Efforts are underway to appoint a mediator to help resolve the jockeys' dispute which threatens the multi-million dollar spring carnival.Race meetings around the country were halted on Thursday when jockeys voted to stop riding in protest at the Australian Racing Board's (ARB) refusal to change the controversial whip rules.The jockeys have agreed to ride over the weekend with plans to meet again on Monday.However, Thoroughbred Breeders Association chief executive Peter McGauran who represented s

Efforts are underway to appoint a mediator to help resolve the jockeys' dispute which threatens the multi-million dollar spring carnival.

Race meetings around the country were halted on Thursday when jockeys voted to stop riding in protest at the Australian Racing Board's (ARB) refusal to change the controversial whip rules.

The jockeys have agreed to ride over the weekend with plans to meet again on Monday.

However, Thoroughbred Breeders Association chief executive Peter McGauran who represented stakeholders at the ARB meeting, said it was hoped a mediator could be appointed to help resolve the issue as soon as possible.

"Efforts are underway to try to re-engage the ARB to try to break the deadlock," McGauran said.

"The jockeys want to restart the discussion."

Representatives from all facets of the industry put forward a submission to have the rule amended to allow jockeys to use their discretion over how many times they hit horses in the last 100 metres of a race as long as they were in contention.

Under the rule brought in on August 1, riders are restricted in the number of times they can use the whip inside the final 200 metres.

Along with the new rule, the ARB introduced padded whips to lessen the impact on horses.

The ARB has said it would not review the rule again until February as originally scheduled.