Animal Aid

Horses are the only animals who may be beaten in public for entertainment. Animal Aid has campaigned for many years to ban the whip from racing in Britain. Our 2004 report A Hiding To Nothing analysed 161 races and showed how much suffering is caused by the use of the whip.

Our latest report, Beaten to the Line 2010, reveals that, in 2010, the British Horseracing Authority’s rules were broken more than 17 times per week. Many jockeys repeatedly misuse the whip because, even when they are found guilty of misconduct, they still keep their winnings.

The whip in standard use across both Flat and Jump racing is the ‘cushioned’ whip, as approved by the RSPCA and British Horseracing Authority, yet the data demonstrate that it still causes horses physical harm. At least 17 horses were wealed by it during 2010.

Click here to help our campaign to Ban the Whip and to order an info pack.