What counts as excessive use of the whip?

Question

Accepted Answer

Excessive use of the whip is strictly prohibited. The rules list these as excessive use:

using a whip to vent your temper;
using a whip on a horse's head;
using a whip more than three times in a row;
using a whip so that the horse's skin is broken; and
using a whip after Elimination.

An athlete identified as misusing or excessively using the whip will be Disqualified and may be fined at the Ground Jury's discretion. Marks showing excessive use of spurs or the whip anywhere on the horse are also grounds for disqualification.

Source: Equestrian Australia National Jumping Rules, effective 1 January 2026, Art 264.2.1 and 265.1.2.