Horse Racing

Dear constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about the use of the whip in horse racing.

It is vital that the racing industry follows high animal welfare standards for all horses – before, during and after racing. We need robust and constantly improving equine welfare regulations to ensure the highest standards for the welfare and safety of racehorses.

As you know, the use of the whip is currently allowed for two purposes: keeping the rider and horse safe and for ‘encouragement’. I have long believed that we should carry out an independent review of the use of the whip to establish if its use for ‘encouragement’ can be justified.

In 2019, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) set up a cross-industry Horse Welfare Board to develop a comprehensive equine welfare strategy. This strategy was published on 20 February 2020. It recommended that, as a minimum, the penalties for misuse of the whip need to increase and the BHA should consult on use of the whip.

The BHA accepted these recommendations and said that a consultation would seek views on appropriate sanctions for misuse of the whip and consider what defines acceptable use, as well as look at whether using the whip for encouragement should be banned or retained, and whether the rules that restrict the use of the whip for encouragement need to be changed.

Following problems due to the coronavirus pandemic, the BHA’s consultation process has been delayed.  Its initial phase closed on 6 September 2021 and the BHA said that, if no further delays occur, it intends to publish its findings in May 2022. I am aware that this date has now passed, and that there has been no further information on this. However, I welcome the new Horse Welfare Strategy and will follow progress on the BHA’s consultation on the use of the whip.

Thank you once again for contacting me and sharing your views. I will continue to support meaningful action on improving the welfare conditions of animals used in sport

Yours sincerely,

Peter Dowd MP