Ox Power Handbook by Parmananda das

Lesson 2: Reviewing "Get-Up!"; Teaching The Command "Whoa!"

In the first lesson I described how to teach "Get-up!" The ox probably got some idea of the spoken command and that you wanted him to walk in a circle around the ring when you shouted "Get-up!" He also got acquainted with the lash, which he had never seen or felt before. Your next trip to ring should again be made with extreme caution, being careful not to alarm the ox or excite him in any way.

Your ox might have been traumatized by the first lesson and he may realize as soon as you start toward the ring that he is in for another lesson and another period of confinement in that little training ring. He might be very obstinate about not wanting to going there again.

Reviewing "Get-up!"
So use the same patience and care that was described for the previous trip. Don't try to use the command "Get-up!" or be too demanding of the ox. Make the trip uneventful. If necessary, have extra people around to help insure that the ox doesn't get away from you. After the ox is in the ring, let him explore for a couple of minutes until he relaxes. Approach him slowly. Stroke his head and tell him he is a good boy.

Now step back toward the center of the ring and test him by shouting, "Get-up!" You can have the lash in your hand, held straight up in the air so that he sees it, but don't hit him with it. First test him to see if he remembers the command. If he doesn't remember, then follow the same procedure that was followed in the first lesson.

On the command, "Get-up!" the ox should walk forward and not stop. The better he knows the command, the longer he will walk. You should keep working on him until he does not stop except on command.

At first you are using your body language along with the lash by following closely behind him so that it is very obvious that you want him to move forward. As the ox learns what is expected of him, move away from him more and more. Eventually, stop following him altogether. Just stand in the center of the ring and tell him to "Get-up!"

Increase your expectations of him gradually. Ultimately, he should follow the command without being hit or even threatened with the lash. You certainly might not reach this point within the second lesson. It might even take a week of lessons to gradually increase his understanding to the point where you can just stand in the center of the ring without following or threatening him and say, "Get-up!" and have your ox walking around the ring.

At first, while positioned in the middle of the ring, you can gradually spin around in a circle as the ox walks around so that you can watch him. That visual contact has a definite motivating effect on him. Usually when he hesitates and starts slowing down, you can see that he is watching you and trying to figure out if he can get away with stopping. In that case repeat the command without the lash and see if that works. If he still doesn't speed up, then lunge after him quickly and crack him on the rump with the lash. Get him off the mental platform. Your ox will always be testing his limits, therefore you have to make your expectations crystal clear.

When he has succeeded in walking continuously around the ring on the command "Get-up!" without being threatened except by your stare, then stop staring at him. Just stand still in the center of the ring and expect him to walk around you in a circle. The ox usually knows when you are looking at him, so if he is behind your back, he may try to get away with something. Stand with your lash poised just like a cat ready to pounce on a mouse.

When the ox is behind your back and you see him out of the corner of your eye starting to slow down or if you hear him stop, turn around and pounce on him. Shout the command again and hit him on the rump. Then immediately go back to the center of the ring and expect him to keep walking. If he walks around you a couple of times without your watchful eye, then go up to him and reward him. Rewards should always be given when the ox does something right, especially if it is something new and he just did it correctly for the first time. The return to the center of the ring and ask him to "Get-up!" again.

When the ox will walk continuously around the edge of the ring on command, without you even watching him, then he has really understood the meaning of "Get-up!" Once again, it may take a number of lessons to arrive at this point. Lessons should be short, and they should be given every day if possible. That is the most effective way of training, to use short daily lessons. You will find that your ox will learn quickly. Your trip to the ring should become easier every day. When the ox has really understood "Get-up!" you can start to use it as you walk him to and from the ring. Walk next to him, always on his left side, holding a lead rope and tell him to "Get-up!"

The next lesson is "Whoa!" Do not begin this lesson until you are sure that your ox fully understands the "Get-up!" command. If you try to teach two commands at once, you will just confuses the ox and reduces your effectiveness with him. It is harder to fix a strong impression on his mind if you have two things going on at once.

