racing is uniquely placed. It will take careful navigating.

You may also be interested in…

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*Opinion* Scaremongering clickbait, or a very real threat to the sport we all love?

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Last-minute changes to new whip rules for 2023

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A new British Riding Clubs (BRC) rule on whip use has been introduced to help educate riders and improve horse welfare.

BRC’s 2023 rules state that the whip must only be used to support the rider’s natural aids, and never when a horse or pony has turned away after a refusal, or after elimination. Use behind the rider’s leg or on the shoulder is allowed but never on the horse’s head or neck.

Head of BRC Rachael Hollely-Thompson told H&H the organisation, which is part of the British Horse Society (BHS), “takes horse welfare incredibly seriously”.

“Horse welfare is something we talk about every day; it’s always at the forefront of our minds,” she said. “The BHS is in a unique position as it has great links with other welfare organisations continually doing studies and research on whip use.

“We reflected on what we’d like members to be doing and the crux was that the whip has to back up natural aids, but it shouldn’t be used to punish.”

The rules state that appropriate whip use can be to help encourage a horse or pony to go forward, or to stay straight on the approach to a fence. “It must never be used to vent a rider’s temper; any use for such a reason is automatically excessive.”

“As an aid, the appropriate time is when the pony/horse is reluctant to go forward under natural aids i.e. seat and legs,” the BRC rulebook states. “Its use, for instance, after a refusal when a pony/horse has turned away, is excessive. Its use after elimination is excessive.”

Whips must also always be carried in the forehand position, with the handle pointing upwards, rather than backhand.

“To see over-use or the whip used in temper is not something that’s tolerated by the BHS or BRC,” Ms Hollely-Thompson said. “And unless we put that in the rules, we’re not able to educate when people do the wrong thing.”

Ms Hollely-Thompson referenced scientific studies on the way horses learn, “when a horse is in an anxious or stressed state, it reduces learning capacity, and using the whip as punishment isn’t effective”.

“It doesn’t help the horse learn so if it’s not effective, why are we allowing it?” she asked. “We have a huge variety of members, from grassroots to very competitive riders, and some riders need support for their natural aids, and some horses respond better to supportive use of the whip, but it has to be used at the appropriate time.”

If a horse has refused once and is approaching a fence a second time, the whip may be used as back-up to the legs if needed; it is encouragement, not punishment, that is acceptable. Misuse of the whip can mean up to 25 penalties or disqualification.

“It doesn’t look good, it’s not helpful to the horse and probably not helpful to the rider,” Ms Hollely-Thompson said. “And it’s probably out of temper rather than what’s best for the horse. Sometimes, I think people carry things on through habit but if a rule’s been there a long time, it doesn’t mean it’s still correct and relevant, and if not, it’s doing something about it.”

You might also be interested in:

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British Eventing’s rule changes for 2023 include extensions of its equine welfare regulations to cover anyone present at an affiliated horse trials.

Horse welfare rules are not new to the governing body. But British Eventing (BE) has updated the scope of its wording beyond competitors. It now says “anyone involved in the handling of a horse”, including non-members such as grooms, involved in abuse of a horse “will result in sanctions being imposed on the competitor”.

BE chief executive Helen West told H&H equine welfare is “paramount and at the forefront of our minds at all times, hence the update on our rule”.

“We will operate zero tolerance on equine abuse, and any such behaviour will result in an automatic sanction,” she said.

British Eventing’s rule changes for 2023 also include only padded whips allowed for the jumping phases (news, 15 December), with details now confirmed on the length and design specifics, and the formation of a welfare panel this spring.

“The panel will look at further changes to the use of the whip ahead of 2024, as well as wider issues to ensure we are doing the best by our equine team-mates and maintain society’s acceptance of partnering them in our sport,” added Ms West.

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers told H&H: “We welcome BE’s updated rules on the use of the whip which we believe are a real step forward. Ensuring the correct use of the whip is an equestrian-wide issue and for sure more scientific research into the effects of whip use on safety, and on horses’ motivation and emotional state, is needed. Putting it bluntly, so much of the whip is used today is inappropriate and a wider understanding of how horses learn will lead to more considered use of the whip by riders in every sphere.

“We also know that using a whip can be off-putting to the public, so riders and commentators have an important role to explain why a whip is being used and to justify it in terms of the horse’s safety and welfare.”

British Eventing’s other rule changes for 2023

The 2023 season also brings further changes to entries, minimum eligibility requirements (MERs) and refunds, new dressage tests and horse boot rules, to name a few.

New for this year is the requirement for competitors to be given refunds on entries, if they provide a veterinary or doctor’s certificate by 7pm the Monday before the competition, or a minimum of three working days prior if the event runs mid-week. This will be less the £12 admin fee, plus VAT where applicable.

“The rationale behind this is to give members greater confidence to make their entries earlier, safe in the knowledge that if they or their horse suffer a genuine injury, they will not lose all the entry fee,” said Ms West.

“We will monitor the financial impact this has on organisers as we are very conscious of the challenges they face in terms of balancing their books to make an event viable for themselves as well as our members. We trust that the benefit of getting entries in sooner will be of a greater benefit to organisers in this instance.”

Changes to minimum eligibility requirements

In terms of MERs, the dressage score for a qualifying result is being tightened from 50 to 45, in line with the FEI. BE is also scrapping its MERs for anyone wishing to compete at BE100, with the exception of riders in the year of their 12th or 13th birthday. Previously, competitors needed two MER results at BE90 in order to step up.

Ms West said BE had “considerable feedback” that riders competing successfully at Pony Club and riding club 100 level found the MERs an “unnecessary barrier” to competing affiliated at that level.

“We took this on board and looked closely at the statistics gathered over the past six years which clearly showed that the introduction of this MER requirement in 2017 had made no significant difference to the safety statistics at our own grassroots levels,” she said.

How entries will work in 2023

Entries are changing this season. The removal of the ballot system has been delayed; organisers now have the choice to use it, or to go with a more first come, first served approach. New sliding scales also replace BE-set entry fees, giving organisers more flexibility in how much they charge.

Ms West said BE is moving away from the organisation being “a giant administration centre” to focus on its “core role as a national governing body”.

“There is not a quick way to get from where we are to where we need to be,” she said.

“The work that Miranda Collett at Eventing Scores has done over the winter months in building a British Eventing validation engine now means that we will be able to accredit two or three third-party entries systems.”

This means those systems will be able to build APIs (software that talks to BE’s IT) to check combinations’ MERs and membership status when making entries.

Oasby (1) (9-12 March) is the first event to ditch the ballot system. As H&H went to press, entries were set to open to full members at midday on Wednesday (8 February). It will accept entries in the order they arrive, with classes closing when they reach 90% capacity and the remaining 10% taken from the waitlist. If space remains, entries for pay-as-you-go members will open on 15 February. Horse substitution fees are also being waived.

Organiser Stuart Buntine said he hopes this new system will mean “everybody will have an equal chance of competing at our events”.

“As with any new system there will be some lessons to learn, however we hope that this will enable riders to confidently enter early to ensure they get a run,” he said.

“For organisers, receiving the entries as early as possible will greatly assist with our financial planning and should reduce the risks of events cancelling, due to lack of financial viability, at the last minute.”

• Read the full summary of changes [PDF]

You might also be interested in:

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

10 competition legal whips in a variety of styles for every discipline

Calls for change to ensure all riders at five-star are ready for the challenge

Holding riders responsible for horse falls and removing fences – ideas to make eventing safer

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Successful Irish jockey Davy Russell discusses his “unplanned” comeback and shares his thoughts on the recent changes to the whip rule in British racing

Returning to the sport after announcing my retirement in December wasn’t something I’d planned, but it all just happened very quickly after Jack Kennedy broke his leg in a fall a couple of weeks ago.

This is such a crucial time of year and I hadn’t been off for all that long, and my knowledge of all the horses and owners is there. If I’d been finished for any longer, I don’t think I’d have come back, but I hadn’t lost any fitness and I didn’t have to do anything drastic to get back into the swing of things. So it was good timing in one sense, but far from an ideal situation to be in for poor Jack; hopefully we can make the best of it.

