Would you smack a pony for being naughty ?

trudij

THAT is misuse of a whip (not to mention a metal pole - what the F*** ??!!!) not giving a horse a slap or tap.

Yes - if you can get someone else to back you up as a witness, phone the RSPCA. I doubt they will be able to do anything - but if nothing else, you will know that you have done somethign. If the woman is that awful (and it sounds like shes a lovely specimin of femaleness - NOT ) then dont confront her. What a Bit**. Thats the kind of behaviour that gives anyone that rides a bad name. She simply shouldnt have horses. Or at least that horse. Id love to think that Id have said something to her - but in all reality, I hate confrontation, so Id maybe have spoken up - then backed straight down if she had a pop back at me.(unless shed really p***ed me off - then I let rip and not care about the consequences !!)
Im shocked. I honestly didnt think there were people like that around any more - thats proper ignorant old school mentality. she shouldnt have horses. Poor poor horse - and so young to be ruined by an ignorant bullying witch too.

orlao

Kimberley wrote: »

Thats different to smacking a dog or Horse. The title of this thread says "would you smack a Pony for being naughty" and that is what my posts are about.

It is different but you also said that you trained your dog without using an object or your hand....

I'm not sure what you mean 'stopping a dog pulling on a lead is punishment too?'

It depends how you set out to stop the dog pulling on a lead. It's perfectly possible to train a dog not to pull on the lead using positive reinforcement.

It doesn't matter how you fancy up the words - aids - using something which makes an animal do something to make you stop (applying pressure with the leg for example) is punishment in the pure form of the word.

It was in response to the above post. I agree with positive reinforcement training for any animal - it has much better results in the long term as well as being humane which makes it a win - win solution in my book.

My point was that there are "tools" that we use to train our animals, used properly and as originally intended they are not unkind....and that to understand their correct use is vital.

I have seen too many people think they are being kind to a horse by not using a whip to encourage free forward movement, instead they spend their 2 hour hack kick, kick, kicking it on, leaving it with a bruised rib cage. What they need to do is reschool the horse to move forward from light pressure on their side which may involve the use of a whip in the short term but has long term benefits for the horse. BTW, this doesn't involve "beating" just a tap to back up the leg aids. That is the correct use of a whip.

I suppose my question is, do you think we were overreacting?

NO!

This is something your yard owner should be dealing with - complain loudly to them, hopefully with back up from the other witnesses.

If you are worried about what another livery might do to your horses if you upset them, why are you still there:eek: There must be somewhere else that you won't have that worry.

Or you could do what I have done in the past (not recommended btw) which is bowl in and ask how they'd like a touch of their own treatment

Kimberley

Orlao, yes I trained my pup without using an object to make him obedient and without using my hand as him smacking or tapping. If you use an object to control a Horse then it is obviously going to do as it is told .

If you have ever seen a Horse race look at the Horse parading after it has won. You often see whip marks on the Horse, now you cannot tell me that those marks were left after a light tap.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

gorgeouslatinrose wrote: »

What do you think? Has anyone been in this situation?

Why havent none of you said anything to this women rather than watching it? Speak to the owner of the stables or ring the RSPCA but do something rather than nothing x

Kimberley - I havent seen the marks whenever ive seen racing but then i detest the sport so . . .

Hintza

As with most discussions like this on here the debate just becomes polarised. No one condones abuse but you know very little about horses and ponies if you have never encountered this:-

cally6008

Thelwell is the absolute best

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

lol i love that pic

MrsTinks

Kimberley wrote: »

Orlao, yes I trained my pup without using an object to make him obedient and without using my hand as him smacking or tapping. If you use an object to control a Horse then it is obviously going to do as it is told .

If you have ever seen a Horse race look at the Horse parading after it has won. You often see whip marks on the Horse, now you cannot tell me that those marks were left after a light tap.

You might see lines on the horse, that doesn't mean it was beaten, once a horse is sweaty you could gently place your hand on the rumb and the print would be there for all to see untill the next time the horse is brushed. I've seen a lot of races - my uncle trains racehorses for harness racing in Denmark. You can easily tell a horse that has been beaten to one that has been trained using a whip... one will try to get away from it - the other will be curious.

MrsTinks

laurauk wrote: »

i think it all boils down to people feeling that they have to be in control, even if its over an animal.
its so much easier to give an animal a slap when it doesnt obey than a human,or if it doesnt trot or jump when told.
.what a sad race we have become

Out of interest... how long have you been riding and training horses? Sorry it's a genuine question...

MrsTinks

So let me get this right - some people here think that you can get a horse - that is a hither to unbridled and in handled horse - to lead a productive and happy life without ever using any aid in training it to do so?
So no saddle, no rope, no collar, no stick, no bridle, no paddock, no ANYTHING...

Best of luck to you even parelli and monty roberts can't do that Aids are aids - like any tool SOME people may misuse them, the timing of their application, the strength and the manner determines if they are being used correctly to correct or encourage or flat out hurt. The same with dogs - a half check collar can be a useful tool (I don't agree with choke chains either) as can halti's and all the other types of aids for helping training a dog to behave in a manner acceptable in a world where we expect certain behaviour or lack off it (like packs of roaming dogs trying to control territory like they were wolves...)

Please don't confuse aids with objects in an untrained persons hand who misuse it... they are NOT the same thing.