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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2015; 5(1); 138-150; doi: 10.3390/ani5010138

A Critical Analysis of the British Horseracing Authority’s Review of the Use of the Whip in Horseracing.

Abstract: There is increasing controversy about the use of the whip as a performance aid in Thoroughbred horseracing and its impact on horse welfare. This paper offers a critical analysis of the British Horseracing Authority's (BHA) 2011 Report Responsible Regulation: A Review of the Use of the Whip in Horseracing. It examines the BHA's process of consultation and use of science and public opinion research through the application of current scientific literature and legal analysis. This analysis suggests that the BHA's findings on the welfare impact and justification for whip use are insufficiently defended by the report. These findings indicate that the report is an inadequate basis from which to draw any definitive conclusions on the impact of whips on racehorse welfare. Further review is needed, undertaken by an independent scientific body, to advance this debate.
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Publication Date: 2015-03-20 PubMed ID: 26479143PubMed Central: PMC4494335DOI: 10.3390/ani5010138Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study critically evaluates the 2011 British Horseracing Authority’s (BHA) report on the use of whips in horseracing, suggesting it may be inadequate. The analysis indicates that a comprehensive understanding of the impact of whips on racehorse welfare remains elusive and necessitates further examination by an independent scientific body.

Background

  • The paper presents a scholarly analysis of the BHA’s 2011 Report “Responsible Regulation: A Review of the Use of the Whip in Horseracing”.
  • This research was primarily crafted in response to the growing concerns and debates over the use of whips as a performance enhancer in Thoroughbred horseracing and its potential effects on horse welfare.

BHA’s process of consultation

  • The report investigates the methods used by the BHA for consultation and data gathering.
  • The author critically evaluates the authenticity and credibility of the consultation process of the BHA, which significantly influences the results and conclusions reached in the 2011 report.

Use of Science and Public Opinion Research

  • The critique also explores how the BHA leveraged scientific literature and public opinion research in its report, with an emphasis on how correctly this information was utilized and interpreted.
  • An application of current scientific literature and legal analysis was used to perform this investigation.

Whip Use and Horse Welfare

  • The study revolves around the central argument that the BHA’s conclusions in their report on the welfare impact of whip use on racehorses are not unequivocally defended.
  • This points to the assumption that the report falls short as a robust basis for drawing definitive conclusions on the effects of whip usage, indicating the need for further research and analysis.

Need for Further Review

  • The critique ultimately proposes that an independent scientific body should carry out an exhaustive and unbiased review of the use of whips in horse racing, to deliver a more conclusive and scientifically backed understanding of its impacts on horse welfare.

Cite This Article

APA
Jones B, Goodfellow J, Yeates J, McGreevy PD. (2015). A Critical Analysis of the British Horseracing Authority’s Review of the Use of the Whip in Horseracing. Animals (Basel), 5(1), 138-150. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani5010138

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 5
Issue: 1
Pages: 138-150

Researcher Affiliations

Jones, Bidda
  • RSPCA Australia, P.O. Box 265, Deakin West, ACT 2600, Australia. bjones@rspca.org.au.
  • Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. bjones@rspca.org.au.
Goodfellow, Jed
  • RSPCA Australia, P.O. Box 265, Deakin West, ACT 2600, Australia. jed.goodfellow@mq.edu.au.
  • Law School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia. jed.goodfellow@mq.edu.au.
Yeates, James
  • University of Bristol, Langford BS40 5DU, UK. james.yeates@rspca.org.uk.
  • RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Sussex RH13 9RS, UK. james.yeates@rspca.org.uk.
McGreevy, Paul D
  • Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. paul.mcgreevy@sydney.edu.au.

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Citations

This article has been cited 9 times.
  1. Douglas J, Owers R, Campbell MLH. Social Licence to Operate: What Can Equestrian Sports Learn from Other Industries?. Animals (Basel) 2022 Aug 5;12(15).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12151987pubmed: 35953977google scholar: lookup
  2. Holmes TQ, Brown AF. Champing at the Bit for Improvements: A Review of Equine Welfare in Equestrian Sports in the United Kingdom.. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 5;12(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12091186pubmed: 35565612google scholar: lookup
  3. Hampton JO, Jones B, McGreevy PD. Social License and Animal Welfare: Developments from the Past Decade in Australia.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 28;10(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10122237pubmed: 33260531google scholar: lookup
  4. Tong L, Stewart M, Johnson I, Appleyard R, Wilson B, James O, Johnson C, McGreevy P. A Comparative Neuro-Histological Assessment of Gluteal Skin Thickness and Cutaneous Nociceptor Distribution in Horses and Humans.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 11;10(11).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10112094pubmed: 33187204google scholar: lookup
  5. Thompson K, McManus P, Stansall D, Wilson BJ, McGreevy PD. Is Whip Use Important to Thoroughbred Racing Integrity? What Stewards' Reports Reveal about Fairness to Punters, Jockeys and Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 29;10(11).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10111985pubmed: 33137898google scholar: lookup
  6. Bergmann IM. Naturalness and the Legitimacy of Thoroughbred Racing: A Photo-Elicitation Study with Industry and Animal Advocacy Informants.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Aug 26;10(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10091513pubmed: 32859112google scholar: lookup
  7. Wilson B, Jones B, McGreevy P. Longitudinal trends in the frequency of medium and fast race winning times in Australian harness racing: Relationships with rules moderating whip use.. PLoS One 2018;13(3):e0184091.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184091pubmed: 29513660google scholar: lookup
  8. Hood J, McDonald C, Wilson B, McManus P, McGreevy P. Whip Rule Breaches in a Major Australian Racing Jurisdiction: Welfare and Regulatory Implications.. Animals (Basel) 2017 Jan 16;7(1).
    doi: 10.3390/ani7010004pubmed: 28275207google scholar: lookup
  9. Graham R, McManus P. Changing Human-Animal Relationships in Sport: An Analysis of the UK and Australian Horse Racing Whips Debates.. Animals (Basel) 2016 May 3;6(5).
    doi: 10.3390/ani6050032pubmed: 27153097google scholar: lookup
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