I don't put whacking animals to go faster in the 'controlling of an animal' category. We are both happy with a light instrument lightly so I am not sure what we disagree on?
Is it the number of times or the continuous use? Both can be a bad look and cancel out all the benefits we gain with the public by advocating light instrument lightly.
You think using the whip in the approved manner (something Gavin Lang would have had no problem with as that was his style) will alienate punters?
If you expect punters to know driver's weights, I reckon knowing how a driver is allowed to use the whip will be a piece of cake
One solution to punters complaining about a lack of vigour which could be happening now (as some are obeying the new directive and others not) is if those that are racking up the warnings cannot learn (and we decide we cannot do without them) is to have no whip (except carried for an emergency)
Then punters only interested in the $ cannot expect to see any difference in vigour between riders/drivers. However, I don't think the drivers are so stupid as to not learn. Look how Kerryn Manning decided after her warning and first fine to carry the whip in her left. Like I said when comparing it to Sheedy's directive to his footballers to hold onto the opposition player who gets a mark or a free - once they brought in the 50m penalty it stopped overnight