Michelle Payne is the latest jockey to speak out supporting more stringent rules regarding use of the whip in races.
The Melbourne Cup-winning jockey wants forehand strikes to be banned but dismissed the idea of an overall ban on using whips.
“I think it is something that needs to change although I think it has come a long way from the old days,” Payne told RSN927’s Racing Pulse on Friday.
“I think it is changing for the better but it still needs to continue to change. You definitely don’t want to lose the use of the whip because it is definitely there for an aid as well as an encouragement.
“You really don’t want to lose it because It is a bit of a safety thing as well. As an encouragement, that is what we should be using it as.
“Maybe take out the forward (hit) and just have backhand only because it does look a lot more harsh on the horse when you use the forehand.
Payne said that changed to the whip-usage rules would make for better overall riders.
“If they did restrict the use of the whip, it would just make better riders than what we have rather than just going for the whip for everything,” Payne said.
“A lot of the time I find it you use it to get them going and once you are in full flight, if a horse doesn’t want to try for you then, well then I think you shouldn’t have to beat it out of them really.
“If they do change the rule, it will be a new era and I think we will be much better for it.”
Earlier in the week jockey Chris Symons also called for change saying the current whip rules were have a detrimental effect on the industry.
