Is it OK to use the whip hard?

No, it is not OK, and it is not permitted either. A horse has very sensitive skin and can feel something as light as a small fly landing on its coat. Using the whip hard is painful, confusing and demoralising. It creates stress and uncertainty.

The whip should never be used as a punishment. If you are struggling with a horse that will not go forward, that keeps stopping at fences, or anything similar, there is always an underlying cause. That is what you need to find and work through instead. 😊