I had been enjoying my retirement and we’d got a couple of new ponies so the kids and I were having loads of fun. Luckily they understood the situation and took it well – we’re still getting stuck in with the ponies, but it’s such a busy time of year and it’ll get busier for the next couple of weeks.

I had switched off completely from the sport, but it was just a matter of flicking the switch back on again. I’m just taking it day by day and keeping the ship afloat until Jack returns, but riding my first winner again felt good – that’s what it’s all about and it’s the best feeling in the world when you get it right.

Education on the use of the whip

There has been much discussion about the introduction of new whip rules in racing and it’s a tough one – it’s hard to know where the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) are going with it.

Any correction in the right direction to educate riders on the use of the whip is the right thing. But the first set of rules that they’d planned to bring in were going to be very difficult to adhere to.

Putting a number on the amount of times you can use the whip is what I don’t agree with – instead, jockeys need to be educated when to use it appropriately. Whether you’re on a pony, a young horse or an old horse, using the whip at the wrong time can be as ineffective as it can be effective using it at the correct time. Carrying the stick is very important, so learning how to use it is vital and it must start at grassroots level.

For jockeys, it should come down to being taught when to use it at the appropriate time in a race – the BHA should be educating, rather than spinning this wheel of continually changing rules.

Looking beyond the big freeze

Ireland hasn’t been hit as hard by the recent cold snap – the rain for us is never far away. Our tracks can take a fair bit of beating, so we’ve managed to keep on racing.

We’re looking forward to Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham this weekend, where a plethora of very good clashes will be coming together, before all eyes turn to the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown, which always gives a good indication of where horses will be heading Festival-wise at the end of the season.

It’s certainly going to be unexpectedly busy!

● What are your thoughts on whip use in the sport? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county for the chance to have your views published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

• This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 26 January

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Meet the bright young jockey everyone’s talking about… (who has midwifery training and a territorial turkey called Trev)

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Kim Bailey on racing’s new whip rules: ‘Public perception is everything’

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Kim Bailey shares his thoughts on the new whip rules and listening to those on the front line

Racing has suffered some rather unflattering headlines over the past 12 months, such as “A year to save racing”. Attendances are crashing, field sizes are historically small, the Levy Board has warned of “challenging conditions ahead” as well as affordability checks when it comes to betting. But none more so than the impending rule announced last July on the persuader, more commonly known as the whip.

A 20-body steering group suggested dramatic changes in its use and new penalties for jockeys if the rules were broken. The biggest change was how the jockeys held the whip when riding a finish – the forehand position was to become illegal, and only the backhand position would be allowed.

Several months later and after plenty was written about the new rules, the jockeys, through the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), decided enough was enough and that the rules needed amending before it was too late.

First, they felt that the forehand position was safer, easier and had less impact on the horse as they were targeting the hindquarters of their horses, whereas the backhand position led to the ribs of horses coming in line, which is an area of the horse that is far less padded than the rump.

Discussions were held between the PJA and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). The PJA pushed for retaining the backhand position when using the whip and traded the number of hits and penalties. They also insisted that the word “discretion” be removed when being applied by the stewards around interpretation of whip offences – rules are rules.

Surprisingly, the ruling body backed down and the rules were adjusted. Many thought this to be a typical show of weakness from the BHA, but I commend them for listening to the people on the front line.

I believe racing has come away stronger – not that all will agree. But all I now ask is let’s stop talking and writing about the whip and get on with the sport we all enjoy.

Richard Forristal, editor of the Irish side of the Racing Post and an ex-jockey himself, said that the BHA has gone too far down this rabbit hole in an effort to placate a minority hell-bent on racing’s destruction, who have been emboldened by their succession of triumphs over the past decade or so.

Of course, in many respects he is right but on a broader note the whip is used by nearly every rider across the discipline in the equestrian world. Public perception is everything and hitting horses or animals in general will always create a cause for worry. At least we have moved a significant way forward since I first started training.

On a brighter note…

Let’s move to the brighter side of racing. Constitution Hill shines like a beacon on the hurdling stage while Bravemansgame was excellent in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

If you were lucky enough to spend a few hours in front of the ITV Racing coverage over the Christmas period, you would have seen some truly excellent racing from Ireland. Trainers Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott were hugely dominant, but what magnificent horses they have and what superb racing they produced.

The second half of the season is now upon us, with the Cheltenham Festival fast approaching and the evenings beginning to lengthen. Trainers are currently full of horses but the future is not looking so bright with staff shortages, pay rises and less prize money just some of the more prominent issues we’re facing.

Let’s not walk around with our eyes closed – we need to do something as racing still has so much to offer.

♦ What do you think about racing’s new whip rules? Let us know your views at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, local town and county to be considered for publication in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

• This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 12 January, 2023

You may also be interested in…

Last-minute changes to new whip rules for 2023

New whip rules to roll out in early 2023

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Planned changes to whip rules for horse racing in Britain have been amended following concerns from jockeys.

Jockeys will now be allowed to continue using the whip in the forehand position and the number of times a jockey is permitted to use a whip in a race will be reduced. Penalties will also be upped “above and beyond previous increases published in November”, under the British Horseracing Authority’s (BHA) revisions.

The remainder of the whip rule changes remain the same and the “soft launch” in jump racing will continue as planned on Monday (9 January), coming fully into force on 6 February. On the Flat, the soft launch starts on 27 February, with full implementation on 27 March.

The main focus of the new rules is for a more considered and judicious use of the whip for encouragement, and improved perception of its use.

Before Christmas, the BHA and chair of the whip consultation steering group reopened discussions about the whip to “address concerns” as new points came to light.

“This change follows additional concerns being raised by jockeys in the last few weeks, including some information which was not aired during the consultation or technical discussion phase,” said the BHA statement today (Wednesday, 4 January), adding that the change follows dialogue between the BHA, Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) and jockeys.

“This included the feedback that some jockeys who have suffered shoulder or collarbone injuries may find use of the whip solely in the backhand more challenging”

It added: “These changes do not, in the view of the BHA board, reflect a dilution of the package of rule changes, but instead a method of achieving the same outcomes through a different approach.”

What are the changes to the racing whip rules?

Changes to the British racing whip rules were confirmed in November and today’s announcement concerns amendments to those.

These fresh amendments remove the change in November which stated that the whip may only be used in the backhand position. It has been replaced by an amendment regarding the number of times a whip may be used in a race. The thresholds will now be reduced to a maximum of six times in a Flat race and seven times in a jump race. This is down from seven and eight times respectively.

Penalties for use above the permitted level, and misuse offences, such as using the whip above shoulder height, without giving the horse time to respond or in the incorrect place have, in most instances, been significantly increased from those agreed in November. For example, using the whip with excessive force will carry a minimum five-day ban (doubled in Class 1 and 2 races), up from the three-day minimum outlined previously.

The full package of measures announced in November included introducing disqualification as a penalty for the most serious breaches, plus a new whip referral committee responsible for “evaluation of all rides and any necessary sanction or action”.

David Jones, regulatory independent non-executive director for the BHA, and chair of the whip consultation steering group, said an “extremely thorough” consultation was carried out in 2021 and 2022. He added that this was followed by “extensive technical discussion” after the recommendations were published in July.

“Efforts were taken to listen to the views of jockeys from both codes, over many hours. This consultation has arguably been the most thorough undertaken by the BHA in relation to any specific regulatory reform,” said Mr Jones.

“To ensure that this process was suitably rigorous we pushed back the planned autumn implementation date for new rules.

“However, we are committed to listening to our participants, and when further views and information come to light very late in the day, and following the conclusion of that process, we were duty bound to consider it, and make representations to the BHA board accordingly.”

BHA chairman Joe Saumarez Smith added that the BHA previously endorsed the “clear set of objectives set out by the whip consultation steering group in the summer”.

“It became clear through the views raised in the last few weeks […] that the backhand-only rule could potentially have caused difficulties for some riders. However, in considering making changes it was essential that the BHA board were not doing anything to dilute the outcome of the whip report,” he said.

