This research could lead to improved whip use through more voluntary behavior, said Telatin. If jockeys and trainers learn about the science behind whip use, they might act more out of a desire for effective whip use than out of having to follow set whip rules, he said. | Photo: iStock

Jockeys whip racehorses. But welfare advocates cry out against it. The current compromise? Whip less.

But according to leading equitation scientists, reducing whipping frequency could be just as bad for the horse, causing confusion and creating new welfare issues.

“New industry rules intended to improve horse welfare, focusing on decreasing whipping frequency, may actually go against the principles of operant training and, specifically, negative reinforcement,” said Angelo Telatin, PhD, associate professor of equine studies at Delaware Valley University, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. “This may lead to ineffective training results and/or the occurrence of aversive behaviors