Posted on the 4th January 2023
On the eve of improved welfare measures regarding the use of the whip in horse racing, the industry welfare regulator, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has succumbed to pressure from jockeys which will allow them to continue beating horses in the forceful forehand position.
This last-minute U-turn comes after an extensive industry led public consultation, initiated by Animal Aid’s campaigning, on the use of the whip in racing. Of the twenty new measures that were to be implemented next week, starting 9 January 2023, the most important aspect of the new welfare measures has been dropped.
Says, Animal Aid’s Horse Racing Consultant, Dene Stansall:
‘The BHA has failed to protect race horses from the brutality of the whip. Their extensive review is in tatters as their resolve was weak when challenged by jockeys who were against stopping forceful forehand strikes of the whip. This negative reaction is evidence that firstly, the whip should be banned and, secondly, the BHA is not fit to protect race horses and the time is long overdue for them to be replaced as welfare guardians of sentient beings – that of race horses.’
Notes
On Wednesday the 3rd of July, we visited the bustling city of Manchester to chat with members of the public about the issue of animal experiments conducted at the University of Manchester. According to the...
Posted 09 Jul 2024
This morning, people all over the country will be waking up to a new government with Labour winning a landslide majority in yesterday’s General Election (July 4). But what does this mean for animals?
Posted 05 Jul 2024
