As of January 2020, British Showjumping will be introducing new rules that affects the use of whips – but does your whip conform?
In a move to promote welfare, the rules for whip use in British Showjumping are changing. No rider is permitted to use a whip in the arena, collecting ring or within the vicinity of the show ground unless it meets the new rules. These state that:-
- Only one whip can be carried, and no substitute may be held
- It must be held in the hand, by the handle, with the handle at the top
- The whip is no more than 70cm and no less than 45cm long
- There must be no binding within 17cms of the end of the pad
- The minimum diameter is 1cm
- The weight must not exceed 160gms and should be evenly distributed
- The contact area must be two fifths of the length and must be padded
- The pad must be smooth and made with shock absorbing material, with a compression of at least 6mm
- There must be no wording or personalisation on the pad
Need to purchase a new whip to meet these requirements? We’ve got it covered – try the Darleys Equestrian Skinny Bat for petite hands and a bit of colour, the Darleys Equestrian Cushion Bat for a thicker handle with a bit less sparkle, or the Fleck Event Bat for a stylish whip with excellent grip.