The answer is simple... NO! A whip is a tool, an inanimate object. The hands that hold the tool are capable of being abusive. But the whip itself isn't.

The real question is, does someone who uses a whip for training automatically qualify as abusive? I mean, can't you train without it?

The answer is NO. Yes, you can train without it and no, you aren't abusive if you use a whip for training unless you're being abusive while using the whip.

So, the next question is, if you don't need a whip to train, why use it?

The easiest answer, the most honest, is to save time. All tools are designed to help us be efficient. A hammer works better than a rock, a nail works better than a rope. With horses, a bridle is more effective than a halter and a spur is more effective than a leather heel. The whip is more effective than a voice cue or harsh leg aid. In an ideal world we would have all the time to train all the behaviors without any tool aids. But no one I know lives in that world. Even great naturalistic trainers rely on fences as a tool to shape their horse's attitude about interacting. And food as incentive for correct behavior. The point is, we don't really get away from tools. They are a natural part of our horse/human world. It's valuable to adopt tools and become good with them.

Any tool must be mastered to be effective and clear. Any tool should also be coupled with conscious effort to make the tool a kind, consistent part of the conversation, never to be used as a threat for Ill behavior. This method of adapting a tool to your training and coupling it with proper rewards helps you get better results sooner. And by better results, I don't just mean compliance. I also mean friendly attitudes. A horse that understands sooner goes through less confusion and adopts a softer demeanor to the activity compared to a horse that experiences ambiguous aids for longer periods of  time.

I'm rambling. The point is... tools like whips, can be used naturally, with no harm to the horse. And some folks who avoid tools can inadvertently cause problems in other ways. The fact remains. Any tool, any tool at all, should be practiced being used, not for fear, but for clarity and rewards. Not to scare a horse into doing what you want, but guide the horse, kindly, slowly, and directly.

Take each thing you learn and avoid making rules about it. There are too many exceptions to make hard rules about horse training.

Thanks for reading. ​See you soon. Don