Describe the Issue
Alberta's current riding crop rule limits a jockey to using the riding crop a maximum of six times during a race. This restriction has created significant challenges for Alberta jockeys and has resulted in a disproportionately high number of riding crop violations compared with other Canadian racing jurisdictions.
In 2025, Alberta jockeys received 44 riding crop infractions at Century Mile and Century Downs combined. By comparison, Woodbine and Fort Erie recorded 11 infractions during the same period. Alberta therefore recorded four times as many infractions despite conducting approximately one-third as many race days as Ontario (56 compared with 168).
Alberta's six-strike limitation is more restrictive than the riding crop rules used in other Canadian jurisdictions. Since the introduction of the six-strike limitation, there has been no demonstrated or measurable improvement in horse welfare or racing integrity that can be directly attributed to this threshold.
The unusually high frequency of infractions indicates that the current rule requires reassessment. When licensed and experienced jockeys are repeatedly found in violation of the same rule, at a rate significantly higher than comparable Canadian jurisdictions, it raises legitimate concerns as to whether the regulatory threshold is reasonable and practical.
The volume of infractions also creates a strong perception of regulatory overreach. A riding crop rule should protect horse welfare and racing integrity and prevent excessive or improper use, rather than routinely penalizing conduct that would be permitted in other Canadian racing jurisdictions.
The concern is therefore not with maintaining appropriate regulation of riding crop use, but with whether the current six-strike limitation is unnecessarily restrictive. Alberta should maintain strong protections against excessive or improper crop use while adopting a standard that is practical, enforceable and more closely aligned with other major Canadian racing jurisdictions.
What specific problems or concerns are involved in this issue?
The primary problem is that Alberta's six-strike limitation is resulting in a disproportionately high number of riding crop violations and penalties for jockeys compared with other Canadian racing jurisdictions.
The current rule can place jockeys in a difficult position during competition,
particularly when a horse requires continued encouragement or when a rider must make immediate decisions during the final stages of a race. The fixed six- strike limit does not provide sufficient flexibility for the differing circumstances that can occur during a race.
The high number of infractions also places an unnecessary financial and regulatory burden on jockeys and creates additional enforcement requirements for racing officials.
There is also a concern regarding regulatory proportionality. When a rule consistently produces a high level of violations among licensed and experienced participants, it suggests that the regulatory threshold may be too restrictive rather than demonstrating widespread inappropriate conduct by jockeys.
The volume of violations creates a perception of regulatory overreach and can reduce confidence in the fairness and practicality of the rule, particularly when Alberta jockeys are being penalized for riding practices that would be permitted in other Canadian jurisdictions.
Most importantly, there has been no demonstrated measurable improvement in horse welfare or racing integrity that can be directly attributed to limiting riders to six strikes. The current rule therefore imposes significant regulatory and financial consequences on jockeys without a demonstrated corresponding benefit.
Who does the issue affect?
This issue primarily affects jockeys, but it also has implications for owners, trainers, racing officials, the racetrack operator, wagering customers and the broader Alberta racing industry.
Jockeys are directly affected through reprimands, fines and other penalties resulting from violations of the six-strike limitation. The rule can also affect how jockeys make competitive decisions during a race.
Owners and trainers are affected because the riding crop rule can influence how their horses are ridden and urged during competition, particularly during the final stages of a race.
HRA racing officials and stewards are required to monitor, review and enforce a rule that generates a comparatively high number of infractions, creating an additional regulatory and administrative burden.
Wagering customers have an interest in horses being ridden competitively and consistently while maintaining appropriate horse-welfare protections.
Ultimately, the issue affects confidence in Alberta's regulatory framework. Riding crop regulations should appropriately balance horse welfare, racing integrity, competitive racing and fair treatment of industry participants.
What existing HRA rules relate to this issue?
The proposed amendment directly addresses HRA Rule 210(t) – Use of Riding Crops, specifically the provision that currently limits a jockey to six (6) uses of the riding crop during a race.
The proposed amendment would remove the six-strike maximum and permit continued underhand use of the riding crop, with use occurring in increments of no more than three (3) consecutive strikes before the jockey must stop and provide the horse an opportunity to respond.
