Taliesan
Well-Known Member
I have one horse who is incredibly whip shy. When I first got him three years ago I picked one up in the school to use as a lunging aid. Never have I had a horse run away from me so quickly - all I did was pick the thing up off the school fence.
In the past three years I have never once used a whip near him or even thought about it. About three weeks ago in the school we were doing our usual lap on foot around the arena before I hopped on. Jack had a jolly demeanour with his ears forwards and was generally pretty happy about life. I saw a short whip on the floor in the middle of the school and I bent down to pick it up and put on the outside of the arena so it wasn't trodden on.
Jack's expression went from happy to visibly distressed in a split second. His ears went back, he looked anxious and he turned his head away from me. Granted it was less extreme than his initial reaction all those years ago but he still clearly finds whips very aversive. I honestly didn't expect him to get so upset about me simply picking one up to move it out of the way.
I've seen a lot of incorrect whip use in my time and I think they are very easy to use to excess in moments of anger and fear.
For many they are an indispensable tool and they is absolutely fine - people can train their horses in the manner that works best for them and the horse, everyone is an individual after all.
They are just not something I will ever use with either of my horses.
In the past three years I have never once used a whip near him or even thought about it. About three weeks ago in the school we were doing our usual lap on foot around the arena before I hopped on. Jack had a jolly demeanour with his ears forwards and was generally pretty happy about life. I saw a short whip on the floor in the middle of the school and I bent down to pick it up and put on the outside of the arena so it wasn't trodden on.
Jack's expression went from happy to visibly distressed in a split second. His ears went back, he looked anxious and he turned his head away from me. Granted it was less extreme than his initial reaction all those years ago but he still clearly finds whips very aversive. I honestly didn't expect him to get so upset about me simply picking one up to move it out of the way.
I've seen a lot of incorrect whip use in my time and I think they are very easy to use to excess in moments of anger and fear.
For many they are an indispensable tool and they is absolutely fine - people can train their horses in the manner that works best for them and the horse, everyone is an individual after all.
They are just not something I will ever use with either of my horses.