24/07/2025
๐ช๐ฒ๐น๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐: ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ช๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐๐โ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ป'๐
๐๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ณ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ด๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ช๐ฑ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐จ๐ฉ ๐ด๐ค๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ด๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐ด๐ฉ๐ช๐ฑ
In Pony Club, weโre here to learn, grow, and ride with kindness. That applies to how we use our voice, our legsโand our equipment.
Letโs talk about the whip.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ถ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ:
The whip is a training aid, not a punishment tool. It can be used lightly to reinforce the leg aid, such as a gentle tap to encourage the horse to move forward. This is a form of negative reinforcement: the horse learns to respond to the riderโs leg in order to avoid the follow-up tap.
When used correctly, a whip:
โช๏ธEncourages a horse to respond to a light leg aid
โช๏ธHelps clarify a riderโs request
โช๏ธCan back up communication when timing and consistency are right
Butโhereโs the important partโwhips must be used gently, never in anger.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ถ๐๐ปโ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ:
The whip must never be used to vent frustration, strike a horse, or punish after the fact. This is not only against Pony Club policyโitโs ineffective and unfair to the horse.
Why? Because horses donโt learn through punishment the way people do.
Equitation science tells us that horses learn best through clear, consistent signals and timing. Punishment doesnโt work unless itโs delivered the moment an unwanted behaviour occurs. Even then, it usually causes more harm than good.
Punishing a horse:
โช๏ธConfuses them (they donโt understand why theyโre being hit)
โช๏ธIncreases fear and anxiety
โช๏ธDamages trust and the horseโrider partnership
โช๏ธIncreases the risk of dangerous behaviour or accidents
In short, punishment makes horses fearfulโnot obedient.
๐ ๐ก๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐
If your child is still developing the emotional maturity to stay calm when things go wrong (as many young riders are), it may be best not to give them a whip just yet. Whips must never be used in frustration or anger, and itโs our shared responsibility to make sure horses are handled with fairness and kindness at all times.
Talk with your child about why a whip is used and how to use it correctly. If youโre unsure, ask a Pony Club instructor for guidanceโtheyโre there to support you too.
๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฒ๐น๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐
Pony Club Australia considers it a breach of the Horse Welfare Policy to:
โช๏ธUse a whip in a way that causes pain, injury, or visible marks
โช๏ธUse any method that deliberately inflicts pain
โช๏ธStrike a horse overhand or with the reins, especially in anger
โช๏ธUse a whip as punishment
โช๏ธInstruct someone else to use equipment in a harmful wayโincluding parents, supporters or coaches
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒโ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต?
If a Pony Club coach or official observes a breach of this policy, they have the authority to:
โช๏ธImmediately withdraw the rider from the activity
โช๏ธEliminate the rider from a competition
โช๏ธRefer the matter for investigation
All breaches are subject to the PCA Conduct and Disciplinary Policy, and in serious cases, may be reported to external welfare authorities (listed in Appendix A of our Horse Welfare Policy).
๐ฅ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐. ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ.
Good horsemanship is about understanding how horses learn. Thatโs why PCA teaches equitation scienceโnot outdated traditions. Using the whip appropriately means using it sparingly, gently, and always in the horseโs best interest.
Kindness is not weakness. Itโs knowledge in action.
To read more, download the PCA Horse Welfare Policy: https://ponyclubaustralia.com.au/integrity/pony-club-integrity-policies/
