World Horse Welfare’s guidance, titled “Should I carry or use a whip?” is published today (29 January), the result of years of extensive work. “However, when used in the wrong way or at the wrong time, a whip can cause a horse to become confused or scared, endangering both horse and rider. The guide explains operant conditioning, the way horses make associations between their actions and the results of these. Challenge yourself on how much you know about equine learning and how horses learn and commit to a better understanding. With that knowledge, take the guidance and each time you think about the whip, think about that framework of questions.