When is it appropriate to discipline a horse: when he bucks, spooks, or does not respond to my aids? As a rider, I lack confidence and am perplexed by the concept of punishing a horse. Also, how should I discipline him: whipping him or abruptly coming to a halt? That’s right, let’s find an answer for Can you punish a horse?
Can you punish a horse?
Though you can easily punish your horse, you shouldn’t do it. The most important thing to remember is that punishment does not apply to horses or riding. When you have a horrible ride or something goes wrong, you cannot penalize the horse. You instead correct the behavior. Horses do not realize when they have engaged in inappropriate or incorrect behavior.
Don’t forget to read: Does it hurt a guy to ride a horse?
The first step is to comprehend and strive to correct the aids and cues you gave to your horse. Your ongoing communication will become easier once you rectify this rider-to-horse translation. When correcting a behavior, you must do so immediately, not after the ride has ended. This correction must be made within three seconds of the behavior. Any reaction within a few seconds, and the horse will have no idea what he has done. In his opinion, you are pursuing him for no reason, thereby harming your bond with your horse. The correction is determined by the movement you are performing and the severity of the horse’s reaction or lack thereof.
When your horse refuses your assistance, one of the first things to examine is that he may be in pain or discomfort. Many horses will oppose to a movement in order to protect themselves. Maybe their back hurts or one of their legs hurts. If this is not the case, make sure your horse is forward and in front of your leg aids. Return to basics and practice upward and downhill transitions while establishing your horse on the aids. Begin by responding to the help forward.
A abrupt half-halt may be all that is required in some situations for a correction. In others, it could be a whipping or a severe leg aid. The goal is to figure out what you were saying to your horse and how to convey this message more clearly. For example, with a skittish horse, your goal should be to keep his attention on you and not on the frightening flowers around. This is not a punishment, but rather a correction of grabbing his attention with internal help and adjusting your routine. Punishing a horse that spooks at the flowers with a whip or hard aids is the quickest way to produce a truly terrified and unrideable horse.
Correcting the behavior can also be accomplished in little increments, such as finishing on a positive note, even if it is a minor one. Is your horse backing up when you urge him to walk? OK, as soon as he walks forward, reward him, and you’re done. Always conclude on a good note if you want to progress as a rider and gain confidence in both yourself and your horse.
Is it OK to hit your horse?
Naturally, the answer is yes and no, because the term “hit” must be defined.
Does “hit” refer to a tap, bump, defense, or stimulation? Or does “hit” refer to whacking, hurting, smashing, being angry, or punishing? And… might it signify both at the same time?
What does the term “hit” signify to you? If you’re like most people, you associate the word “hit” with punishment. If you’re like most people, the word “hit” has two connotations, and only one of them is acceptable!
If I said, “I have to hit my horse with my stick to keep him from running over me since my 180 pound body doesn’t equal his 1800 pound body…” I am justified in my actions and, yes, even in my word choice. I’m not furious; I’m defending myself, and in that situation, hitting my horse became perfectly acceptable.
However, some people have a visceral reaction to the word “hit.” It merely denotes punishment. As a result, I rarely use the word. But, strangely, some people, by refusing to use the phrase, also refuse to utilize their leadership in critical situations, particularly when it comes to their safety around horses. They opt not to “strike” their horse because “hitting” is always punishment and will shatter the profound bond you’ve sought to make with your horse. The disadvantage is that these same people will never lead a horse into or through difficult situations for fear of damaging their bond and their horse’s confidence.
These people are perpetually stuck at the lower levels of horsemanship. In rare situations, though, a person’s thinking can expand to encompass more than one meaning for a term. They may recognize the worth in a negative word utilized with a positive goal rather than the monotone presentation of a single word. And one day, they may be able to use the term, or even convey the physical movement that goes with it, with perfect good meaning and have no qualms about being that type of leader.