“The BHA board has therefore agreed these further changes, which resolve the issues with the backhand-only rule, but retain the objective of making whip use visibly more palatable to the public, therefore helping to safeguard engagement with the sport amongst our fans present and future.”

Mr Saumarez Smith said the BHA “now hopes and expects to see these rules being respected” and “visible change in whip 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.

“We are pleased that the PJA has agreed to review its consultation processes in the light of this,” he said.

H&H explainer… what is the racing whip and why are the rules changing?

Whips used in racing are foam-padded and energy absorbing, meaning they are cushioned upon impact.

There is only one accredited supplier in British racing, to ensure whips conform to required standards, and whips are checked by the clerk of the scales to ensure they are in good condition before they are used in a race.

The whip in racing is used for safety, correction and encouragement.

Keeping horses straight when travelling at speed is important when it comes to the safety of all horses and riders in a race, and the whip is one of the “tools” in a jockeys kit to do that – alongside their arms, legs, balance and judgement. “Encouragement” means using the whip as an aid to activate and focus the horse. Use of the whip to coerce is not permitted.

Horses are checked by racecourse vets on returning from a race to ensure they have not been marked by the whip.

Rules on using the whip in British racing have been in place for a long time. Mandatory cushioned whips were introduced in jump racing in Britain in 2004, and on the Flat in 2007. These were updated in 2009.

The last major review of whip rules, prior to the 2022 changes, was in 2011. In 2020, the British racing industry’s independent Horse Welfare Board recommended a consultation and review of penalties on whip use. The consultation started in 2021, details of the changes were released in July 2022 and timescales published in November 2022. Tweaks were made to these recommendations in early 2023, ahead of the soft launch in jump racing on 9 January 2023.

For more information on whip use in British racing, visit the British Horseracing Authority’s page explaining its use and regulation in more detail and view the video below of jockey Tom Scudamore and vet Sally Taylor

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

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British Eventing (BE) will bring in a major whip rule change next season, and a horse welfare panel will be formed to make recommendations that could come into effect from 2024.

The news broke at the organisation’s 2022 AGM held virtually last night (8 December).

BE chief executive Helen West told the meeting that from 2023, BE “will now insist” on only padded whips being carried for the jumping phases. This follows British racing, which has used padded whips only since 2004 in jump racing and 2007 on the Flat, and British Showjumping (BS), which changed its rules in 2020.

H&H has contacted BE to ask for further details about the rule, including any specific requirements that padded whips must meet.

Ms West added that the sport’s horse welfare panel will be “looking at a range of issues in 2023 and making recommendations for implementation in 2024”.

“Horse welfare is something that BE taken extremely seriously,” said Ms West, detailing many ways BE focuses on this area, from research to ground care, standards of emergency care providers and more.

“Although the horse-human partnership is an ancient one, for it to thrive long-term, equestrianism needs to ensure it continues to have the approval and acceptance of wider society.

“When an activity does have society’s approval or acceptance. It’s said to have a social licence to operate. The equestrian world needs to maintain and strengthen its social licence for it to have a future.

“This means the welfare of the horse must be put first – and seen to be put first all of the time — and it’s the responsibility of everyone who is involved with horses to demonstrate this.”

After the AGM, Eventing Riders Association president Bruce Haskell told H&H the padded whip decision was initiated by Ms West, and discussed and approved this year as “the right move” to step in line with BS.

Explaining how the welfare panel came about, he added: “As the evolution of the influence of social licence has come across this year, we’ve had a rider-led initiative where riders have asked BE for the formation of a welfare and ethics working group.”

That panel will include riders from grassroots to elite level, ensuring they are directly involved in helping make “best practice” changes. The priority is, as always, to have the horse front and centre of any decisions and that it is crystal clear when talking about “social licence”, that this is about the horse first and foremost.

“We believe that if we are involved in the conversation early, and we are part of the process of cultural change, we can then influence international eventing, rather than have change dictated to us by people who don’t understand the sport,” said Mr Haskell.

“This cannot be a marketing exercise. This has to be a complete examination of our best practice with the horse at the central point.”

He added that the intention is to drive a cultural change within eventing, which does not just focus on the whip. Rather it starts a bigger change that will influence training and development of horses and riders for generations to come.

“It has to be a process,” he said. “An internal review of our best practices is better than an external agency enforcing that on us.”

‘Not a simple beast’

The final 2023 fixtures calendar will be released on Monday (12 December), following a revamp of the allocation process (news, 27 October).

“The fixtures are not a simple beast,” said Ms West, adding that BE has looked at the geographic spread and listened to member feedback. “We are acutely aware that some areas have lost BE events. Adding new fixtures to the calendar is a delicate balance and requires us to work collaboratively with existing organisers.”

This 2023 affiliation agreement adds time restrictions to when BE organisers can run unaffiliated events (news, 3 November) – and it transpires that any organiser wishing to host international classes may not run fully fledged unaffiliated fixtures. Instead of unaffiliated, they are being asked to run “Go BE” fixtures instead. These fall under the BE umbrella, providing on-the-day scoring, and rosettes and prizes in kind can be offered, but results do not go on the official BE record, there is no prize money and they cannot count towards minimum eligibility requirements. But the possibility of expanding Go BE in future was hinted at.

“We have a big challenge obviously from [the] unaffiliated [market],” said BE chairman Mark Sartori.

“As far as I’m concerned, we are the national governing body and it’s our job as the board to ensure the future of the sport in the country and the right governance. We’ve made a lot of mistakes in the past. But the crown jewels of our events are [the] international. So the board has decided as we move forward that if you’d like to run the crown jewels, you need to be supporting BE.

“For all international events, if they traditionally run unaffiliated, we’re asking them to run [those] as Go BE. Interestingly, on that point, we’ve had more organisers [and] more events apply than ever before, and lots of unaffiliated events are coming back to the BE fold.

“There’s a balance here of looking after and supporting all our organisers, but also moving the sport forward. It’s our duty to look after the national governing body, but work with our organisers and offer them an alternative to unaffiliated.”

‘Reduce costs’

Following the millions spent on IT, BE is moving away from its bespoke software to using third-party systems where possible. BE director Di Brunsden took the meeting through the five-phase plan to “simplify” the organisation’s IT.

“It is too fragile and we have too many technologies involved,” she said.

“Obviously we are also trying to reduce costs. Because of the complexity, [the current IT system] is expensive to support and maintain.

“We are going to remove as much of the bespoke software that has been built wherever possible. BE is not a software company. It’s a national governing body. It is not big enough to support the amount of bespoke software that we actually have at the moment.”

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British racing’s new whip rules will come into play with a soft launch in January and will be fully enforceable in jump racing ahead of next year’s Cheltenham Festival.

These include disqualification for the most serious offences (where the whip is used four or more times above the permitted level), backhand use only, increased penalties and development of a whip review committee (news, 21 July).

The introduction of the new rules will be staggered. They will be first introduced in jump racing from 9 January with a four-week “bedding-in” period. This means jockeys will be asked to comply with the new regulations, but will not be subject to the new sanctions for breaking them until 6 February.

On the Flat, the bedding-in process will start on 27 February, with full implementation from 27 March – the start of the week in which the Flat turf season starts.

“While the initial proposals were made following an extensive consultation process, it was important that further, detailed discussions take place with those most affected by the proposals,” said David Jones, British Horseracing Authority (BHA) board member and chairman of the whip consultation steering group

“I am pleased, therefore, that sensible adjustments have been made where necessary, while the overall package of measures has been approved and will now go forward to implementation.

“This whole process, from start to finish, has always been about listening to the views of all our audiences and making decisions which best preserve the perception of our sport and the welfare of our horses, while also recognising the role that the padded whip plays in safe and fair race riding.”

The BHA’s reasoning behind the staggered approach is to make allowance for the number of Flat jockeys riding abroad over the winter. And it will also allow the implementation to be assessed in National Hunt before it is rolled out on the Flat ahead of the turf season.

The 20 revised whip rules and penalties were initially proposed by a whip consultation steering group, made up of people from across the industry including jockeys and trainers. These were approved by the BHA board in the summer, following consultation.

They then went through a round of technical discussions, resulting in a couple of adjustments.

