Use of whip in show jumping

[Oldred]

Watching a show jumping class at Suffolk County show today and a rider's horse refused at the water jump. He hit it hard 5/6 times with his whip, put it to the jump again and it refused. He hit it hard again 5/6 and was of course eleminated anyway.

My question is, are there actual rules that say, like in racing, how and when the whip should be used? Presumably they were riding under BSJA rules? It was a major class in the main ring with all the top names competing but I did not recognise this man's name (although I noted it!.

This is a genuine question - not designed to be inflammatory. Although if there are rules I will be asking why they were not enforced. I personally found it upsetting as it was a really windy day with a large plant swaying into the jump which caused several other top horses to be scared and refuse or run out.

 

[Grey_Eventer]

BSJA, i think i read somewhere that there was a rule. I "think" it was about 3 times, but not a slap down the shoulder, i proper one handed wack. i dont think theres any rules on slap down the shoulders, but i could be wrong. Often at Pony Club events, people are either pulled up for ausive behaviour, or a note is taken on the jump judges marking thing saying something, and then they are often talked to at the end and can be refused entry at further events.
I do think at BSJA though, they are very relaxed on this rule. i have seen people wacking their horse on the bum 12+ times, and nothin been said to my knowledge.
I think thre are times it is acceptable to hit a horse on the bum, and times where it is not.

 

[teddyt]

If a horse hasnt responded after 2 smacks, 4 more wont make any bl**dy difference. What a t*sser. Report him to the show and to the BSJA. Yes, there are rules against excessive use of the whip or buse of the horse.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

I believe the rule is that you cannot hit your horse more than 3 times & you cannot raise the whip above the shoulder to do so.

Some venues are too relaxed on enforcing the rule but I was at Blue Chip & in the warm up ring a rider was puled up for abuse of the whip. The ring steward used the Tannoy to tell the rider that he would not tolerate the behaviour & if the rider continued he would not just be leaving the ring but going home early from the show. I've seen this rule enforced several times, & rightly so.

 

[Ezme]

When laura renwick grossly missued her whip at olyimpia in the speed class the comentators said that the stewards would be "having at word" with her at the end of the class.

 

[Befney3]

*I think* BSJA rules state that you cannot use the whip infront of the shoulder & you must not use it excessively.

I have seen people pulled up for excessive use at BSJA shows but only on rare occasions. Personally I see no problem with a couple of sharp smacks on the bum if the horse is naughty but it should be done instantly & like someone above says 'if two smacks don't do the trick, four wont make any difference'.

I took my boy out jumping this evening & he stopped at a fairly small, easy fence & recieved a sharp smack on the bum with an upturned whip, was then turned away, represented & jumped it well the second time. He then went on to jump round the next class with no stops & was patted at the end. My horse is a bit of an oportunist & will stop/run out if he feels he can. When he behaves like this he needs a reminder that it's not allowed but I think some people need to be able to differentiate between a reminder/discapline & excessive force/loss of temper.

 

[Oldred]

Thanks all - its a difficult one I know. I think I will contact the organisers as if no-one says anything standards won't improve. I'm sure it didn't give a good example to any impressionable horse people watching and from the comments from the (non-horsey) family next to me, they weren't happy either!