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To Make the World a Better Place for Horses

Whips

By:
functional.training
Date:
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed

A paragraph from a book printed in 1924 titled'Men and Horses I have known' by the hon George Lambton.
Fordham was the stables jockey and the story goes that when the boy who was riding Don Juan in the race ( Cesarewitch c. 1880s) went out to get up on him,Fordham took his whip,a new one from him saying' Dear me, what a pretty whip this is my boy but what a pitty it is these pretty things lose so many races;dont you think you had better leave it behind? and putting it in his pocket,walked off with it.

phantommustang1 Walsenburg, Colorado, USA
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Smart man.

Kicki -- Sweden
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*LOL!* I love it!

LindaR
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Haha amazing!

Horse addict (From the good old USA)
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Wise decision!

Kicki -- Sweden
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

There is a brand new British study - presented at the ISES - International Society of Equitation Science - conference recently.
"Is there a correlation between whip use and results in show jumping?"
The results showed that when the whip was used, the horse was less likely to achieve a show jumping round with no faults.
In short, The researchers observed 229 non-elite and 229 elite show jumpers at affiliated UK show jumping competitions. Overall 65.5% of riders carried a whip…and 20.7% of those who carried a whip used a whip. Non-elite riders were more than twice as likely to use the whip.
The likelihood of achieving a clear round decreased for riders who used the whip, with riders who carried but did not use a whip faring better; and elite riders who carried the whip but did not use it fared the best.
Those who used the whip were statistically less likely to achieve a clear round… elite riders were statistically more likely to achieve faults if the whip was used.
.
My take; Tt goes to prove that nothing beats(!) good riding! :p
.
Here's the link to the full article:
http://www.equitationscience.com/announcements/media-release-2

Kicki -- Sweden
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

I should have added the last and most important conclusion:
.
"With an increase in public awareness of welfare in equestrian sport, discussion of the rules governing whip use is gaining momentum. As evidence is emerging from other equestrian disciplines there is clearly a need for continuing review of whip use. This study may contribute to encouraging review of whip use rules."

Abi
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No whips is the way forward. Instead of using a whip (which I was told I should use) I now use the Giddy up rope and have a happy responsive pony and training that is free from violence. :)

vicci - UK (North Wales)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed

This is an email I sent to Monty's daughter recently that I'd like to share with you all. It was in response to a question in Montys newsletter.

Hi Debbie and team

You know, this debate about whips has been raging for too long. In my opinion the time has come to 'up our game' in getting rid of this useless piece of equipment. Yes, I know Monty's belief (and I support it in theory) that 'its the hands that hold the equipment that cause the pain' but the construction of a whip makes it very very easy to inflict pain. Forgive me if I appear to be "ranting", I hope you know me well enough now Debbie to feel assured of my admiration and respect for everything that you, your Dad, and your team do but I this issue bothers me a lot!

Why does the racing/competition fraternity continue to debate the "correct" use of a whip? In the UK we have a ridiculous rule about how many times a whip can be used in a race before it becomes 'too many'.

Why do we continue to support organisations that advocate its use and even specify it as a requirement in order to pass exams?! In the UK Stage 1 of the BHS riding exam REQUIRES that a whip be used "smartly" so as to demonstrate a visible reponse from the horse. What the hell are we teaching people?

Why is a whip most often the FIRST piece of equipment we buy children who want to ride?

Why do we continue to see horrific devices knows as "Lunge whips" that are allegedly used "for communication" routinely used to inflict pain. How many times have we seen the results of misapplied lunge whips? They are not necessary.

Why do we continue to cheer when famous show jumpers hit their horses to drive them over jumps?

I am aware that getting rid of the whip will not eliminate violence to horses. Sadly, there are many ways to inflict pain on a horse but that's not a good enough reason not to campaign for the end of its use.

Debbie, your Dad is a world renowned horseman and a pioneer in the call for violence free training, but I think it's time for him to go one step further and begin a proactive and focused international campaign for the banning of whips in ALL equestrian competition. Yes, he speaks out about the use of whips within the context of non-violence but I feel strongly that it is time for a "single issue" focused campaign. There is no debate to be had. Despite the protests from those who "only use it for guidance and communication" etc. the overwhelming use of a whip is to inflict pain.

How can we keep 'debating' in a desire for non-violence the use of a whip. In America the phrase "three strikes and you are out" I gather is well known (and we know it here in the UK too!) I suggest a new slogan that states "one strike is one strike too many" or some similar issue. Incidentally - "No Strike" would be confusing in the UK as "No Strike Policy" refers to certain types of employment (Police etc.) not being allowed to go 'on strike' (i.e. Union led refusal to work as a form of protest).

We have NO RIGHT to inflict pain and it needs to stop now.

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia
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A great letter, Vicci. Thanks for sharing. It would be interesting to have Monty's response if you received one.

griffo.girl, Tasmania, Australia
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Hey Vicci, in response to your letter - I do agree with what you are saying completely as you can imagine but how far do we take this? In reality whips are not the only problem, bits inflict incredible pain when used by inexperienced people learning to ride and losing balance and inadvertently jarring the bit in the mouth. I have seen 'respectable' competitors reef on a horses mouth to get it to do what they want - great training methods!!!!! Spurs should not be used. It is all good to say its the hands that hold the equipment but the reality is that people being who they are create a situation where the potential for pain being inflicted upon a horse can be immense - even the much used Dually in the wrong hands can be an instrument of pain by reefing on the nose rope and there is no way you can tell me that there aren't people out there that do that. So how can this ever be controlled??? A question that I fear there will be no answer to for many years. For my part, I only use a rope halter and lead to train and ride in with all my horses. My body language and movement ask the horse to flex, yield, back etc and I have great results with these methods. It is just the way I do things and will continue to - no artificial aids other than the rope halter and there is always minimal or no pressure with that. We all have to find our path in life with training our horses - this is mine and I applaud anyone who tries to work with no violence or aggression. I really hope you have success with your campaign Vicci although I think you have a hard road ahead trying to break down mainstream ideas on horse training but if we all do our little bit then hopefully over time a difference can be made. Cheers, Jan

Rudi - Pratteln, Switzerland
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

Dear Jan and Vicci. I also think that we have to convince people by showing them the way how to work differently. By the way: I brought my plastic bag stick home today to do a little repair. I realized that all the plastic things we use are self made, you can’t go to a shop and you have the choice between six different sticks as you would have for a whip. There is one device sold by Michael Geitner (a German horseman): a little flag, yellow or blue. I think this could be a good thing: to sell a device in Monty’s shop, besides the giddy-up rope (which is not that easy to handle). Could be a kind of lunging whip with plastic peaces at the end. I have put a picture on Facebook "Equus Online Uni Group" or even a whip with exchangeable plastic peaces at the the end. If the devices are available people will probably try and use it more.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=414372538672678&set=gm.183601561820386&type=1&theater

Rudi

Deby
Hello!

In the classic equestrian center during lesson, teachers force students to use whip (In switzerland but I don't know in the oder lands) this is the problem...

mustang.girl - Croatia
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed

Dear Deby I think it is same in almost all countries, teachers in Croatia force students to use whip also,they don't care about the pain that it produces :(
Mirna

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