The amendment is intended to bring Alberta's riding crop requirements more closely into alignment with the regulatory approach used by the jockey colony competing at Woodbine Racetrack in Ontario. Ontario's Thoroughbred rules regulate the manner and appropriate use of an approved humane/cushion riding crop, with horse welfare remaining a central component of the regulatory framework.
Aligning Alberta more closely with the rules under which Woodbine jockeys compete would also provide greater consistency for jockeys moving between major Canadian racing jurisdictions and reduce the significant disparity that currently exists between Alberta's six-strike limitation and the standards experienced by riders competing in Ontario.
The remaining HRA protections governing improper or excessive riding crop use would remain in effect. The intent is not to reduce horse-welfare protections, but to replace the restrictive six-strike maximum with a practical underhand-use standard that maintains appropriate safeguards while more closely aligning Alberta with the Woodbine jockey colony.
What solution does this proposal provide?
The proposed change provides a more practical and balanced riding crop standard by removing Alberta's fixed six-strike maximum and replacing it with a rule focused on how the riding crop is used.
Jockeys would be permitted to use the riding crop underhand as required during a race, but only in increments of no more than three consecutive strikes before stopping and allowing the horse an opportunity to respond. Existing protections against excessive, improper or unnecessary riding crop use would remain in place.
This approach addresses the disproportionately high number of riding crop infractions occurring in Alberta while continuing to provide clear horse-welfare protections and regulatory oversight.
The change would also bring Alberta more closely into alignment with the riding crop standards used by the Woodbine jockey colony. This provides greater consistency for jockeys who compete between Alberta and Ontario and reduces the likelihood of riders being penalized in Alberta for riding practices permitted in another major Canadian racing jurisdiction.
The solution is therefore not to remove regulation of riding crop use, but to replace an overly restrictive numerical limit with a practical standard that regulates the manner of use, maintains horse-welfare protections and allows jockeys to respond appropriately to the circumstances of each race.
How will the solution fix the problem?
The proposed rule will address the problem by removing the fixed six-strike maximum that has resulted in a disproportionately high number of riding crop violations in Alberta and replacing it with a standard focused on responsible use.
Jockeys will be permitted to use the riding crop underhand as required during a race, while limiting use to increments of no more than three consecutive strikes before stopping and allowing the horse an opportunity to respond. This provides jockeys with the flexibility required to respond to the circumstances of a race while maintaining clear safeguards against excessive or inappropriate use.
The change will reduce unnecessary infractions and penalties associated solely with exceeding an arbitrary numerical limit, while HRA stewards will retain the ability to penalize excessive, improper or unnecessary riding crop use.
The proposed rule will also bring Alberta more closely into alignment with the standards used by the Woodbine jockey colony, providing greater consistency for riders competing between jurisdictions.
Overall, the amendment addresses the regulatory problem without removing horse-welfare protections. It shifts the focus from counting individual strikes to ensuring that the riding crop is used responsibly, appropriately and in a manner that provides the horse an opportunity to respond.
How will the change affect any entities or stakeholders?
The proposed change is expected to have a positive impact on jockeys, owners, trainers, racing officials and the broader Alberta racing industry while maintaining appropriate horse-welfare protections.
Jockeys will have greater flexibility to respond to the circumstances of a race and should experience fewer infractions and penalties resulting solely from exceeding the current six-strike limit. Riders will still be required to use the riding crop underhand, in increments of no more than three consecutive strikes, and provide the horse an opportunity to respond.
Owners and trainers will benefit from having their horses ridden under a standard that allows jockeys to make appropriate competitive decisions during a race while continuing to comply with clear welfare requirements.
HRA stewards and racing officials should experience fewer technical violations associated with counting total strikes, allowing regulatory attention to focus more directly on excessive, improper or inappropriate riding crop use.
Wagering customers will continue to have the expectation that horses are ridden competitively while appropriate horse-welfare safeguards remain in place.
The change will also provide greater consistency for jockeys moving between Alberta and Ontario by bringing Alberta's riding crop standard more closely into alignment with the rules used by the Woodbine jockey colony.
Overall, the amendment should reduce unnecessary regulatory and financial burdens on jockeys while maintaining HRA's ability to regulate inappropriate riding crop use and protect horse welfare and racing integrity.
What are the benefits of the proposed change?
The proposed change provides a more practical and proportionate riding crop rule while maintaining strong protections for horse welfare and racing integrity.
