Whips aren't bad, but the people who use them are.

Today I free lunged Duncan. It was a bit scary. Apparently you are supposed to take a blanket off from back to front, but I started at the front straps. My friend was making her horse follow her, until he horse took off and she slashed the whip at him, making him run faster. He soon ran to Duncan, who ran a little, causing his blanket to fall. After that she got her horse as I was taking the blanket off (which was around his legs at this point), and the girl continued to lunge her horse. Surprise, surprise, the horse ran back over to Duncan and the girl CONTINUED to crack the whip, causing both horses to run. Luckily my horse is very well halter broke and did not run on top of me, but instead slammed into the other horse, to avoid killing me. The blanket then was dragging behind him as he jumped around a little. This girl finally stopped waving the whip, and started to yell at me for having my horse in there. I honestly wasn't listening to a word she was saying, as I was tending to my horse. Throughout the entire incident Duncan did not rip out of my hands, nor did he even attempt to run me over. So thankful for him!
But that's not all! This chick the continues to free lunge her horse, after I told her I was going to make sure Duncan wasn't scared of the blanket. And what does her horse do... well runs right over to Duncan AGAIN! And what does this chick do!? Swings her whip! This time I had to jump out of the way because Duncan was trying to get the hell out of dodge. And then the other horse ran off and Duncan stayed with me.

Here are some rules that all people who own a horse should know:

1.) Take your horses blanket off from the back to front.

2.) If you're free lunging a horse, and someone else comes in the arena, too bad, times up. We do this crazy things called sharing our limited space.

3.) Whips are a tool. People need to know how to use them wisely. Slashing it at your horse, who is running towards a horse with a blanket caught on his legs is not wise. It's stupid, actually. It's dangerous, ignorant, and plain rude.