{"id":30720,"date":"2021-12-03T07:03:13","date_gmt":"2021-12-03T07:03:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teddiezieglerhorsemanship.com\/academy\/course\/marks-journey-8-3\/"},"modified":"2022-10-21T07:26:29","modified_gmt":"2022-10-21T07:26:29","slug":"bo2-03-09","status":"publish","type":"tva_lesson","link":"https:\/\/teddiezieglerhorsemanship.com\/academy\/course\/bo2-03-09\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark\u2019s Journey \u2013 #8"},"content":{"rendered":"

What\u2019s the Difference Between the Reed and the Whip?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Time to practice the whip. As I discussed in an earlier lesson, I started Mark out with a reed in his hand to practice moving his horse away from him because the reed is an item found in nature and it is just a plant. Therefore, neither the horse nor the person using it has any preconceived notions and they both can focus on the meaning and the actions behind the body language being used.<\/p>\n

Now that the body language has been established, we are now going to practice doing the same body language but with a different item \u2013 the whip. You will notice how both the human and the horse act differently just because of their preconceived notions of what a whip does.<\/p>\n

I want Mark to use both the whip and the reed and learn when it is appropriate to use each item.  When he is with a sensitive horse, who spooks easy and is easy to move when asked, that is the time to use a reed instead of a whip.  <\/p>\n

When he is with a horse that is a bit tougher to move, resists requests or just doesn\u2019t like to listen, or a horse that is more numb to the world around, that is the time to use a whip instead of a reed.<\/p>\n

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The only difference is how the horse perceives each item.  They are both used in the exact same way, with exactly the same intentions, and the exact same body language.  I always suggest using a reed first to see if you get the reaction you are asking for.  If you do, then there is no need to go to a whip.  <\/p>\n

However, some people \u201cfeel\u201d safer using a whip instead of a reed and that is fine too.  If you feel safer and using a whip makes you feel more confident, then use the whip.  This feeling of confidence and safety will transfer to the horse through your intentions and it will help the entire process.<\/p>\n

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If you have tried using a reed and your horse eats it or doesn\u2019t listen to it at all, even when you use the correct body language\u2026then go to a whip.  But remember just because you went from a reed to a whip does not mean you need to now add more energy and be tougher.<\/p>\n

Many times it is automatic for a human to get tougher with a whip in their hand as opposed to a reed.  You will see this in the video as well.<\/p>\n

Things to notice in this video:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Mark practiced using the whip first without the horses around to get the \u201cfeel\u201d of it.<\/li>\n
  2. He practiced changing it in his hand from active, to inactive, and then back to active in order to get it smooth and natural. You don\u2019t want to practice this with a horse at first if you are not familiar with how to hold or use a whip. Remember, Mark is a newbie with everything to do with horses.<\/li>\n
  3. We used the whip the same as the reed and kept a hold of the rope, keeping it down flat on the handle, so it didn\u2019t swish back and forth and accidentally hit the horse.<\/li>\n
  4. Once Mark felt comfortable holding and using the whip, we brought in the horses.<\/li>\n
  5. The first time Mark used the whip to ask the horse to move, he was more aggressive than when he did it with the reed. This is natural and he was told to dial it back some and be more consciously softer.<\/li>\n
  6. The first time Mark used the whip, the horse reacted quickly and strongly and ran away. This shows Mark that his actions were too strong and his horse was telling him this.<\/li>\n
  7. The last time Mark used the whip in this video, the horse just walked away, so the energy he was using had gotten better.<\/li>\n
  8. The last time Mark asked the horse to move away, he did so very quickly because he knew just by Mark\u2019s body language exactly what he was asking him to do.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    As Mark and the horses practiced, the progression went very quickly.  Both Mark and the horses learned each other\u2019s body language and intentions and became more in sync quickly.<\/p>\n

    They were having a two-way conversation about what they both wanted in relation to how to use the whip and make a simple request.  It was beautiful to see how quickly they balanced out together and came to a mutual decision. ????  It was a give and take on both sides. The horses were teaching Mark want they wanted as well.<\/p>\n

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