The primary benefit is a reduction in the disproportionately high number of riding crop infractions and penalties currently experienced by Alberta jockeys. Removing the fixed six-strike maximum will reduce technical violations while continuing to prohibit excessive, improper or unnecessary use of the riding crop.
The requirement that the crop be used underhand and in increments of no more than three consecutive strikes before allowing the horse an opportunity to respond provides clear and enforceable safeguards for horse welfare.
The change will also bring Alberta more closely into alignment with the standards used by the Woodbine jockey colony, creating greater consistency for jockeys who compete between jurisdictions and making Alberta a more attractive and practical jurisdiction for riders.
For HRA stewards, the change allows regulatory attention to focus on the manner and appropriateness of riding crop use rather than primarily counting the total number of strikes during a race.
Overall, the proposed amendment provides a better balance between horse welfare, competitive racing and fair treatment of jockeys while maintaining appropriate regulatory oversight.
What are the possible drawbacks of the proposed change?
The primary potential concern is that removing the fixed six-strike maximum could be perceived as reducing restrictions on riding crop use or weakening horse-welfare protections.
There may also be concern that permitting additional underhand strikes could result in increased riding crop use during some races. This risk is addressed by requiring use to occur in increments of no more than three consecutive strikes, requiring the jockey to provide the horse an opportunity to respond, and maintaining the existing prohibitions against excessive, improper or unnecessary use.
The change may also require HRA stewards and jockeys to adjust to a different enforcement standard, with greater emphasis placed on the manner and appropriateness of crop use rather than simply the total number of strikes.
These potential drawbacks can be mitigated through clear rule wording, consistent enforcement and education of jockeys and officials. The proposed approach also more closely aligns Alberta with the established standards used by the Woodbine jockey colony, providing a practical Canadian model for implementation.
For those stakeholder groups that have expressed an opinion, please list the points on which they agree or disagree, and the arguments they have expressed.
none
Are there any affected stakeholder groups that have not been consulted on this proposal?
none
Please show new language in a new paragraph below the current wording. If you are proposing that current rule language be eliminated, please indicate the text to be deleted with [DELETE: copy to be deleted in square brackets]
Use of Riding Crop
A jockey may use the riding crop to urge a horse without limitation as to the total number of strikes during a race, provided that the riding crop is used in an underhand position only.
A jockey shall not use the riding crop more than three (3) consecutive times without stopping and giving the horse an opportunity to respond before using the riding crop again.
A jockey shall not:
(a) use the riding crop in an overhand or cocked position;
(b) make contact with the horse with the riding crop while the crop is in the cocked position;
(c) use the riding crop on the horse's belly or surrounding area; or
(d) use the riding crop in an excessive, indiscriminate, brutal or unnecessary manner.
All other existing HRA requirements respecting the approved type, specifications and permitted use of riding crops shall remain in effect.
Submit proposed amendments to those rules to comply with changes that would be made by this proposal.
The proposed change would directly affect HRA Rule 210(t) – Use of Riding Crops, and would also require corresponding consideration of HRA's penalty provisions for riding crop violations.
Rule 210(t) – Use of Riding Crops: This is the primary rule that would require amendment. The current rule regulates permitted riding crop use, including the number and manner of strikes. The proposed amendment would remove the overall six-strike limitation and permit underhand use without a total numerical limit, while retaining the requirement that the crop be used only in limited consecutive increments and that the horse be given an opportunity to respond. HRA continues to enforce the six-strike maximum under Rule 210(3)(d) in its 2026 rulings.
Rule 209(t) – Riding Crop Requirements: No substantive amendment should be required. Rule 209(t) establishes the physical specifications for an approved riding crop, including its weight, length, cushioning and approval by the Board of Stewards. Those requirements can remain unchanged under the proposed amendment.
Rules 286 and 296 – Rule Violations and Penalties: These provisions are currently referenced by HRA when penalties are imposed for riding crop violations. They would continue to apply to improper riding crop use; however, exceeding six total strikes would no longer constitute an offence. Penalties would instead apply where a jockey violates the revised Rule 210(t), including improper overhand use, exceeding the permitted number of consecutive strikes, failing to allow the horse an opportunity to respond, or otherwise using the crop improperly or excessively.
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