Describe the Issue
Amend HRA Rule 210t(3)(d) for both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing to adopt an Ontario-based riding-crop approach: no fixed total applications per race, no more than three consecutive applications without giving the horse time to respond, underhand use only, and continued enforcement of misuse protections.
What specific problems or concerns are involved in this issue?
The current rule restricts hindquarter applications to six per race, in groups of two or fewer, with at least two strides between groups. This proposal requests a response-based approach rather than a fixed whole-race count.
The proposal would retain restrictions against excessive, indiscriminate or brutal use while introducing Ontario-based underhand-use requirements.
Who does the issue affect?
Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse jockeys, owners, trainers, racehorses, veterinarians, stewards, racetracks and the racing public. The proposal is intended to apply to both breeds wherever Rule 210t applies.
What existing HRA rules relate to this issue?
Rule 210t, Use of riding crops, particularly subsections (2) and (3)(d). Rule 209t addresses approved riding-crop equipment. The HRA penalty matrix and related directives and guidance would also require review.
What solution does this proposal provide?
Replace Rule 210t(3)(d) with a maximum of three consecutive applications followed by time for the horse to respond, without a fixed total number of applications per race.
Require underhand application only. Prohibit contact with the crop in the cocked position and raising the crop hand above shoulder height when applying it.
Prohibit use when the horse is not visibly responding or is not in contention for a meaningful position. Retain HRA’s other equipment and misuse protections.
Apply the amendment to both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing.
How will the solution fix the problem?
The amendment would remove penalties based solely on exceeding six total applications or two consecutive applications and replace them with the proposed consecutive-use, response and technique requirements.
Stewards would continue to assess excessive or brutal use and other misuse.
How will the change affect any entities or stakeholders?
Jockeys would need education on underhand-only application and the revised response requirement. Stewards would need consistent guidance on horse response, excessive use and meaningful position.
Owners, trainers, racetracks and veterinarians should be consulted about implementation.
What are the benefits of the proposed change?
The intended benefits are greater rider discretion over the total number of applications, an explicit obligation to allow the horse time to respond, clear technique restrictions, and alignment with the Ontario approach while retaining misuse protections.
These are intended outcomes rather than proven welfare or performance benefits.
What are the possible drawbacks of the proposed change?
Removing the total cap could increase total applications. Judging adequate response time and excessive use may involve discretion and could lead to inconsistent enforcement.
Underhand-only use would require jockey adaptation. Veterinary input, education and consistent review of race footage would be important.
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.
Support has been expressed by the Alberta Quarter Horse Racing Association (AQHRA), HBPA of Alberta, and numerous owners, trainers and jockeys who have signed statements of support for the Ontario-based proposal.
The AQHRA support letter emphasizes horse and rider safety and welfare. It raises concerns that interpretation of the current rule places undue penalties on jockeys and discourages their return to Alberta racetracks. The association supports the suggested change and alignment with current standards.
The signed support sheets endorse no fixed total application limit, no more than three consecutive applications before allowing a response, underhand use and continued misuse protections.
The AQHRA support letter and signed owner, trainer and jockey support sheets will be attached to this petition.
Are there any affected stakeholder groups that have not been consulted on this proposal?
Support has been sought from the Alberta Quarter Horse Racing Association, HBPA of Alberta, and individual owners, trainers and jockeys.
Consultation with veterinarians, racetrack operators, stewards and other affected groups has not been documented in the supporting materials. HRA is requested to seek their input before adopting the proposal.
Please attach any formal letters of support or opposition by stakeholder groups.
Rule Change Support letter - Riding Crop Rule.pdf
Signatures Of Support (2)_4352.pdf
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]
Scope: This proposed amendment applies to BOTH THOROUGHBRED AND QUARTER HORSE racing wherever HRA Rule 210t applies.
Current Rule 210t(3)(d):
[DELETE: Jockeys may use the riding crop on the hindquarters to activate and focus the horse a maximum of six times during a race. The six permitted uses shall be in increments of two or fewer strikes. The rider must allow at least two strides for the horse to respond before using the riding crop again.]
Proposed replacement:
(d) A jockey must not apply the riding crop more than three (3) times in succession without giving the horse time to respond. No fixed total number of applications shall apply during a race. Excessive, indiscriminate or brutal use remains prohibited.
The riding crop may be applied underhand only. A jockey must not contact the horse with the crop in the cocked position or raise the crop hand above shoulder height when applying it.
The riding crop must not be used when the horse is not visibly responding or is not in contention for a meaningful position.
For this provision, a meaningful position means a reasonable opportunity to finish in an advantageous position, which may include maintaining times, receiving points toward future races or earning purse money.
All other HRA requirements concerning riding-crop use, approved equipment and penalties for misuse would remain in effect.
This is proposed HRA wording adapted from Ontario’s approach, not a verbatim reproduction of Ontario’s rules.
If yes, please attach copies of those rules.
Ontario_AGCO_Riding_Crop_Directive_1_2020.pdf
Submit proposed amendments to those rules to comply with changes that would be made by this proposal.
Review Rule 210t(2)(c)–(e) alongside the proposed provision to retain injury and misuse prohibitions and resolve any overlap in the wording about response and maximum placing.
Retain Rule 209t equipment requirements and Rule 210t(3)(e) shoulder-tap requirements, clarifying their interaction with the underhand-use provision.
Update the penalty matrix, relevant directives and training materials. Remove penalties based solely on the replaced six-total, two-consecutive and fixed-twostride requirements. Apply penalties to violations of the proposed threeconsecutive, response and technique requirements.
Retain penalties for all other misuse and equipment violations.
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