THE NEW REGULATIONS FOR THE USE OF THE WHIP IS INTO FORCE FROM APRIL 1ST

The D.D.G. n. 123142 of 17 March 2025 - Decree amending article 66 of the Trotting Racing Regulations - ‘Equipment prohibited in races and regulation of the use of the whip’ - has been published on the Masaf website. The text replaces the current article 66 of the trotting racing regulations and will come into force on 1 April.

In particular, regarding the use of the whip, it is specified that:

The whip must only be used to give a signal to the horse. The whip may be used, in particular, to govern the horse in a situation where the safety of people and animals is in danger and never for punitive purposes.

Throughout the race, the driver/rider must hold the reins with both hands with the sole exception of the need to remove caps or ear protectors with his hands.

When the driver uses the whip, only wrist movement is tolerated.

Consequently, no force may be generated by the movement of the shoulder or elbow. The whip may only be used forwards, without lateral or backward movements.

For monté races: The whip model must meet the following minimum requirements: - total length of the whip less than 70 cm - diameter greater than 1 cm -

The whip must be equipped with foam padding (length greater than 10 cm and width greater than 2 cm).

The whip may only be used with the tip pointing downwards."

The measure fully incorporates the decision of the 81st Extraordinary General Assembly of the European Trotting Union held on 15 July 2024 by videoconference, at which the updating of Article 4 of the International Agreement on Trotting Races was approved, according to the text drawn up by the UET Technical Committee, ratified by the 72nd UET Board on 8 June 2024 in Oslo, which establishes the minimum standards that UET member countries must implement in their national regulations by 1 April 2025 at the latest;

Click Here to read the full Decree