G23.1: Use of Whip, G23.1.1: Whips The use of the whip must be for an appropriate reason, at an appropriate time, on the correct area of the horse and with the appropriate level of response. Appropriate Reason: The whip must only be used as an aid to support the natural aids in encouraging the pony/horse forward, or to help the rider to encourage the pony/horse in the right direction. For example, it may be used down the shoulder to keep a horse straight on the approach to a fence. It must never be used to vent a rider’s temper; any use for such a reason is automatically excessive. Appropriate Time: As an aid, the appropriate time is when the pony/horse is reluctant to go forward under natural aids i.e. seat and legs. Its use, for instance, after a refusal is excessive. Its use after elimination is excessive. Section 2 37 BRC MEMBERS HANDBOOK Right area of the horse: As an aid to go forward the whip may be used down the shoulder or behind the rider’s leg. The use of a whip on a pony’s/ horse’s head or neck is always excessive use. Appropriate Level of Response: the whip should never be used more than twice during any incident; and if the pony/horse is marked by the whip (skin broken or a welt) its use is excessive. (The rider is expected to know if the pony/horse has sensitive skin and must use the whip accordingly). The arm should never be raised above the shoulder whilst using the whip. The whip should always be carried and used in the backhand (handle pointed upwards) position and never in the forehand position (handle pointed downwards). Section 2 Misuse of a whip: If, in the opinion of the judge/official, a whip is misused/overused the rider may face up to 25 penalties or disqualification at the discretion of the Official Steward.
As usual this rule does not seem to fall into line with the BS rule of just 3 strikes and you are out so I have had it clarified by HQ
CLARIFICATION OF THE WHIP RULE BY HQ
MY QUESTION
I have looked at rule G 23.1 and there is no mention of how many times a whip can be used in total during the round nor in the warm up. This does seem to contradict the BS rules of just 3 times total within the round. Please can you clarify in writing o- something we can laminate for the stewards judges team managers and competitors- to avoid any objections on the day
ANSWER G23.1 Whips: Appropriate level of response: the whip should never be used more than twice during any incident – Page 38
MY QUESTION Ok but is an INCIDENT the same as DURING THE WHOLE ROUND or if the horse say gets sticky going past the entrance and gets a couple of reminders to go forward and then later in the round is sticky approaching a jump and gets another 2 is that ok? Please can you make it absolutely clear
ANSWER
Yes, these would be considered separate incidents, so a rider could use the whip twice each time. BRC does not have a set number of times a rider can use a whip before a jump per round, however if the rider is relying on the whip and using it before each fence then that would be considered excessive. In which case we would expect the rider to be asked to speak to the official steward after the have put the horse away/cooled down and would then have the official steward explain to that using a whip in that manner is inappropriate. Please note BRC would always recommend taking an educational viewpoint for situation like this, as a good example may be that the rider was simply nervous about the competition, and a conversation could be all that is needed to promote a better outcome for the next time they compete.
Any use of the whip after a refusal is considered excessive and using the whip more than twice in an approach to a fence would also be excessive. It is down to the judges and officials’ discretion to determine if a whip is overused and a rider may be spoken to from an educational standpoint without being disqualified, at the Official Stewards discretion a rider can be disqualified if appropriate. BRC recommends OS’s take notes on any conversations / disciplinary actions that are taken, for a record. This can be useful, if a rider is repeatedly warned about the same problem, or if the rider/club is to ask about this/argue against it, it helps to have a record of why, rather than relying on memory.