Phase 3 - What the Whip Meant

Madeleine had decided it was time to introduce liberty training to the Loshenka. The goal wasn’t obedience or elegance it was for trust. She wanted to build a connection that relied on nothing but communication, energy, and mutual understanding. No tack, no ropes, no pressure. Only the guidance of her body and voice. The only exception was the whip, but only to teach him that the stick doesn't mean punishment, but used as an extention of the arm in partnership.

She knew what it represented to him: fear, pain and punishment, but Madeleine was determined to change that. She wanted to rewrite the meaning of the whip in his mind using positive reinforcement.

Of course, this didnt look like this everyday. It wasn’t something learned in a day, or a week, or even a month. It was a long, quiet process filled with setbacks and small breakthroughs. At first, the whip wasn’t even in sight. She focused only on body language and voice cues. Then she slowly introduced it. Some days she had the stick and other days she left it out. Untill eventually, he sniffed it. At first he trembled with uncertain, but he didn’t bolt. He reached forward and was met with his favourite reward: a sugar cube.

Every day after that, they took another step. Sometimes they moved sideways, sometimes backwards, but they always moved forward in the long run. Baby steps were better than no steps.

Months later, that same horse who once trembled at the sight of a stick moved beside her with calm and certainly. The whip was in her hand, but he no longer feared it. It wasn’t a weapon anymore, and he knew it.

Today, the two of them moved in sync, as though connected by an invisible thread. Every step and every pause was a quiet conversation. His head was high, his eyes soft, his energy confident. It was as if he was a different horse, filled with courage.

Just beyond the arena fence, Lilliet, stood watching. The dark bay thoroughbred mare Madeleine had rescued the year before remained still, ears forward, eyes fixed on the pair. She had been through her own healing, so infact, there was a kind of understanding?

She watched as Madeleine and the Loshenka worked together, each movement was evidence of patience, trust, and gentle progress. A new chapter was unfolding.

The Loshenka finally understood, what the whip really meant.