BHA reassures RSPCA over whip changes

British Horseracing Authority officials have stressed they "greatly value" their relationship with the RSPCA in the wake of the latest changes to the controversial whip rules.

David Muir, equine consultant at the RSPCA, described the decision to make fresh changes to the whip rules, originally brought into place in October, as "a backward step" and "absolutely staggering".

The key element to latest amendments is that rather than it being an automatic breach when a rider uses the whip eight times on the Flat and nine times over jumps, the figures become the trigger point for the stewards to review the ride.

Stewards will be given more discretion over deciding how the rider has used the whip, and the severity of the penalty itself, with the new rules being introduced in early March.

In a statement, Muir said: "It is absolutely staggering that the BHA has taken such a backward step, less than six months after the whip rules were introduced to react to public concern regarding the use of the whip in racing.

"The BHA has not seen fit to discuss the need for such changes with any other of the review stakeholders including the RSPCA and other animal welfare groups, yet they have seen it necessary to change the rules and penalty structure in favour of the jockeys.

"This action flies in the face of scientific research which shows that excessive use of the whip actually increases the likelihood of falls some of which produce injury or fatality apparently supported by the short term statistics available.

"This is a black day for the racing industry but the real losers are the horses - jockeys are once again allowed to use the whip excessively without a relatively strong preventative punitive element.

"We are extremely disappointed that once again the regulatory authority has seen it necessary to change the rules but will monitor the results closely and if these changes prove to compromise the welfare of the racehorse we shall hold the BHA to account.

"Since the new rules limiting the use of the whip were introduced there appears to be a culture of change among jockeys, which was a positive move forward.

"This latest move sees the preventative, punitive, element of the new whip rules reduced even further which gives us real cause for concern."

In response, BHA communications consultant John Maxse said: "First and foremost the BHA greatly values the relationship it has with David Muir and the RSPCA and there are forthcoming meetings scheduled in the near future at which we look forward to discussing a range of issues with them, including the whip.

"I'd also want to make the point that the BHA's commitment to horse welfare remains as strong as it has ever been.

"Once we have had a chance to explain this to the RSPCA, together with the key points that the areas in question regarding the changes announced yesterday primarily relate to incidents at the very margin of whether a rider's use of the whip is in breach or not.

"Areas in that margin do not pose any kind of threat to the welfare of the horse.

"Secondary behind those points, it is important to say there is absolutely no slight on the RSPCA or any other welfare body in relation to the absence of a form of consultation prior to yesterday's announcement.

"The only organisation with whom the BHA held any kind of form of consultation was the Professional Jockeys Association.

"The RSPCA were not intentionally left out, nor were the National Trainers Federation, or the Racehorse Owners Association. No other organisation was directly involved in the process.

"Such was the extensive nature of the consultation that went into the Whip Review, we have, on record, the positions of all of those parties.

"The RSPCA, World Horse Welfare and the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) were all notified in advance of yesterday's board meeting that the BHA directors would be looking at the whip as a subject."

The jockeys themselves have welcomed the rule changes, although some still have concerns about how the extra discretion stewards have been given will be applied.

Richard Hughes briefly relinquished his riding licence after picking up two suspensions during the first week the rules were brought in during October.

He was soon back in the saddle after the rules were changed for the first time and sees the latest amendments as another major step forward.

"I'm delighted they've changed the rules as they were doing more damage than good," said Hughes.

"I was one of the first to say let's have a set number of times we can use the whip during a race, but it was very hard to put into practice."

Jason Maguire, who was given a suspension when landing last year's Grand National aboard Ballabriggs, is keen to reserve judgement until he sees how the extra powers of discretion stewards have been given will be applied.

"I don't know what to think. I don't want to say too much about it," said Maguire.

"The thing about the rules as they were, you knew where you stood with the amount of times you could use the whip.

"It looks like they are now giving the stewards more discretion, but stewards at one course will have different ideas to stewards at another course, so we're just going to have to see what happens."

Nicky Mackay had been given a 10-day ban at Wolverhampton last week but his suspension has now been reduced to four under the new regime and he elected to call off his appeal at the BHA, scheduled for tomorrow.