Assessing Forces Exerted on Horses Using Varying Riding Crops.

The research article explores the forces exerted on horses by using different types of riding crops. The aim of the study is to identify which type of crop is less likely to mark the equine skin when bent to the same level.

Objective and Methodology

• The research acknowledges the wide variety of whips and riding crops used in Thoroughbred racing. It is generally expected that these implements should be padded and designed to absorb energy.
• The study used three different types of riding crops to quantify the forces they exert on a flat target plate. The selection of the crops was based on their construction materials. Some had a softer material on the popper (the part that contacts the horse) that is assumed to be more ethical.

Findings

• The research found that despite some crops having a softer popper, they still exerted larger forces than the traditional crops with stiffer poppers made of leather. This challenges the widely held assumption that softer materials on the popper correspond to lesser force on the horse.
• The research also learned that the force exerted by a crop depends on the combination of the crop’s core and its popper. The study pointed out that between the two, the core appears to play a more significant role in the resulting force.

Implications

• The findings of this study provide an objective basis for equine welfare considerations in Thoroughbred racing. The material of the crop’s popper is not necessarily indicative of how much force will be exerted on the horse.
• Racing authorities and owners must pay attention to the construction of the crop’s core, as it appears to play a bigger role in the force exerted.
• This research could push the design and manufacture of riding crops towards more consideration of the crop’s core, rather than just the popper’s material.