On Spanking Horses | Suite101.com

Posted by
Laura Thompson
Nov 20, 2008

This has constituted a raging debate for decades among horse trainers, and I thought I'd weigh in and see how Suite101 readers feel. The subject of hitting and slapping horses is a sensitive one, and not easily reconciled.

When this subject comes up with my students and clients, I like to make the comparison between horses and children. Some parents are perfectly comfortable with spanking their children to help show them right from wrong. Those same parents would probably be horse owners who throw a slap every once in a while.

Other parents are completely against spanking, just as some horse owners will never raise a hand against their horses. This mentality means that anything stronger than a pat constitutes abuse, which to me seems rather silly.

I will smack my horses when they do something wrong, if only because it makes an immediate impression. For example, when a horse tries to take a bite out of a human, a smack on the nose is appropriate. Similarly, horses that paw in the shower stall will usually stop after a slap to the shoulder is delivered.

If you think this constitutes animal abuse, I would love to know why. So many of my clients and students are against slapping their horses, and I totally respect that. You shouldn't spank someone else's horse if they have asked you not to. However, I have to ask: Do you really think it hurts the horse?

My very first horseback riding instructor got after me one day because I wasn't kicking hard enough. She said, "They used to make softballs out of horse skin. That tapping with your leg is like a fly buzzing against your skin. He hardly feels it."

You have to take everything in context, from parenting to horse training. I would also consider the personality of the animal. I would never smack a horse who has been rescued from an abuse situation or who is sensitive to the touch. These horses don't need a smack to stay in line because much softer reminders are sufficient.

Additionally, it is important to realize that some people should not spank their horses. My husband, for example, doesn't know his own strength, and is therefore an unreliable barometer when it comes to delivering reminders. I, on the other hand, am gentler and accustomed to meting out the correct amount of force.

Please, if you have the time, weigh in on this issue. Do you smack your horses in horse training? Why or why not?

Feb 6, 2009 10:12 AM

Guest :

I also think that issue is as sensitive as spanking children. Personally I don't think there is much difference between them both when it comes to rasing them. Once I heard something President A.Lincoln said long time ago, "Be soft like a velvet and hard like a steel". There is such a difference between velvet and steel. It spoke to me alot and I applied to working with horses. You can tell kids and horses both til you are blue from the face that something they do is wrong but unless you make it clear like you mean it they will not take you seriously. That doesn't mean that you go and slap them around. To them that would be confusing and that I would call abuse. To me the difference between 'velvet' and 'steel' is what makes correction effective. Without it you only confuse the horse and show him your poor leadership.