Flogging a Live Horse An Open Letter to Horseracing Authorities on the Scientific and Legal Case Against Whipping

Horse racing is a multibillion-dollar global industry, but at its heart should be the welfare of the animals who race. Synthesising the data collected over the past 15 years on whip use in racing, and on the use of nosebands, tongue-ties and bits in other horse sports, this book addresses the legality of such activities. Covering the science of applying pressure in animal training, coercion and exhaustion, the renowned author team complete a legal analysis of what constitutes cruelty to animals in different countries, as well as why enforcement of the laws on cruelty to animals is largely absent. From the history of whip-use and restrictive gear through to the ethical implications of sustaining such practices, it considers how the law approaches animal welfare and cruelty, as well as how science, in turn, informs the law.