Whips (no chains)

[flick]

I've been riding Benny without a whip since he arrived, because he doesn't need it for the basic stop / go stuff and I wasn't sure how he'd react to one, given how scared he is of being hit.

Last time I rode him, though, I was starting to feel the absence of a whip when I was doing things where it would have been helpful to use one to give him a little nudge left or right, so I thought I'd give it a go and see how he felt about it.

This morning, I tried it out, and he is indeed terrified of it: he was ok if I just carried it, but every time I swapped it from one hand to the other he jumped, even though I didn't touch him with it at all. We spent a little while going around in walk with me swapping it over, and then I put it down and went on without it.

I suspect it's going to take a little while to even get to the stage where I can just move it around stroking him!

Comments

[clothsprogs]

Perhaps you need to hold out little signs saying "left" or "right" for him instead....?

OK so that isn't at all helpful, but it conjured a lovely mental image for me.

Teddy

[flick]

Given I can't tell my left from my right, I'd probably get the wrong one half the time!

[clothsprogs]

Tom and I navigate by, "My side," "Your side," but obviously that wouldn't work for riding...

Teddy