It's like training baby elephants for the circus.. beat the hell out of them when they are little so they don't realize how strong they are when they are older
Horse trainer here. If you beat a horse, you will never get this type of willing cooperation. Horses are very social and they like to please. This horse knows perfectly well there is no rope, he's just happy to play the game.
I think it’s a similar scenario to fake-throwing a ball for a dog