I don't know much about raising horses, and aparently you don't either, because you should never slap, hit or abuse animals in ANY way. What do you think THAT will teach them? Would YOU like that? The horse will only fear or resent you and not listen anyway. Give the poor thing to someone who will take good care of it, and raise a pet rock.

NOOO!!! It is never ok to slap a horse-esp. not in their head- they will become head-shy and it will be extremely hard to do anything with them like putting on a halter, bridal, bushing,etc. And besides, it doesn't teach them anything but fear.

I think you pull on the bridle to discipline the horse or use a "riding crop" on it to get it to move but I don't think the horse would respond well to slaps.

My horses respond very well to carrots and apples. I never have to slap them.

Slapping is an especially dim idea for a horse. Since horses are a PREY species...a sharp slap given as a punishment is a clear statement of danger TO the horse. Some horses can't even enjoy a hard pat given in love, because it is a fear trigger for them. From a BEHAVIORIST perspective...THERE ARE other ways that are clearly understood by horses to registrar that the horse has committed an UNACCEPTABLE gaff/behavior. I might speak up sharply, and make direct eye contact, turning my body to FACE the horse, AND THEN FREEZE, if I am doing ground work. Eye contact and frontal facing is a HORSE CUE for GO AWAY FROM ME, YOU JUST SCREWED UP...it is understood by the horse as saying..."OOOH you're in trouble now!!!" Being "told" to GET AWAY is about the worst thing from a horse's point of view...AWAY = ALONE = you may become someone's next meal. Mare's use it on their youngsters all the time...both in the wild and in domestic (kept) herds too. If I am riding, and the horse does something it should not do...or won't do something it should do...again...use the language they understand... Example: Horse won't move forward (and I see no logical reason it should not), horse may be getting "pissy" or may simply be refusing. Ok FINE...we can either BACK UP or we can go in a very tight circle several times until we BOTH agree that moving forward is not such a bad idea after all... NO yelling, hitting or getting pissed off...just give the horse SOMETHING ELSE acceptable to do...then try going forward again...I've never had it fail once, with the exception of a FEAR issue. And then..if the horse is AFRAID...hitting, yelling, adding to the stress... will ONLY teach the horse one thing..."by golly I WAS RIGHT TO BE AFRAID OF THIS...look what just happened to me...SMACKED! I KNEW that thing/place/person/behavior I was asked to do...was a horrible, scary idea...well, you can bet I'll try harder (act up more) the next time that nasty (fill in the blank...person, saddle, bridle, dog, plastic bag, child, bush, jump..whatever IT is) comes around again..." You've just reinforced the fear and the bad behavior...NOT the goal..eh? I've had youngsters try and crowed me...especially at meal times...ohhhh but we don't do that...no we do not! That's a dangerous habit! I don't want to be hurt! Holding UP the hands, palms out, and basically teaching a STAND/Stay COMMAND works wonders without yelling or hitting/or slapping. Sometimes using the language that the animal understands best...its OWN body language..makes the lesson both faster and easier with no mis-communications at all. It only takes patience, practice and observations. I would rather train a horse to JOIN UP with me as a willing partner, than to open the door to creating a HEAD SHY, spooky 1000+ pound pain in the butt who is not always SURE they can trust me or me them!

you should never slap or hit any animal. that wont teach the animal anything apart from being afraid of you. there are better ways to train animals. how would you like it if you got a slap for something.

Depends on the situation and the horse. I always use a sharp slap on the nose if I am nipped or if a horse threatens to kick. These are aggressive behaviors by the horse and I WILL NOT TOLERATE them! Even a nervy horse would get a smack from me if it bit me. Other, less severe missdemeanors e.g. walking off whist mounting, are treated with a verbal reprimand, and mistakes made through fear e.g. spooking/shying atsomething scary, are treated with soothing words and encouragement. As long as you are VERY consistent with what he is and isnt allowed to do its fine. A happy horse is one with rules and boundaries.

If my horse bites me I do just what it's mother would and nip back by giving a small smack on the neck or shoulder followed by a sharp "No!". I do the same for kicking out or rearing. Only for that I use a dressage crop or short lounge whip on the hip or shoulder so that I don't get close enough to get hurt when I repremand. In most cases I never needed to use either the smack or the crop just voice cues and a tug on the lead or lounge line. It's only for the truely hard headed it's needed. Biting, kicking, and rearing in a horse are signs of aggression and if left unchecked will become more vicious each time. It may sound mean, but it's for safty reasons for both you and the horse. You have to establish yourself as the head mare or the horse will just walk all over you. You do this by acting like one when they act up. Square up your shoulders, make your voice deep, look them im the eye, and act fast or they learn you're a push over. Now if the horse is acting out out of true fear I would never strike it. That would just reinforce it. For that I use circles and an encourageing tone till the horse calms down. We don't leave the area untill it does what it is asked to however. If you do that you teach the horse that acting up is a good way to get out of work and each episode becomes more explosive and with nothing even there to spook at. Once they do that scary thing they're asked to I stop the lesson as a reward for good behaviour.

Kidding? And be sued for cruelty to animals. You might try to return the precise favor!