The Whip - again...

The_Tranterer

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sorry if this is a tedious subject! im new, thats my excuse; starting lots of convos is a good way to get to know people!!!

under what circumstances would you condone use of the whip, and when do you think it's NOT appropriate?
 
It' not acceptable to use it out of frustration/temper.
If I get frustrated with a horse I will drop my whip as I dont even want that to become a possibility.

Too many people use the whip before the leg.
 
When a rider doesnt just give them a tap but actually smacks them as many times as they can as hard as they can when they refuse a jump.
 
LOL!! Gosh you do like to talk about whips don't you.
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I don't use whips, however I have no problem with others using them as a means of backing up the leg or to give a short sharp shock to "encourage" a horse to move forward if it balks at something.

I cannot bear anyone beating their horse remorselessly with a whip - absolutely no excuse for this whatsoever. Leaving whip marks on a horse is not acceptable to me I'm afraid.
 
I use the whip to back up my leg when i feel i am not getting enough response from my leg he gets a tap.
Also as encouragement, reins in to 1 hand LIGHT tapping BEHIND my leg when spooking at something out hacking or jumping xc and needs persuasion at water or drop fences etc

Never used in anger
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LOL!! Gosh you do like to talk about whips don't you.
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I don't use whips, however I have no problem with others using them as a means of backing up the leg or to give a short sharp shock to "encourage" a horse to move forward if it balks at something.

I cannot bear anyone beating their horse remorselessly with a whip - absolutely no excuse for this whatsoever. Leaving whip marks on a horse is not acceptable to me I'm afraid.

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LOL!!!
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my boss said the same thing...he walked behind me as i was posting, and said "whips and spurs, eh!!!"
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i completely agree about there being no excuse for beating a horse continuously - i have seen too many people at shows especially laying into their ponies when it is actually rider error or ignorance that caused the prob in the first place. as far as leaving marks are concerned, there is no excuse for drawing blood. certain horses are very fine skinned though, and i have seen some where even a slap down the shoulder has left a raised hair line. one example of this was a horse for sale that i went to try - they told me i had to carry a whip on him, but when i gave him a tap, he bucked three times, and i was mortified as there was a mark on his neck! they told me he had seriously tickly sides, and that the whip was there as a 'warning', not to be used! nice to be told AFTER he turned into a bronco
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Its not acceptable to whip out of anger, or to "beat" a horse.

I would use the whip generally as an encouragement to go forward or work more actively, or as a reprimand if a horse was behaving badly - but I'd never smack a horse more than once as a reprimand.
 
I use a schooling whip on Cairo - he is a big hairy 16.3 clydie and I am a 5' titch with short legs. Without me carrying a whip he will occasionally take the pee and stand with me doing a pony club impression to get him moving. The other alternative is to use small spurs or ride western (long reins = built in whip).

I use a very short whip on Chancer and tap his shoulder when I use my leg as again I do not want to kick a youngster and a gentle tap combined with a nudge works. He is a quick learner and the tap is becoming less and less. I also use a whip in ground work to move him over where I would put my leg.

I do not like to see a horse whipped in anger or if the rider is the problem. Whilst a mark on sensitive skinned types is ok, some come up with a finger rub, I would never stand by and see a horse with broken wounds caused by a whip.

Like all things, the whip can have its place, but I personally rarely use one other than a small tap.
 
the most important thing in riding is being able to distinguish between when a horse is saying "i can't" (physically do that/understand you) or "i shan't" (cos i don't want to thanks very much.) in the first case, no whip, ever. in the second case, whip. legs first, then voice, and if that doesn't work, a touch with the whip, maybe a tickle, then a rub with it, then if necessary a light slap. if the horse is downright naughty (e.g. an experienced horse running out at a skinny when perfectly presented and the skinny isn't too big/difficult for him) then a smack or two, so he knows it's wrong. ditto rearing, napping, specific naughty behaviour.
never at loss of rider temper. i've been taught to get off, walk away and kick the fence if you really can't control your temper. never take it out on the horse.
 
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Its not acceptable to whip out of anger, or to "beat" a horse.

I would use the whip generally as an encouragement to go forward or work more actively, or as a reprimand if a horse was behaving badly - but I'd never smack a horse more than once as a reprimand.

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my thoughts entirely
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my horse will actually tell me when she feels she's done something naughty - she only refused a handful of times wen jumping, and 90% of these were because i had missed a stride, not been forward enough, and so on. on these occasions, as i turned her away she would do a funny little rear, as if to say "it wasnt me, dont tell me off!" and i would just pat her neck. but on the odd time she had put a dirty stop in, she wouldnt move a muscle, as if knowing she was going to get a little 'reminder'!
 
I carry a whip as a matter of course...just in case. But tend to use it to whack against my leather boot rather than use it on my horse as I find this has the desired effect of moving him forward and sharpening him up!
 
Same thoughts as The_Tranterer. I hate seeing people beating their horse with a whip - NOT on at all. If I ever smacked one of mine any more than a gentle tap - I guarantee you wouldn't see us for dust! I guess it depends on how sensitive your horse is as to how they respond though. Either way, to many people misuse a whip, especially children.
 
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I cannot bear anyone beating their horse remorselessly with a whip - absolutely no excuse for this whatsoever. Leaving whip marks on a horse is not acceptable to me I'm afraid.

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Stop talking about me on the forum. And as for the whip marks - they are only temporary, and well hidden beneath a rug.
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Hello MizElz
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[/ QUOTE ] The same thought had crossed my mind ...

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Mizelz leaves....the Tranterer appears...
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She'd have to be pretty stupid to leave, re join a few hours later and post about the same subject. I think Mizelz knows what the rest of the forum's opinions on whips are...
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You think? Lots of people in the past have done exactly this.
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Who cares; she's welcome here no matter what name she posts under.
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i think its wrong to use it when you are ruled by emotion.
it can definately help with schooling-esp lateral work to help get the horse the idea
i have also given a naughty horse a smack-this mare was very stubbern and was rearing,napping and spinning.all physical checks were fine,she had just been allowed to get away with things for several years.
i wasnt frustrated,the pony had no marks on her and wasnt afraid of the whip and went alot better and safer for its use.
the whip was my last resort.
 
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Hello MizElz
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[/ QUOTE ] The same thought had crossed my mind ...

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Mizelz leaves....the Tranterer appears...
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im not really sure what you guys are on about, but hey! i've only just discovered this forum (only other forum i have ever registered on is a student site!) so quite why you seem to think i'm somebody else, im not sure.....
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There is no reason to ever physically punish a horse, whether with a whip, foot, fist etc.. they are so easily trained behaviourally that resorting to pain is just plain cruelty.

If a horse isn't behaving, there are physical or leadership issues that need resolving, beating the horse is a temporary solve (only for the benefit of the human) and potentially problem generating in itself.

whips are acceptable when they are used (nicely
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) as an extention of legs/hands etc.
 
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