Think Pawsitive - Pet Training

Let’s talk about: Glamourizing Whips

Growing up I was taught:

The horse doesn't canter - “hit him”

The horse refuses to jump - “hit him”

The horse isn’t moving fast enough - “hit him”

“Just hit him until he listens, it doesn’t hurt”

I was CONSTANTLY told by people and riders I looked up to, respected and admired that whips didn’t hurt and that whips were the solution to a majority of behaviour problems. But let’s look at the science here.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7696388/

This recent study concluded:

“There is no significant difference between humans and horses in either the concentration of nerve endings in the outer pain-detecting layer of skin (epidermis) or in the thickness of this layer”

“Humans and horses have the equivalent key anatomical structures to detect cutaneous pain.”

If it hurts for you to get hit with a whip, it hurts the horse too.

To make matters worse, all these colourful crops are targeted at kids. It makes them excited to use this aversive “tool” without the full understanding of the harm the tool can do.

Whips are often used as a bandaid solution but the root cause of the problem is often overlooked and suppressed.

Instead, we should know:

• There are reasons behind horses “not listening”. Horses aren’t just bad and naughty for fun.

• How to investigate and solve issues without just using force for compliance.

• How to get desired behaviour in an ethical / non-painful way. Creating cues instead of commands. Teaching new behaviours instead of using suppression.

Whip are not glamorous. Whips are not the only solution. Whips hurt.

Want more resources on this topic?

https://worldbitlessassociation.org/uncategorised/drop-the-whip-campaign