It’s been clarified that Flat jockeys will be allowed to use the jump version of the whip, following concerns raised by some jockeys over using the whip in the backhand-only position and the risk of landing in the wrong place. Riders in Flat races will be allowed to use the jump version of the whip, which has a longer padded section, should they wish.

Decisions on disqualifications for whip offences will now be made by the whip review committee, away from the raceday, and will therefore not affect the outcome of a race for betting purposes. This follows concerns voiced by betting operators regarding the impact of potential disqualification of runners on raceday.

It is expected that the review committee will meet once a week to consider sanctions from all races, most likely on a Tuesday.

“We are extremely grateful for the engagement and feedback we have received through the period of technical discussions. The discussions were full and frank, hence the time they have taken to conclude,” said Brant Dunshea, BHA chief regulatory officer.

“The discussions quickly established that there was overall support for the vast majority of the recommendations. However, as expected there were some areas of concern raised. We have listened to the feedback we received and made adjustments to the initial proposals accordingly.

“We recognise that some of the new rules are going to take some time to get used to for some jockeys, which is why we have factored in time for communication and education as well as a bedding-in period before the rules and penalties are implemented in full.”

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

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Disqualification of horse and jockey for instances of “clear and flagrant disregard” for racing whip rules is expected to come into force this autumn.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced upgraded sanctions today (12 July), which come from 20 recommendations from the cross-industry whip consultation steering group.

These are headlined by increased sanctions for whip offences, disqualification for the most serious breaches, plus the fact that the whip must only be used in the backhand position.

The increased penalties include disqualification when the whip is used four times or more above the permitted level in all races, and double suspension periods when the whip is used above the permitted level in major races. The “double suspension” means whatever sanction a jockey would have received for the offence in a standard race will be doubled.

“It is inevitable that there will be those who think we have gone too far, and those who think we have not gone far enough,” said David Jones, chairman of the whip consultation steering group.

“I ask only that the considerable expertise that has provided its input to this process, and the scale of the task in finding consensus across such a broad range of complex factors, be considered as part of any discussion about these proposals.”

The main recommendations include use of whip for encouragement to be limited to the backhand position only, usage to remain at seven strikes on the Flat and eight over jumps.

The group has also recommended that a review panel is developed, which would be responsible for evaluating all rides and any necessary sanctions or actions. This would include directing jockeys to further training.

The BHA announcement said that the recommendations are designed to be a “package of measures” based on core principals and objectives that centre on five points. These are developing rules that foster “more considered and judicious” use of the whip for encouragement, improving “style and perception” of whip use, greater focus on education and improving standards, greater consistency in application of the rules, and introducing a penalty framework which acts as an “effective deterrent against misuse”.

The need for a review into racing whip rules was outlined in the racing industry’s Horse Welfare Board’s Life Well Lived five-year strategy, launched in February 2020. The findings were initially expected to be published that year, but were delayed owing to the pandemic.

The whip consultation steering group presented its 20 recommendations to the BHA board on 20 June, which were approved in full. A final cross-industry consultation period will now take place, which will look at the finer details and consider how a “bedding-in” period will work.

The BHA said its “current ambition” is that the new racing whip rules will come into effect in “late autumn”.

“It is our view that, as a result of this process, we are continuing to evolve standards of whip use, through a regulatory approach that will be demonstrably and visibly fair in terms of what they ask of our horses and the spirit of fair sporting competition,” said Mr Jones.

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers was a member of the steering group.

“It would have been easy for racing to carry out this review in its own bubble, but by including an equine welfare organisation within the steering group itself, they showed they were willing to consider other views and be asked some fundamental questions,” said Mr Owers.

“While the group did not agree unanimously on all the decisions which were made, the whole process was a thorough one and racing should be commended for this approach.

“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.”

Tom Scudamore and PJ McDonald were the jockeys who sat on the steering group, which also included trainers, plus members of the media, Government, racing industry and horse welfare sectors.

“The change to using the whip only in the backhand will be a significant one for many riders, and the revised penalties are certainly strict,” said Tom. “However, I believe the increase in penalties will have the correct deterrent on those riding.

“When the whip is used in the backhand position, the natural arc in which you use it will mean that it is more frequently landing in the right place with the appropriate amount of force.

“The result will be visibly improved racing, which has not lost the important benefits of being able to properly focus a horse at the end of a race, or when jumping over obstacles, which is what the padded ProCush whip is intended to be used for.”

PJ added: “While as jockeys we would prefer not to have seen penalties for whip offences significantly increased, we also have to accept that steps needed to be taken to prevent breaches of the whip rules.

“I am pleased the introduction of the review panel will increase consistency of officiating, and focus not only on penalties, but also improving standards of riding.

“The introduction of disqualification for certain offences is a major step, but I think we all share the same hope and expectation which is that it is a rule that will rarely, if ever, need to be used as it will serve as a significant deterrent to jockeys using the whip too frequently.”

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Pammy Hutton discusses social licence, and the plight of riding schools

In 2022, we all need social licence – public acceptance that we’re doing the right thing – to enjoy our horses.

The internet has changed everything, of course. On the plus side, it means we can view competitions online, a recent highlight being Carl Hester’s masterful riding of a very hot En Vogue at Keysoe CDI in March. I remain in total awe of Carl, and truly hope softness and harmony remain key to dressage worldwide. Carl is in a class of his own.

On the other hand, how long before, for example, working a horse from the ground with a whip to develop the piaffe (without fear-induced adrenaline) is considered by those watching on social media to be “cruel” or “abusive”? It’s our job collectively to educate the public about equine instincts and behaviour. It’s a huge subject that needs a united stance to explain that, so often, it’s not the whip but the touch.

Video footage of Sir Mark Todd encouraging a horse with a tree branch didn’t look great. He’s among the world’s best horsemen, and he apologised; but the ceaseless condemnation over social media became, for me, the greater crime.

If we’re not careful, all riding will be done dressed as snowflakes, with no competitions and possibly never riding at all.

Do your research

This brings to me riders’ mental health. Exactly who should one go to for help? In my book, there are too many unqualified experts out there jumping on the bandwagon and giving advice.

The title “sport and exercise psychologist” is a protected term, making it illegal for anyone to use it unless they are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.

However, it is possible to become a ”sports performance coach” by completing an online course and gaining a diploma. And, for some, that grand-sounding “diploma” is enough.

Getting help with mental health is a must. But, like choosing a therapist for your horse, it involves homework.

We need more riding schools

The sad news that the excellent Contessa Riding Centre has closed is a stark reminder of how tough it is for riding schools. Rising prices, staff shortages and complete disrespect for licensing laws by some freelance coaches who think it’s OK to teach using their own horses are all contributing to riding schools’ demise.

The illegal practice of people encouraging people to pay cash to ride their own horse is not helping those who pay to be legitimate. Many current top equestrian stars started their riding careers in a riding school, let’s not forget.

How wonderful to see four new British Horse Society Fellows – Lisa Morris, Kylie Roddy, David Sheerin and Jayne Smart – gain their qualification recently. They’ve followed diverse pathways, but all accessed help along the way in a riding school.

Change of scenery

It was good to get out of my home area to compete recently. Did I have a lucky day? Perhaps. Or was it a fresh pair of eyes from a List One judge?

On a show day, I usually turn right on approaching Cirencester; it seems turning left to drive to a new venue worked. Meanwhile, a correctional shoulder support has really helped my posture.

On the way home from the show, the beleaguered Ukrainian equestrian community popped into my mind. What they wouldn’t give for such a lovely day out.

Tim Downes and I raised £5,000 through a webinar, with another scheme coming soon. It’s fantastic to see UK equestrians going above and beyond for the good of the horse. Well done to all those working hard on every front.

> Do you agree with Pammy about our sport’s social licence? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com

• This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 14 April

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The British Horseracing Authority has announced and explained how its consultation on whip use will work. H&H was present at the launch to find out more

CHANGES to whip use and related sanctions in racing are likely to come into force next year.

The news came as the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) launched its delayed public consultation on whip use in the sport on 1 July.

