How is this for setting a standard on the use of whips in the racing industry overseas? Might be an idea for hooks, and tools in the circus industry.

Denmark has reduced the use of the whip by about 80 percent. Sweden has accomplished about a 90 percent reduction in the use of the whip. Norway leads the world and has enacted a most interesting approach to eliminating the whip.

In 2007, Norway introduced a rule that allows a jockey to whip his mount as many times as he chooses and as hard as he chooses to use the whip. The fact is, however, that a jockey must not remove his hands from the reins to whip the horse. He is disqualified should he do so.

Recently, a statement was made for the press in the United States that asserted that if the jockeys had no whips we would have horses running uncontrollably all over the racetrack. To infer that without a whip the horses would run uncontrollably is far off the mark, both practically and scientifically speaking.

There is a great need for common sense to enter into the decisions made by the United States Racing Industry. We have strayed from a logical approach in so many aspects of Thoroughbred racing, it is impossible to list them all. The United States is supposed to be the most advanced country in the world, and in so many ways we are. Why we haven't led the world in developing an understanding of equine behavior is more than I can determine.

Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Dubai, Hong Kong, Japan and even Russia have been active in addressing the issues of whips in racing, while the United States has done virtually nothing in this category.

Winning is fun and losing is not, but I believe there is a logical approach to causing this sport to be a thing of beauty both for the people and for the horses. As I attend meetings, I often observe men in their 70s and 80s asking the question, "Why aren't the young people coming to the races any more?"


Again I suggest it is the individual using the whip/hook, and not the whip/hook it's self which is bad. And many people are still asking "why aren't more people getting into this profession, and the Animal Rights have destroyed the business."