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BHA needs to use ‘common sense’ on whip rules

Posted on 24 October 2011 | 1 Comment

Equine insurance customers might be interested to learn that top Irish jockey Ruby Walsh has insinuated he will be limiting his appearances in England, after receiving a ban for exceeding the limit on whip use.

Walsh received the five-day suspension on Saturday (October 22nd) having accidentally exceeded the eight-strike limit over jumps on board winner Edgardo Sol.

The former champion jockey admitted that riding in the UK would have to be "worth the risk" in future and every ride he takes in the country will have to be calculated seriously.

Walsh said rules in Ireland make it much easier to ride, as common sense has been used to implement rules on equine safety.

"I think that is the bit that is missing in England. Common sense seems to have gone out of the window," he told At The Races.

The British Horseracing Authority revised the rules to make them more lenient to riders, however the Professional Jockeys Association was still hoping for more changes in the future.