Brant Dunshea, BHA chief regulatory officer, stressed this is “not a polarised yes-no debate” or “referendum” over whether the whip stays or goes, rather it is a question of how it is used and what the sanctions are for misuse. But he added that some reform is likely and “nothing is off the table entirely”.

“What is clear is that the whip is an issue of public trust, and the sport must be alive and responsive to the view of the public, who are our current and future customers,” he said, adding that it is also a question of sporting fairness.

“Society must trust horse sport to be ethical and reflect its values to maintain acceptance. We acknowledge that. The long-term health of British racing has never been more important in light of the current situation we are all living through, with regard to Covid and its impacts over the last 18 months. Public trust in the sport will play a pivotal role in the sport’s recovery and plans for growth.”

He added: “While nothing has been predetermined and no decision has been made – there are no options that are off the table – I think it would be a reasonable expectation that there will be some level of reform as a consequence of this process.”

Questions include whether participants should be disqualified for whip rule breaches.

“It’s important to note the whip is widely recognised as a potential aid for safely controlling and instructing horses, and whips are carried in most equine sports for that purpose,” said Mr Dunshea.

“It is for that reason the horse welfare board recommended that the consultation should look at the rules under which the padded whips are used, which is currently for encouragement, correction and safety, and the penalties for breaches of those rules, rather than recommending a debate on whether the whip should be banned outright.”

The first phase of the consultation is an online questionnaire, open to all, running for 10 weeks.

Further phases include “detailed discussions” with relevant individuals, and focus groups with volunteers. Mr Dunshea confirmed the steering group is seeking views of the wider equestrian sporting world as part of this.

There are already strict rules on the use of whips in British racing. The last reform was in 2011 and Mr Dunshea said the need to continually look at areas such as this, in the light of how society and views shift, is something racing acknowledges it needs to do as a “progressive, modern sport”.

The proposed timeline is for the new rules to be decided in January 2022, followed by a “bedding-in” phase, and changes implemented in the spring, after the Grand National and ahead of the first Classics.

The consultation was a recommendation by the racing industry’s horse welfare board. It was originally set to be concluded by October 2020, but was delayed by Covid.

BHA chief executive Julie Harrington said the sport must have rules and penalties that are “viewed as fair” to both participants and the betting public.

“At a time when societal and political views are constantly changing, the future health of our sport will depend in part on the maintenance of social licence and the trust that the public and politicians have in us,” she said.

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Only one type of whip will be allowed at British Showjumping (BS) competitions from next year in a major change to BS rules, made to promote horse welfare.

From 1 January 2020, only cushion-type whips will be allowed, while changes have also been made to the governing body’s spur rules.

BS said the changes, which apply to all members, came about as a result of discussions between the officials’ working groups, and the BS national sport committee, which have also looked at rules in place in other equestrian disciplines and in racing.

BS chief executive Iain Graham said: “As a national governing body of equestrian sport one of our primary objectives is to ensure equine welfare is always paramount and we see the introduction of this rule as a positive way of meeting this”.

The new rule also states: “Only one whip may be carried and no substitute for a whip may be carried. A whip, if carried, must be held in the hand by the handle with the handle at the top.”

Zebra Products is the UK distributor for Fleck, one of the companies making whips that will be allowed under the new BS rule.

Managing director Simon Middleton told H&H he thinks the change is positive.

“They’re cushioned, so they’re kinder,” he said. “They’re thicker and padded, and I think this is a good decision — a lot of eventers use them already.”

Continues below…

Unique whip aimed at keeping riders safe on the road

‘It will certainly help drivers spot riders and give them more space’

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Mr Middleton added that Fleck is to look at manufacturing a whip aimed at being more attractive to showjumpers while complying with the new BS rule.

BS is also making changes to its spur rules, so only dummy, rollerball, rowelled, hammerhead and Prince of Wales spurs will be allowed. This new rule states that the overall length of any spur may not exceed 4cm for seniors, while rowels must have a diameter of between 1cm and 2cm.

In pony competitions, spurs must not be longer than 2.5cm and rowelled spurs are forbidden.

For more on the rule change, and recent research into whip and spur use, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Oliver Townend was given a verbal warning for “abuse of horse/excessive use of whip” at the Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials, less than four months after the furore surrounding his whip use at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

The British world number one eventer was spoken to on 26 August at Blair, following an official warning for over-use of the whip on both his rides across country at Badminton in May.

Oliver said the horse he was riding was “developing a habit of running out”, and that he did so in the cross-country warm-up at Blair.

“I wanted to nip this habit in the bud by correcting him,” he added.

“I gave this explanation to the ground jury on the day, which they accepted. The horse performed well and is happy, healthy and now enjoying a break.”

The day after Badminton, at which he finished in second and fifth place on Cooley SRS and Ballaghmor Class respectively, Oliver released a statement “apologising wholeheartedly” for his riding “if it looked bad”.

“I absolutely love my horses, and their welfare is my top priority,” he added. “They are both young and inexperienced at this level, and I did have to work hard to keep their concentration and get them home in one piece as they tired in the heavy going. I hope that the way they both showjumped today demonstrates how fit, well and happy they are.”

He later released a second apology, saying he had watched his rounds on film, and that he was “so disappointed and upset” about his riding, which “didn’t look good and I don’t want to look like that”.

Continues below…

‘I love my horses’: Oliver Townend apologises after ‘ugly’ Badminton riding

The rider has issued two apologies following his warning for over-use of the whip

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It is not clear which horse the Blair warning concerns: Oliver rode Tregilder in the CIC3* and Cillnabradden Evo in the Event Rider Masters, finishing first and second respectively, and Crumlinpark Genie in the one-star, finishing in 45th place.

Louise Evans was given a yellow card at Blair, for “dangerous riding/continuing after three refusals”. Louise declined to comment when approached by H&H.

James Sommerville was also given a yellow card, for jumping the ropes after he came through the cross-country finish. He told H&H he felt the area in which to slow down was short.

“My horse was pulling quite hard and was strong, and I had nowhere to turn at the end,” he said. “The ground jury said I should have turned left but my horse was still travelling and I felt I’d have had to do a 10-metre half-circle; I didn’t even consider that because of the speed we were going. He popped the ropes and I managed to pull up.

“They had to yellow-card me and you have to take things on the chin but it wasn’t intentional by any means.”

Blair event director Alec Lochore, Event Director said: “In response to rider comments in 2017 the pulling-up area has been lengthened to more than 130m from the finish line, and was not strung to the very end. No rider expressed concern with the distance provided before the cross country phase started.

“To the best of our knowledge James Sommerville was the only rider to have an issue with pulling up. We will continue to review this area to ensure that is is both fair and sensible and, as always, welcome constructive feedback from the riders.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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New rules on whip use and blood on the horse have been put forward as part of the FEI’s proposed eventing rules for 2019.

The international governing body for equestrian sport has appeared to try to tighten up the rules regarding abuse of the whip and the resulting penalties available to ground juries.

This is the first draft of rule changes for next year and will be consulted on by national federations and other stakeholders before a second draft is published in the autumn. These are then finalised and voted on at the FEI’s general assembly in November and, if approved, will come into force on 1 January 2019.

The proposals reduce the amount of times the whip is allowed to be used for any one incident, from three to two, and misuse of the whip can now include multiple excessive uses between fences.

The FEI has added a line, stating that if a horse’s skin is broken or has visible marks, the use of the whip will always be deemed to be excessive.

It has also changed to wording of the rule, article 526.3, to state that excessive and/or misuse of the whip is “not limited to” the nine scenarios it lays out.

A note from the FEI eventing committee explains the whip rules have been “reviewed to allow stricter options for ground jury decision on cross-country”.

All cases of excessive whip use will automatically be sanctioned with a yellow warning card or stronger sanctions, if these changes are approved.

Rules surrounding “athlete induced blood” on the horse have also been updated.

A statement from the eventing committee clarifies that this stems from “incidents during events and [the] decision of the [FEI] bureau in June 2018 to line up [blood rules] with dressage and jumping for the respective tests”.

Should these proposals be accepted, the ground jury will be able to stop a combination during their dressage test if they spot blood on the horse. If the horse shows fresh blood, he will be eliminated.

