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Home / Equine Research Bank / PLoS One / Whip use by jockeys in a sample of Australian Thoroughbred r...
PloS one2012; 7(3); e33398; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033398

Whip use by jockeys in a sample of Australian Thoroughbred races–an observational study.

Abstract: The use of whips by jockeys is an issue. The current study viewed opportunistic high-speed footage of 15 race finishes frame-by-frame to examine the outcomes of arm and wrist actions (n = 350) on 40 horses viewed from the left of the field. Any actions fully or partially obscured by infrastructure or other horses were removed from the database, leaving a total of 104 non-contact sweeps and 134 strikes. For all instances of arm actions that resulted in fully visible whip strikes behind the saddle (n = 109), the outcomes noted were area struck, percentage of unpadded section making contact, whether the seam made contact and whether a visible indentation was evident on impact. We also recorded use of clockwise or counter-clockwise arm action from each jockey's whip, whether the whip was held like a tennis racquet or a ski pole, whether the hind leg on the side of the impact was in stance or swing phase and whether the jockey's arm was seen traveling above shoulder height. The goal of the study was to characterize the area struck and the visual impact of whip use at the level of the horse. We measured the ways in which both padded and unpadded sections of the whip made impact. There was evidence of at least 28 examples, in 9 horses, of breaches of the whip rules (one seam contact, 13 contacts with the head, and 14 arm actions that rose above the height of the shoulder). The whip caused a visible indentation on 83% of impacts. The unpadded section of the whip made contact on 64% of impacts. The results call into question the ability of Stewards to effectively police the rules concerning whip use and, more importantly, challenge the notion that padding the distal section of whips completely safeguards horses from any possible whip-related pain.
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Publication Date: 2012-03-19 PubMed ID: 22442687PubMed Central: PMC3307719DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033398Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 research study explores the use of whips by jockeys during Thoroughbred races in Australia, focusing on the areas struck and the visual impacts, with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of regulation and potential harm caused to the horses.

Study Methodology

  • The researchers used high-speed footage of 15 race finishes, examining the footage frame by frame to scrutinize the consequences of arm and wrist actions on 40 horses viewed from the left side of the field.
  • The study discounted any whip actions obscured by infrastructure or other horses, leaving a total of 104 non-contact sweeps and 134 strikes.
  • The research focused on instances of arm actions that resulted in fully visible whip strikes behind the saddle, noting outcomes such as the area struck, the percentage of the whip’s unpadded section making contact, whether the whip’s seam made contact, and whether a visible indentation was obvious on impact.

Additional Observations

  • Further observations included noting the direction of arm action (clockwise or counter-clockwise), the way jockeys held their whip (like a tennis racket or ski pole), the phase of the hind leg on the side of impact (stance or swing), and if the jockey’s arm was seen to rise above shoulder height.

Key Findings

  • The primary goal was to understand the impact of whip use on the horse, through identifying the area struck and observing the visual impact.
  • The study found that the whip often caused a visible indentation on impact, with this occurring 83% of the time. In 64% of strikes, the unpadded section of the whip was in contact.
  • There were 28 instances, affecting 9 horses, where breaches of the rules regarding whip usage were observed. These included one instance of seam contact, 13 instances of head contact, and 14 occasions where the jockey’s arm action rose above shoulder height.

Implications

  • The study raises issues with the level of observance and enforcement of rules concerning whip use in races by race stewards.
  • It also questions the assumption that simply padding the distal section of whips fully safeguards horses from any possible whip-related pain.

Cite This Article

APA
McGreevy PD, Corken RA, Salvin H, Black CM. (2012). Whip use by jockeys in a sample of Australian Thoroughbred races–an observational study. PLoS One, 7(3), e33398. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0033398

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 7
Issue: 3
Pages: e33398
PII: e33398

Researcher Affiliations

McGreevy, Paul D
  • Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. paul.mcgreevy@sydney.edu.au
Corken, Robert A
    Salvin, Hannah
      Black, Celeste M

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Australia
        • Horses
        • Humans
        • Pain / etiology
        • Pain / pathology
        • Pain / physiopathology
        • Skin / injuries
        • Skin / physiopathology
        • Sports

        Conflict of Interest Statement

        The authors have read the journal's policy and have the following conflicts: Paul McGreevy is a member of the Expert Advisory Panel – Dog Advisory Council (UK) (2010 - Present), Scientific Advisory Panel: International Fund for Animal Welfare (2008 – Present), Scientific Advisor: RSPCA (UK) (2008 – Present), Australian Animal Welfare Strategy Working Group (2008 – Present); Scientific Advisory Panel: World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) - Equine Specialist (2003 – Present); International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) - Co-founder (2002 – Present), Scientific Advisory Panel: RSPCA (Australia) (2001 – Present), International Society for Equitation Science: Hon. President (2011 – Present), Visiting Professor: Nottingham Trent University, UK (2010 – Present), Adjunct Associate Professor: University of New England, Australia (2010 – Present), Editorial advisory board: The Veterinary Journal (2009 – Present), Editorial board: Journal of Veterinary Behaviour (2005 – Present). This does not alter the authors' adherence to all the PLoS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

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        Citations

        This article has been cited 11 times.
        1. Legg KA, Gee EK, Breheny M, Gibson MJ, Rogers CW. A Bioeconomic Model for the Thoroughbred Racing Industry-Optimisation of the Production Cycle with a Horse Centric Welfare Perspective.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 30;13(3).
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        2. Mactaggart AG, Phillips CJC. Validating a Thoroughbred Racehorse Welfare Index through Horse Behaviour and Trainers' Reports of Welfare Issues in Their Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 13;13(2).
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        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).
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        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).
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        6. 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.
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        7. McGreevy PD, Griffiths MD, Ascione FR, Wilson B. Flogging tired horses: Who wants whipping and who would walk away if whipping horses were withheld?. PLoS One 2018;13(2):e0192843.
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