I've used a dressage whip often enough in a round pen. Training a horse isn't always pretty.
A pro doing some work for us: 
Internet photo:
Posted on 12/06/2012 5:50:33 PM PST by reaganaut
Check your FRmail.
This may be a lunge whip — if so, it’s perfectly fine. A lunge whip is not used to hit the horse, but to direct it as the horse is lunged or free lunged (without a lunge line). if, however, the animals are being struck by a real whip, that is abuse.
Next time you volunteer, ask your boss where the nearest ASPCA horse shelter is. I’m curious . . . I’ve never seen one.
Not sure where in CA you are located but maybe this link will help. Contact a local rescue, near where this is happening. Most rescues are well informed of local animal cruelty laws and may have accepted or rescued animals in that location in the past. Some Mexicans are notoriously bad horsemen...ever heard of “horse tripping” or “Mexican rodeos”....nasty. Get these animals help right away, they can’t do it themselves!
http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/CA-HorseRescues.html
Videotape the activity and then send it to PETA, expressing your concern.
Call EVERYBODY, like YESTERDAY. Sheriff, ASPCA, etc.
Call EVERYBODY, like YESTERDAY. Sheriff, ASPCA, etc.
I didn’t write that the ASPCA keeps “horse shelters,” lol. I said they would investigate charges of abuse. Well, at least my place does.
My God,report them.
Animal Rescue League is my fave.
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Were the animals acually struck by the whip? Or was it simply cracked above them?
I appreciate your work also . . . I'm just the guy with mud/manure up to his knees. :)
I've used a dressage whip often enough in a round pen. Training a horse isn't always pretty.
A pro doing some work for us:
Internet photo:
A lunge whip is like a cross between a bull whip and a buggy whip.
It is a proper tool for exercising or training a horse that does not have a rider. The horse is in a long line (lunge line) and is kept moving in a circle by following it with the whip. The whip is generally flopped along the ground behind the horse, occasionally making a sound. It is rarely, if ever, used to actually strike the horse, and never in an overhand motion.
Whatever they were doing was not proper...but as others have said may not constitute abuse. (and there story is likely to be a lot better than what you saw.)
Makes me want to watch “Man From Snowy River” again. Boy that guy could ride.
Get it on video, and be as unobtrusive about it as you can. Be sure to make copies of the video, and keep the original. Contact your local police dept., and make no mention of the people being illegals-just tell them about the animal abuse, and insist on a copy of the Police Report. Also, contact your local ASPCA, Animal Rescue League, or horse rescue organization. Call a local veterinarian who specializes in equines-if you don’t know of one who does, or if you have a pet, call your own Vet and ask what to do about the situation. Document everything, and keep copies.
I’ve worked with horses for years, and an actual bullwhip should never be used on horses..that’s flat-out abuse. A Dressage whip is basically a thin flexible shaft that’s about the width of a finger, about 6 or so feet long, with a lash that’s about the same length. It can be used to tap the horse lightly, or the lash can be snapped in the air to make a “crack” sound that gets the horse’s attention. A bullwhip is a whole different ball game, and is definitely abusive.
On behalf of the horses involved, thank you for your concern about them. Please keep us informed!!!
Most animal abuse laws have exceptions for training stock animals. No blood, no foul is usually the way it will work.
I’m fond of my mare, and she thinks I’m the best human going, but I’ve made contact with her working her in a round pen. And there are horses I wouldn’t hesitate to make contact with, depending on their behavior.
Are you sure they were being hit? Round pen training does use a whip but not to hit the horses with but to get them to pay attention to change in command.
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