On the cross-country, the ground jury will consult with the vet over minor cases of blood in the mouth or minor bleeding, on a case-by-case basis.

For the showjumping phase, horses with blood on the flanks or bleeding in the mouth will be eliminated. Officials can authorise rinsing or wiping of the mouth in minor cases of blood in the mouth, for example where a horse appears to have bitten his tongue or lip, but any further evidence of blood will result in elimination.

Article continues below…

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These new proposals also tie in with suggested changes to yellow warning cards and recorded warnings.

“Recorded verbal warnings” would be changed to simply “recorded warnings”, if the proposals are accepted, and automatic suspensions of riders given more than one yellow card in a year have been increased from two to four months.

“All cases of minor blood on horse caused by the athlete either in the mouth or on flanks from spurs shall be sanctioned by a recorded warning as a minimum or by stronger sanction(s),” states the proposal.

“All cases of excessive use of whip, as defined above, shall automatically be sanctioned with a yellow warning card or by stronger sanction(s).

“A yellow warning card will be systematically awarded if the athlete continues after three refusals [on the cross-country].

“Should the same athlete receive more than one recorded warning for a case of athlete induced blood on a horse within three years, he will automatically be issued a yellow warning card.

“Two recorded warnings for the same offence will result in a yellow warning card.”

For more information and reaction to the proposed 2019 FEI rule changes and 2020 Olympic formats, don’t miss next week’s issue of Horse & Hound — out 19 July.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Jason Webb of Australian Horse Training is a renowned UK-based horse trainer with a passion for starting young horses, solving equine problems and teaching riders of all abilities and ambitions develop and strengthen the partnership they have with their horses. Here Jason gives one H&H forum user advice on whether they need a whip

Q: “Do I need a whip? My mare has just been broken. I do not ride with a whip out hacking but use a schooling whip in the school or when riding alone. I never have to use it but holding it seems enough. What are your thoughts on riders carrying whips? Do they really need them?”

A: Whips can be a contentious subject — here are my thoughts.

Whips are like anything used correctly they are a useful tool for some horses. I know some people are strongly opposed to whips and it can go as far as should I use my legs on a horse, should I use a bit, should I even be riding this animal? My take on all this is a domesticated horse should have a symbiotic relationship with their owner. They try for us and in return we care for them.

What it comes down to is your intentions. When I use a whip it’s to help create a more positive and willing horse.

Before using a whip I ask myself:

What is the horse’s attitude?

If a horse is not trying then I will use the whip with just enough energy to create a forward push. One half of the problems with people using whips is they are not prepared to project themselves and use enough energy to generate this push. If a horse learns they don’t have to respond because they feel you don’t mean what you say, then they will quickly become disrespectful which can lead onto dangerous behaviour.

The other half of problems caused by whips is using them with the wrong intentions — as a punishment. Whips are used for movement and movement is the key to having a horse with a willing attitude.

Continued below…

Related articles:

• H&H forum: find out what H&H readers suggested
• Read more information on whips
• Read Jason Webb’s H&H blog

Is what I’m asking reasonable?

A reasonable ask is something that a horse is physically and mentally capable of. Time and energy creates pressure as we know, and I have no problem with pressure. I think it is necessary in shaping a consistent horse and creating change where necessary. It’s using the right amount of energy, which could be generated by a whip, at the right time to create a movement, which is most important. This requires empathy, understanding and above all experience.

There was a rule bought into racing limiting the use of a whip in the home straight while racing. All things considered, this was a good move because some horses where having their hearts broken. This happens when a horse is trying and doing all it physically can and they are still being asked for more and because they can’t, they give up. This is not a reasonable ask.

I would say most jockeys I watch in racing use a whip well with rhythm and feel, and most know when their horse is at its limit. But as with most rules, they are made for the few.

Is my communication clear?

Using a whip with some horses may be necessary to create a willing attitude, particularly as they are asked to apply themselves more. This being said all riders and handlers should be working away from a whip. To do this you need good communication.

The first part of this is using a whip in a sequence ‘cue, click, tell’, the tell being the whip. Using a whip in this sequence will mean your horse learns to respond to your cues before you use the whip.

The most important thing in moving away from the use of a whip and not needing one again is to ride forward without fear or expectation in the beginning and to ride with perfect balance, timing and feel in the end. Very few people get to this end point but everybody should be trying.

Something I have learnt over the years is that horses are happiest when their world is consistent. If your horse is responding inconsistently to your aids then there will be doubt. This could be doubt in what your doing or doubt in what they should be doing. Either way you will land up in a potentially negative place. If using a whip at the right time, in the right place, helping to maintain consistency, I know I am helping my horse stay in a positive place. If you have kids, you’ll be particularly aware of this!

You might find this video helpful too.

For more information on Jason Webb and his online training base Your Horsemanship, where you can learn a foundation in horse training with online lessons in groundwork, starting, and ridden fundamentals, visit his website

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

It is not unusual for jockeys to be banned for use of the whip — but less common for a rider to use one on a fellow jockey.

A race in the USA became very heated between two jockeys, resulting in one of them whipping her rival in the home straight.

The argument happened during a Flat race at Will Rogers Downs racecourse in Oklahoma.

Turning for home, the pair looked to be fighting for space and Freddy Jose Manrrique-Guerrero, riding Oliver G, appeared to elbow Natalie Turner.

The lady jockey, aboard War Chirp, reacted by attempting to strike Freddy Jose three times with her whip.

The altercation did little to boost their chances and Natalie finished in fifth, with Freddy Jose behind in sixth.

Natalie has not yet been sanctioned, however Freddy Jose — who initially elbowed Natalie — received a 30-day ban from the stewards and ordered to attend an anger management course. A punishment the jockey did not dispute.

The in-race comments read that “War Chirp was placed in tight quarters entering the top of the stretch exchanging light contact with Oliver G and coming close to that one’s left-handed whip, attempting to strike that rival with the whip appearing to make contact on at least once occasion, then went evenly.

“Oliver G crowded War Chip a bit leaving the turn and was put to a left-handed whip in very close quarters to that rival, then finished up evenly.”

In 2015, two other jockeys in the USA were involved in a whip scandal when Angel Castillo and Pierre Hernandez Ortega were caught up in a mid-race dispute. Having lost his whip, Angel leaned over and stole Pierre’s whip from his hands before finishing second.

This side of the Atlantic, Lester Piggott — after dropping his own whip during a race at Deauville — famously grabbed one off rival Alain Lequeux. Lester was demoted from second to third by the French stewards.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

January is always a reasonably quiet month and the weather has been so bad that quite a few meetings have been cancelled, which is frustrating.

It was great that Chepstow’s Welsh Grand National went ahead on 9 January, and it’s thanks to the British Horseracing Authority and the racecourse that we are able to reschedule these big races.

It was quite a slog, a real test and there was nowhere to hide. You could barely recognise the jockeys when they came back they were so covered in mud.

We’ve said it before but it is nice to see the older horses winning. Mountainous won the race two years ago, so to regain the title was fantastic to see.

It was also good for trainer Kerry Lee, who has just taken over the licence from her father, Richard, in Herefordshire. For her to have the Welsh National winner, plus a winner with Bishops Road at Sandown (2 January) and the Warwick Classic Chase winner, Russe Blanc, last weekend (16 January) — all within her first few months — is an achievement. It’s a real family effort and I’ve ridden plenty of winners for her father, so it’s great to see.

Reaching a landmark

I was thrilled to reach 3,000 winners under National Hunt Rules (Richard is the only jump jockey aside from AP McCoy to reach this figure).

It was a slight surprise — I’d hoped I would reach that number this year but I didn’t realise I was quite that close until the press highlighted it the night before.

It seems a long time ago since I had my first winner, Rusty Bridge, back in 1994, trained by my granddad. If you had asked me then if I thought I would ever reach 3,000 I’d have said you were mad.

It’s fantastic but it’s all down to other people really: Dave Roberts my agent for securing me rides, and trainers such as David Nicholson and Philip Hobbs. I’ve been lucky to have massive support.

Philip’s horses are in good form at the moment. Champagne West and Fingal Bay should be out in the next couple of weeks and are ones to watch out for.

