The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) released a statement March 29 praising a new requirement that jockeys in flat races be required to use only shock-absorbing whips. The Horseracing Regulatory Authority’s rule will go into effect April 1.


The Regulatory Authority worked with the RSPCA to develop the new whips, which are made of memory foam with a fabric covering. Similar whips have been required in hunt races since October 2003.


“Jockeys never go out to hurt horses intentionally, but this new whip will ensure that doesn’t happen,” Jockey Dale Gibson stated in the release. “We are happy with the design and will soon get used to it.”


RSPCA Equine Consultant David Muir noted that a whip in the wrong hands could inflict severe pain, which the new whips will dramatically reduce

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