I saw the video and it looked like a glancing blow at best. Ever see a jockey whacking the side of a horse's neck with his open hand after a race? THis blow appears to be in the same impact category. Remember the old joke about the mule, who would do whatever you wanted with the gentlest request, but first you had to hit it over the head with a 2 by 4 to get its attention? Not too far off the mark, sometimes.
I have my own story about 'getting his attention.' I was in a riding class and was getting a lot of resistence to a canter aids from this big old grey hunter-type. With the instructor's permission, I reached back and gave him the hardest whack I could with the crop on his rump. He literally picked up his head - 'Oh, you actually DO want me to canter?' Things went a bit more smoothly thereafter, no need for any other reminders.
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