Balthazar King, who is such a popular character, is in wonderful order and is still full steam ahead for the cross-country race at the Cheltenham Festival. He has fully recovered from his fall at Aintree last season and is back schooling at home.

When the weather improves we’ll take him for a spin at a cross-country course to let him enjoy a play over all the different fences he might find at Cheltenham. He’ll be more than ready come March; he’s an enthusiastic type and is loving life.

Whip rules are working

After the King George VI there was some backlash regarding overuse of the whip, when both Paddy Brennan on the winner Cue Card and Ruby Walsh on runner-up Vautour picked up bans and fines.

There has been the urge from some to try and change the rules, but I think, on the whole, they work. Jockeys are taking well to the current rules, which were beefed up in 2011, and always do their best, so it was good to hear the news that whip offences were down 9% last year on 2014.

It’s always going to be hard with the same rules for a 2m hurdle on fast ground and a 4m chase on heavy, but jockeys have worked hard to adhere to them.

I don’t think jockeys go for the whip now unless they really need it, and as we’re not breaking the rules as much I think it puts riders in a better light.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 21 January 2016

The spotlight has fallen once again on the use of the whip in racing — and the need for equestrian sport in general to promote the best possible image to the public — following recent high profile whip bans.

Cue Card’s thrilling King George VI Chase win on Boxing Day (pictured top) was at risk of being overshadowed by jockey Paddy Brennan picking up an 11-day ban and £4,200 fine for overuse of the whip. Ruby Walsh, who was second on Vautour, received a two-day ban.

A week later Tom Scudamore received a seven-day ban aboard Soll at Sandown.

Both races were televised on Channel 4, sparking debate as to the place of the whip, and whether if a whip has been overused the winners should keep the victory.

At the World Horse Welfare conference in November former champion jockey John Francome echoed his previous calls to ban the whip in racing. “Does it look good? Definitely not,” he said. “People only really see horses on the television or at the races now and no one wants to see them hit. It’s important to improve public perception.”

H&H columnist Richard Johnson disagreed with the idea of a ban, saying that the whip is an important tool to make a horse concentrate, adding: “No jockey would ever intend to harm a horse.”

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) said that there is “no welfare issue” with the use of the “energy-absorbing whip” that is used in Britain “if used correctly”.

The BHA’s Robin Mounsey added: “Britain is among the world leaders in terms of the regulation of use of the whip.”

In 2011 the industry came under fire after the Grand National and Jason Maguire’s overuse of the whip on winner Ballabriggs. The incident prompted strong reaction, leading to a review, and tougher rules were brought in, limiting whip use to eight times in a race on the Flat and nine times over jumps, with a focus on how the whip is used.

“The number of whip offences has decreased by 40% since the introduction of the new rules in early 2012, despite an effective halving of the threshold for use,” added Mr Mounsey. “However, the fact that these thresholds are set at such a low level, combined with the air-cushioned design of the whip, mean that it is highly unlikely that anything but severe breaches of the rules could result in a welfare issue.”

The BHA is to look at recent data to “ascertain whether the penalty structure is providing enough deterrent to prevent ‘win-at-all-costs’ style riding”.

“If necessary we can look at ways to alter that penalty structure to ensure the deterrent is sufficient, while remaining fair,” said Mr Mounsey.

John said that by banning the whip jockeys would also be forced to think more when they are riding.

Jockeys would have to “keep both hands on their reins, lengthen their stirrups and work around 20% harder,” he added.

This is an opinion similar to that of dressage rider Richard Davison, who told H&H that if draw reins were banned riders would have to find “more effective techniques to train their horses”.

John believes a whip should still be carried for safety in terms of steering.

World Horse Welfare told H&H it does not believe that the whip should be banned in racing as it fulfils an important safety role.

“However, the general public are increasingly questioning its use, which is why we believe this deserves a greater debate,” said the charity’s Roly Owers.

“Too many jockeys are still breaking the whip rules, which places horse welfare at risk and fuels concerns among the public.”

Have your say

Horse&Hound, 14 January ’16

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This week's new to the market round up features products from Woof Wear, British Equine, Kanyon Outdoor, Ariat and Fleck.

Young Horse Compliant Showjumping Boots

These lightweight, breathable showjumping boots offer superb protection against strike injuries to the vulnerable tendon and fetlock areas while allowing unrestricted movement of the joints. Great for use on every yard, the Pro Showjumping boots are suitable for day-to-day schooling to top-level competition with the fetlock boots meeting FEI Young Horse Compliancy regulations. Available in black or white.

RRP: £40 (tendon), £25 (fetlock)

Visit: www.woofwear.com

Proto-Flex horse collagen

Equine collagen is a natural feed supplement to maintain and support joint mobility and aid muscular repair. At British Equine we have developed a scientifically formulated collagen peptide, which is designed to promote joint health and aid muscular and connective tissue repair in horses, the result is Proto-Flex. This hydrolysed collagen peptide is a unique formulation that will change the way you supplement your horses joint health.

RRP: from £29.99

Visit: www.british-equine.co.uk

Gorse X-Rider

This premium waterproof country riding boot from Kanyon Outdoor is available in brown or black full grain leather with a K-Dry lining up to the calf panel, allowing the foot to breathe naturally yet remain waterproof. It is available in three calf fittings for the perfect fit and optimum comfort so they look great, feel great and are built to last.

RRP: from £139.95

Visit: www.kanyonoutdoor.com

Ariat Muse Down Coat

If you are looking for something super cosy, stylish and practical then look no further than the Ariat Muse Down Coat. The three quarter length style offers great protection against the elements with its water and wind resistant outer, meanwhile the super snug channel quilted down insulation is not only flattering but most importantly traps warmth in to prevent the cold from taking its toll. Features include a fashionable flannel trim, inner storm cuff, zippered hand pockets and a 2-way zipper making it comfortable and easy to wear, whether you are hitting the high street or embracing the countryside.

RRP: £159.99Visit: www.ariat.com or call 01367 242818

Carbon Composite Dressage Whip from Fleck

The new Carbon Composite dressage whip, made from high-tech carbon material, weighs less than 50 grams – making it perfect for riders who seek effortless handling. It’s slim design and non-slip PU grip helps to ensure perfect balance, all in all aiding a relaxed ride. The Carbon Composite dressage whip is available in black and in lengths from 100-140cm.

 RRP: £26

Visit: www.zebraproducts.co.uk or call 01352 763350

Rider Repair Pure Collagen

Rider Repair is a special blend of type I and III collagen designed specifically for athletes and riders. Collagen is a simple protein made up of amino acids, responsible for skin support, firmness elasticity and the production of new skin cells.

RRP: £29.99 (90 tablets)

Visit: www.british-equine.co.uk

German whip manufacturer Fleck has launched a new colourful jumping whip.

The Springstock Jumping Bat is lightweight and is handmade in Germany. The patent leather wrapped design is available in various colour options including the Team GB colours of red, white and blue.

The end of the bat is made of black lacquered patent leather and the hand-grip is made from hardwearing non-slip, black rubber.

“It has been designed to appeal to the smart, fashion conscious rider who wants a quality product that looks a bit different,” said a spokesman for the company.

“In a stunning array of leather patent colours this is one whip that you won’t get mixed up with anyone else’s.”

The whip comes in one size and is priced at £16.

Fore more information visit www.zebraproducts.co.uk  

Listen for the sound of jaws hitting the floor in the Shires as a modern version of the traditional hunting whip goes on sale.

Its creator Duncan Bradbury admits that, in the eyes of many, he has committed a “heinous crime”.

His Jubilee crop has a traditional antler horn handle at one end for opening gates, but at the other a whip, “not just a floppy bit of leather on the end of a rigid stick”. So it can be used in the same way as a riding crop.

Mr Bradbury came up with the idea after finding a hunting whip impractical when riding a young horse.

A straw poll of friends in the Cattistock and Portman revealed 90% never used the leather thong, so a hybrid was born.

“An awful lot of people in the field carry an ordinary whip; these are becoming gaudier and brighter. This seemed to be a way of preserving a sense of tradition,” he told H&H.

