To start off, I'm very anti-whips in any context. But I do have a dilemma here where I'm wondering if a lunge whip might be helpful, while not being cruel. I am currently helping a lady at a small barn with a 3 year old Arabian because she took a spill that injured her back pretty good and can't work with him right now. So it is not my barn, nor is it her's. She just boards there. I've been doing join up in the round pen that is available there, but it is over-run with grass. Anees, the horse I am working with, ignored it at first and we made some good progress, but once he took a bite of that grass a few days later, I couldn't get him to really join-up with me again. The grass was too tempting even after they finally mowed it. I try everything I can with my body language, voice, and lunge line I can think of to cue him on, but he won't have it and if he moves, he kicks up his heals and throws his head, sometimes facing me as if he is considering running me over for not allowing him to eat his grass. He hasn't, but he squares off like he's thinking it or telling me to go away. Would using the lunge whip more as an extension of my arm with a little sound, not too crazy of a pop, be acceptable? I'd rather not use it, but it would be really beneficial for me to be able to join up with him and continue his training with that as a foundation. I'm just wondering if there is an appropriate way to use one that isn't threatening or anything, but might make him listen and ignore the grass more.
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Monty's way is to use a stick with plastic bags. In my opinion the only difference to a whip is the fact that you can create no pain with the plastic (at least it is more difficult). At the end remains the rule that the important part is the handler of the tool not the tool itself.
Rudi
Dear Arabian2hearts: let us look through your question a little deeper. First of all, you have done Join-Up® on this horse, remember we only do 4-5 Join-Up®s in a horses life. Second, we always need to put the responsability on our selves and remember to always make it possible for the horse to succeed. With that said; the horse is problably joined-up and you make it difficult for him to stick to the contract. I believe you are looking for a solution and you keep saying you do not want to use a wip, that tells me you some where back in your mind would like another solution because it tells you this is not the answer. Do think a little more on what you want to achieve with more join-up®s, look into if you can rase the bar and longline or do groundwork instead. It is up to us to let them succeed in the best way and I think you are on the right track - so keep on Equus, I will keep looking for your comments and maybe I can help you even more. Warmest CI Ann Lindberg
I completely agree with Ann: its time to move his training on. We must be fair to our horses and set them up with as little chance to fail as possible - a grassed roound pen and a loose horse(I have also worked in one) is just too distracting and unfair and sets up a battle for the grass rather than a leadership discussion. However, working in a Dually in a grassed round pen can be a useful way to stop the habit of 'grass snatching' developing - we all have our pet hates and one of mine is 'grass gabbing' - for me, the rule is when the halter is on, there is no eating grass. I know some people say its ok to give permission for them to eat and I have no real problem with it but I prefer the clear distinction so that this can be transferred to no 'grass grabbing' when under saddle as well - just my personal phislosophy.
Good Philosophy Vicci!
I agree vicci my ponies are very typical for trying to eat hedges, they came to me with that habit and its taken so long to persuade them out of it!
I agree vicci my ponies are very typical for trying to eat hedges, they came to me with that habit and its taken so long to persuade them out of it!
I agree vicci my ponies are very typical for trying to eat hedges, they came to me with that habit and its taken so long to persuade them out of it!
It's a very good philosophy, vicci!
I wish my boy shared it as well!!! *LOL*