Explanation of When and Why Jockeys Use Whips

People who are passionate fans of this sport and know all its rules also know that jockeys need to carry a whip. Nevertheless, in the eyes of many, the whip is observed as something cruel and completely unnecessary.

On the other hand, by definition a whip is a tool which was made to encourage animals to aid guidance and control and considering that horses have the main role in horse racing, whips are actively used as they can even help your horse win the race.

However, what many people fail to know is that the whips used today are far removed from the leather whips of days gone by. The current whip designs are tightly controlled and are now made of light foam. While jockeys carry whips, and under British racing rules this is mandatory, they are not obligated to use it. The whip should be appropriate, proportionate, professional and follow the rules of racing and guidelines set by the British Horse Racing Authority.

Moreover, many people also raise the question about when exactly and why jockeys use the whip. To answer that and solve the mystery, here is a detailed explanation of when and why whip is used in horse racing.

When whips are used

During the race, the horse’s concentration is one of the most important factors that determines how well a horse performs in a race. Thus, the jockey can use their whip when the horse’s attention and concentration are becoming lower.

During the race some horses can noticeably hang, which might affect its performance and can be dangerous to other horses and jockeys, therefore, the jockey is encouraged to use the whip in order to correct the posture of the horse. This is especially important prior to the closing stages of the race as this way the horse would maintain a challenging position and even win the contest.

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Whip Rules

Jockeys must adhere to strict rules regarding their use of the whip in races and face the threat of suspensions and fines should they break these rules.

The whips are to be used for safety and encouragement and when a rider wants to encourage his mount to lengthen it stride and quicken up s/he must first use their hand and heels before resorting to using the whip.

Once a rider does use the whip they must give the horse time to respond before resorting to the whip again. Riders are also obliged to use the whip in rhythm with the horse’s stride and close to its side. If you wish to find out more about the rules that govern the use of the whip within horse racing you can find it here.

Considering that there are rules when and how the jockey should use the whip, stewards can be very strict in terms of whether the amount of times a jockey uses the whip in a race. The maximum number of times a rider may use the whip in UK races is eight times in a flat race or nine times in a jump race.

What does that mean?

The jockey is not encouraged to continuously use the whip when not being directly challenged for a finishing position or when it’s evident that the whip does not show the intended effects on the horse. Additionally, stewards are much stricter when it comes to when the jockey uses the whip when the horse is young and inexperienced.

Considering all of this, when and why jockeys use whip is exactly determined by the British Horse Racing Authority and there is also a totting up system for repeat offenders. Any jockey that repeatedly breaches the rules will face long periods of suspension so it is in their interests to comply with the rules. These rules not only help to determine the result of the race, but also act as protections for the welfare of the horses.