"Whoa!"
Hopefully up to this point the command "Whoa!" has not been used. If it has been used casually without the ox having been taught the proper meaning of the word, then this lesson will be much more difficult. The first time you say "Whoa!" you must be sure you are in a position to make the action associated with that command, so the ox will learn the correct meaning.

In other words, when you say "Whoa!" you must make the ox stop. "Whoa!" means stop and stand still and not move at all until told to move. It is the opposite of "Get-up!" which means to walk and not dare to stop unless told "Whoa!" When we say "Whoa!" to the ox, we want him to understand that he should stop completely, stand still, and not dare to move until he is given some other command.

I can't over-emphasize the importance of this command. Your life may depend on a hearty "Whoa!" being well understood by your ox. You may find yourself in a situation where your animals must quickly respond to "Whoa!" or you and others may be put into serious danger.

Introduce this command while the ox is walking around the edge of the ring. When he wants to stop, anticipate it and step in front of him, raising the lash, and shout "Whoa!" This usually works well because your ox already wants to stop, and you are just taking advantage of his laziness.

Then stand back out of his way, toward the center of the ring, and tell him to "Get-up!" again. After he has walked around the ring, step out in front of him and hold the lash up and say "Whoa!" Usually this works very easily if you wait until the ox wants to stop. If he doesn't want to stop and you step in front of him, he may shy off to the side and try to walk around you. In that case you can understand that simply threatening him was not strong enough to show him what you wanted.

The next thing to do would be to use the lash. You can either hit him on the nose with it or on the top of his head. Just as hitting him on the rump propels him forward, if you hit him on the front of his head, the message is to stop. You have to be careful not to hit him in the eyes. He will always close his eyes to protect himself and develop a bad habit of squinting whenever he sees the lash.

As we discussed previously, the action to indicate the meaning of the command should be swift and sure. It should be as strong as necessary to make it crystal clear to the ox that "Whoa!" means to stop abruptly and not take another step. When he stops, then you can reward him. Put the lash under your arm, approach him, and reward him. Let him calm down. Then repeat the process.

When you think the ox has understood the meaning of the command, test him by asking him to stop when you know he doesn't want to stop. That is an increase in the training. That is the next step. Tell him to "Get-up!" let him walk a few feet, the shout, "Whoa!" and crack him on the head with the lash.

It is crucial to teach the ox that once he is told "Whoa!" he must not move until further notice. In order to show him this, you must stand right by him when he stops. If he starts to move, you should be ready, poised to again show him by your action and your command that he may not move. As soon as he starts to take a step, you shout "Whoa!" and if he doesn't respond, then hit him with the lash.

When he is standing still, then start to walk away from him to test and see if he understands that he may not move. Gradually walk further away until he tries to move and then immediately reinforce the lesson again. Go back to him and shout, "Whoa!" and then tap him with the lash and make him stand still. Walk all around him in a circle, patting him on the back the whole time, but watch him closely.

If you see he is about to move or is attempting to take a step, then immediately repeat the command and make him stand still. By doing this you can get the idea across to the ox that "Whoa!" means to stop and not move without further notice. This is absolutely essential.

"Whoa!" does not mean to just stop for one second or a few seconds and then start walking again. This is a most and annoying and dangerous habit. From the very beginning it should not be allowed. When you feel that your ox has understood that he may not move, then tell him to "Get-up!" again. And, wherever you tell him to stop, make him stay in that spot and not move.

Test him by walking around him. He should completely understand that wherever you tell him to stop, that is where he must stay. He must stand still and not move. If you are careful in teaching this command and practice firmness, in two or three lessons you will have an ox who will stop at the word "Whoa!" and will stand still in any circumstance and in any excitement.

Abuses of the "Whoa!" Command
"Whoa!" is one of the most abused of all the commands in that people say it at many inappropriate times. Whenever they want the ox to do something different from what he is doing, they say "Whoa!" When they want him to slow down, they say "Whoa!" or to calm down a nervous ox who is already standing still they say "Whoa!"