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.
How to Train Your Horse to Lunge on a Line : How to Hold a Whip ... Youtube video
We used buggy whips with all of our’s (eight) to train them for all kinds of things.
I’d doubt that they were hitting it directly because that would only cause resistance and might damage the horse.
Normally when you train with a whip you snap it behind or near the horse to get his attention, and only flick him with it to direct him occasionally.
Trainers usually use a light lunge whip, but in some places, such as Florida, experienced trainers may use a leather cattle whip and crack it (hence the Florida cowboy name, Crackers).
I think they use a long leather lash in Mexico, too, but they don’t beat the horse with it. El Jefe would have their hide if they did...
Report them to the INS and when they don't do anything shoot the illegals.
I question your report.
There really is no reason to whip the horse for training purposes. What you thought you witnessed may not have been what was actually occurring; but if you weren’t close enough, it may have been hard to tell. Are these horses out when they are not being trained so that you can get close to the animal(s) when they are outside alone to take photos of them?
Any fresh whip marks would be visible and photographable; and you would have visual evidence when you make your complaint; whomever you choose to make it to. Your complaint backed up with photographs would force a response / investigation from law enforcement.
There really is no reason to whip the horse for training purposes. What you thought you witnessed may not have been what was actually occurring; but if you weren’t close enough, it may have been hard to tell. Are these horses out when they are not being trained so that you can get close to the animal(s) when they are outside alone to take photos of them?
Any fresh whip marks would be visible and photographable; and you would have visual evidence when you make your complaint; whomever you choose to make it to. Your complaint backed up with photographs would force a response / investigation from law enforcement.
I have never seen so much bad advice.
The first thing to do is get a reputable horseman who understands how and why horses are worked in a round pen and have him make the judgment as to whether the horses are being mistreated.
You don’t seem to know enough to make that determination.
Then make the decision as to whether to take it any farther.
It is very poor judgment to get some busy body or cop who may know nothing about proper training involved if the training is not abusive.
OMG, just look at all the knee jerking busybodies, people totally ignorant of horse training automatically ASS-U-ME that the person was abusing the horse. He may very well have been abusive, but just the act of making the horse run in a circle does not automatically equate to abuse.
You can’t use a whip in a championship FEI class.
Nothing will be done. They are illegal thus no laws or order apply to them at all.
They are perfect noble savages, duh!
Ping
Video them doing it and post it on Youtube with their names and addresses.