Hitting an Animal to Make It Move

Q. Is it permissible to hit a horse to make it walk or trot?

A. Yes. If a horse is obstinate and refuses to respond to its master, it is permissible to hit the horse. Nonetheless, Piskei Tosfos (Avoda Zara 11) writes that tzar baalei chayim restricts causing an animal to endure pain pointlessly. Along these lines, the Sefer Chasidim (668) explains that the angel rebuked Bilaam only after he hit his donkey three times. The first two times were justifiable, but the third episode was pointless. Since this was a trained donkey, Bilam should have suspected that the donkey's refusal to move must have been for a valid reason. The Sefer Chasidim (44) writes that if one whips an animal that cannot move because it is carrying a heavy load, he will be punished for his cruelty. He quotes a verse in Zecharya (12:4), “On that day, the word of Hashem, I will strike every horse…rider with madness”. Chazal interpret this as referring to riders who press spiked boots into the sides of their horses.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.