Desensitising & Resensitising to the whip

Prerequisites  When I walk, you walk, when I stop you stop, when I back you back.  Fist bump  Some targeting attempted. Equipment:  Bridle  Halter  Dressage whip  Crop  Possible some treats

I use the riding crop on the shoulder for forwardness and the dressage whip on the hindquarters for drive once forwardness is established. I will also use the crop for poles, jumping and hacking out and the dressage whip for flat work and dressage, so I want to start establishing the relationship with both of these whips here, now.

Exercise:

Desensitising.  Horse in hand in either the halter or bridle, your choice.  Fist bump (are you ready to work)  Hold the whip up and ask the horse to touch/target the whip with the nose. Release pressure for the touch, reward.  Rub the whip over their body like you are patting them.  Repeat a few times and give your horse a break

Resensitising.  Whip means move away from. Halter/bridle pressure means follow.  Gently on the horses shoulder start with the lightest tap you can apply. Gently increase the intensity of the aid until the horse reacts, along them to walk forwards or sideways whichever they choose. Release the pressure for the reaction.  Repeat 3 times  Give the horse a break

Alternate between desensitising and resensitising a few times and either stop or move on if they don’t mind the whip pressure.

Equestrian Movement In-Hand Bitting Exercise Book Page 1

Resistance Some horses will get frustrated if they don’t know what you want, why you are using the whip. They may stomp the ground, push you with their nose or strike out. This is how they deal with not knowing what you want take note. When you do things with them in the future if they don’t know what you want this is how they respond. Horses who are scared of the whip will try and run away, they might rear up at you if they think they can’t get away, they might lunge at you and attack you. If you feel the behaviour is too much for you please get professional help. Spend lots of time on the desensitising before you even consider using the whip on them/resensitising and spend lots of time on the relationship skills. Depending on their trauma this could take months even years. Because we haven’t defined in this exercise what we want them to do all other behaviours are mostly acceptable, except for eating. So other than not knowing how to process the whip as a cue we don’t really get resistance to this exercise. And if they don’t know how to process the whip better you know now on the ground rather than in the saddle!!

Equestrian Movement In-Hand Bitting Exercise Book Page 2

Equestrian Movement In-Hand Bitting Exercise Book Page 3