What do you think? Let us know at HHletters@ipcmedia.com

From £90. For more information visit www.bespokehuntingwhips.co.uk

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (28 December 2012)

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After threats of strike action by riders and Richard Hughes temporarily handing in his jockey’s licence, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has amended its new whip rules.

The decision was announced on Friday (21 October), just 11 days after the rules were introduced.

Jockeys will no longer lose their riding fee and will only forfeit their prize-money percentage if they receive a ban of seven days or more -previously it had been just three days (news, 20 October).

“If a jockey has used the whip just one more time than allowed his prize-money percentage will remain – but he will be suspended,” said a spokesman for the BHA.

The rule limiting jockeys to five hits in the final furlong will be discarded but the limit of seven strikes per Flat race and eight in a jumps race remains.

But the board “emphasised that these numbers must be viewed as upper limits and not a target number for jockeys”.

These changes mean Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon – who lost out on £50,000 after striking Cirrus Des Aigles six times in the final furlong at Ascot on 15 October – will now receive his winnings.

“As with all of the Authority’s work, these adjustments will be subject to constant monitoring” said a spokesman.

He added that those who had already fallen foul of the rules would have their prize-money and riding fee returned where deemed appropriate.

Kevin Darley from the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) said his members still had some “serious concerns”.

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Three jockeys have been handed bans for overuse of the whip within the first three days of the new rules coming in.

On the first day of the new regime (Monday 10 October) Kieren Fox was given a 15-day suspension after using his whip 11 times on his winning-mount Orthodox Lad.

In the same race, at Salisbury, Richard Hughes – who finished third on Swift Blade – was handed a five-day ban for striking the horse six times in the final furlong.

Under new stricter rules the whip must not be used more than seven times in a Flat race – eight in a jumps race and not more than five in the final furlong, or after the last obstacle.

Mr Fox said he was not appealing and had to “take it on the chin” but that was sure he wouldn’t be the last to receive a ban.

Mr Hughes said he’d used the whip as a corrective measure.

Both jockeys also forfeited their riding fee and percentage of prize money.

And today (Wednesday 12 October) Natalia Gemelova became the latest jockey to receive a ban after finishing second on For Life at Lingfield.

She did not exceed the seven-stroke limit – but used them all in the last furlong. She will be suspended for seven days.

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Jockeys will face stricter rules when using the whip from next month – and tougher penalties when they misuse it.

The new regulations were announced today (27 September) by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

The amount of times the whip can be used during a race has been “roughly halved”, with jockeys only able to use the whip seven times in a Flat race (eight times over jumps) and only five times in the last furlong or after the last jump.

A jockey who has incurred a suspension of three days or more will lose his riding fee and winnings. There will also be increased penalties for repeat offenders and any jockey that is found in breach on three occasions could face losing their licence.

A review into the use of the whip in the sport – Responsible Regulation: a Review of the use of the whip in Horseracing – was launched in November 2010.

In April a heated debate about whip use was sparked after Grand National-winning jockey Jason Maguire received a five-day ban for overuse of the whip on Ballabriggs. The BHA said it received more complaints about his riding than about the death of two horses during the race.

The review found that the use of the whip “remains appropriated and necessary” for the safety of both jockeys and horses but that current penalties weren’t effective enough and the amount of jockeys breaking the rules was “unacceptable”

“The message is loud and clear – we will continue to lead the way in responsible regulation and will make difficult decisions in the best interests of the sport,” said Paul Roy, chairman of the BHA.

Professor Tim Morris, director of equine science and welfare, added: “Use of the whip is, understandably, a sensitive issue. Safeguarding the welfare of racehorses is a priority.”

As well as consulting industry bodies, including the National Trainers Federation, Professional Jockeys Association and British Racing School, welfare bodies the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare were also involved.

The RSPCA has “cautiously welcomed” the new rules but said it will monitor the implementation.

“We hope these changes will mean that the few jockeys who have misused the whip will think twice in future. I hope that from now on jockeys will keep their use of the whip to a minimum. Otherwise they making the sport of horseracing appear cruel,” said spokesman David Muir.

But activist group Animal Aid said: “The proposed changes increase the penalties but they provide no genuine deterrence,” adding they are still pushing for a total ban.

The new guidelines and penalties will come into effect on Monday 10 October.

A list of 19 recommendations and a 70-page report has been released. To view the full report as a PDF file visit: http://www.britishhorseracing.com/whip-review/WhipReview.pdf

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A new crystal whip has been launched by Pink Equine, bringing a touch of sparkle to this winter.

“Embrace the dressage diva, those that like a touch of glitter on their equestrian attire will love the crystal whips,” said a spokesman for the company.

“They are ideal for a last minute Christmas present, something fun to use at competitions or simply to add a classy touch of glamour to everyday riding.”

The whips are designed by Snowbee and feature chrome capped, leather handles with four rows of crystals.

The crystal whips come in either 65cms, priced at £15.95, or 110cms, priced at £16.95.

For more information visit: www.pinkequine.com

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Chepstow-based show jumper Gemma Plumley, 22, has been saddled with a £50,000 bill after losing an appeal to overturn a three-month ban from national competition.

In 2007, BSJA disciplinary stewards found Miss Plumley guilty of hitting her mare Memmory on the head with a whip at Unex Towerlands on 3 June 2006. She was fined £750 with a three-month ban.

The rider unsuccessfully appealed to the British Equestrian Federation in January 2008, then launched an appeal to the BSJA tribunal, which was heard on 14, 15 and 22 May this year. The BSJA announced the result of Miss Plumley’s appeal on 12 October.

Miss Plumley’s solicitor, Jacqueline Brown, told H&H: “Gemma maintains her innocence and is disappointed not to have been vindicated, but sees little to be gained by further deliberation.”

During the appeal, the BSJA heard allegations from a collecting ring steward and two judges that Miss Plumley hit the horse around the neck, head and behind as many as 15 times.

But Miss Plumley contends she administered three sharp blows to the horse’s rear and one to the shoulder as a disciplinary measure.

The BSJA panel ruled that as Miss Plumley has not been in trouble since the incident they would suspend the three-month ban until 31 May 2010.

If there are no further disciplinary incidents in that time the ban will be written off.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (22 October, ’09)

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Whips containing a microchip are being distributed to all professional jockeys by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to determine how effectively the whips absorb shock and how often they should be replaced.

The whip is a modified version of the already mandatory cushioned, shock-absorbing, foam-tipped whip introduced for jump jockeys in 2004 and for Flat jockeys two years ago (news, 5 April 2007).

The whips have been developed by Old Mill Saddlery in Northern Ireland with input from the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) and the RSPCA. The first batch, funded by the BHA, will be distributed in the next few months.

Tim Morris, director of equine science and welfare for the BHA, said: “Microchips will allow objective assessment of whip age, the number of races in which it has been used and ultimately avoid whip wear that might affect horse welfare.”

Kevin Darley, PJA chief executive, added: “The padding loses its ability to reform after a while so we felt a responsibility to collect data on whips’ shelf life.”

Microchipped whips will be identifiable by a red disc on the handle stating they are BHA-approved and will become mandatory in due course.

Worn whips will be returned to the manufacturer for product review.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (22 October, ’09)

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CALLS to ban the use of whips as punishment in competition have been rejected by the horse industry in England and Wales.

Norfolk Horse Training and Equitation Club (NHTEC) has asked the British Horse Society (BHS) for a ban, after similar rules were made in Scotland and Denmark.

The Scottish government’s Code of Practice for the Welfare of Equidae and the Danish federation’s rules both state a whip should not be used as a means of punishment.

Johanna Macarthur of NHTEC said: “Banning the whip [as punishment] in competitions begins a journey toward empathy and an improvement in welfare.”

The BHS code of practice says the use of the whip is permissible to “encourage the horse forwards” and “to reprimand the horse”.

Lee Hackett, BHS senior welfare executive, said: “We could not support an outright ban. Whips should be used at an appropriate time with an appropriate amount of force.”

The British Equestrian Federation’s (BEF) Andrew Finding added: “As long as the whip is used in line with the recommendations of the individual bodies of the BEF I don’t see a problem.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (2 July, ’09)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now