Do you use a whip/wear spurs?

[RunToEarth]

I hardly ever carry a whip or ride in spurs for my coloured, but thats because he is very forwardgoing and doesnt need them, only for xc, and I carry a hunting whip out hunting, which is never used on the horse. I use spurs on Wills and Eric- they are lazy and I know how to use them.

 

[MagicMelon]

I almost always carry a schooling whip, just for the occasional tap during schooling sessions. Not for punishment though.

I have worn spurs if one of mine was feeling lazy at a dressage comp and I wasnt allowed a whip!

 

[Chex]

Never and never, couldn't be bothered having a horse that needed either!

 

[Gentle_Warrior]

yes and no

only really carry whip to fend off little yappy pug ugly dogs i have to pass each time i do a certain hack route

 

[_jetset_]

I always carry a whip... I have a schooling whip for all schooling on the flat with both of my mares and use it as an extra leg when needed

I carry a short on when hacking out, just in case

I didn't really know what to put about spurs... I don't always wear them when schooling, but do use them around twice a week as I am trying to get Grace's skin a bit tougher to them (which is working by the way), and I always wear them when competing BD so I can refine my aids when needed. I put 'always' but don't always use them... there was not really an option for me

 

[Befney3]

Always carry a long whip when schooling (but have been known to drop it halfway through a seesion if I felt there was no need for it) & a shorter one for jumping.

Never used spurs until my last horse & even then only used them for flatwork as she could be a little dead to my leg when being asked to bend/move over, etc.

 

[Lucy_Ally]

Always carry a whip. Use spurs for flat work, she is much more off my leg when jumping so I tend not to put them on, I also don't use them for hacking - this is our fun time and she is forward and responsive when out and about!

ETS: Will occaisionally school without just so I/her don't rely on them.

 

[The Virgin Dubble]

I only take a whip out hacking, and that is only so that I can wave it at cars to slow down

Never, ever wear spurs.
I know they have their place, when used by experienced riders with a good leg position, but I have b*ll*cked a few people in my time, for wearing spurs while their legs are flapping around.

 

[Blizzard]

both when needed!

Have needed 2 whips in the past on a nappy horse, need a whip with Lance in school as he is so lazy, dont need anything out hacking!

never use either on Beau.

 

[S_N]

Yes regularly, but I don't ride horses atm, so I'll leave this thread now eh

 

[Grey_Arab]

Use a long whip to school and then a short one to jump and hack just in case.
Use spurs occasionaly only on the flat, especially when competeing in dressage as the beast can be a bit dead to the leg cos there's too much to distract him.

 

[the watcher]

A short whip when hacking, spurs rarely but would put them on if I thought they were necessary.

 

[Mid]

i always carry a whip, even on a horse that doesn't really need it. i think spurs are better then constant ponyclub kicking, but i never wear them because i'm sure that if the horse spooked or something i'd accidentally jab them.

 

[TinseLeneHorse]

yes and no. She can be a bit stuffy in the school so needs a little flick with the schooling stick every so often. I don't think my lower leg postion is good enough to ride in spurs (and she is grey so if i got it wrong the marks would show!). So no spurs for me.

 

[magic104]

I carry a whip just in case, ever since we were attacked by a dog & there was nothing I could do. A nice long schooling whip would have come in handy.

 

[Paint it Lucky]

I sometimes carry a whip depending on what horse I am on, some horses I will always carry it on if i know it will be useful to back up my leg aid. My own horse is quite sharp so doesn't need a whip for forward-going-ness but I sometimes carry it for other reasons like for lateral work to get him to move his hindquarters properly, I don't use it to hit him, just for gentle taps on a place to get him to move over or keep his HQ's out when he is learning a new movement.

 

[WishfulThinker]

Always carry a whip, Only used spurs twice and not for jumping. Sometimes he needs to just know the schooling whip is there, as he is good of the leg now and I use my seat for speed control, but somedays he does need a tap up. And I always use a short stick for jumping to just remind him and also as we are still learning he does need the odd tap up when he hesitates as its out of naughtiness not fear as we have jumped loads of scary stuff now

 

[rara007]

For pip, no, nothing he his so foward going he never needs anything, the possable benefits of carrying a whip whilt hacking are less than the possable problems, if you tap him with the whip by mistake he becomes very hard to control. But for Ginga he has a schooling whip and a shirt one, short one for jumping and hacking, and no prizes for guessing what I uses the schooling one for.

 

[dunthing]

I have never used spurs on my boy and only carried a schooling whip out hacking on roads, when he was a baby, to keep his bum in. I wouldn't dare use one as a punishment on him, he has a wicked buck

 

[Tinkerbee]

always have a whip, only used if needed

dont wear spurs

 

[not_with_it]

I put always and always.
I always carry a stick but I never seem to use it. I always wear spurs but I have to raise my heal for them to come into use, so they dont really get used very often.

I hate it when people wear spurs on lazy horses. I am a firm believer that horses should be in front of the leg before the rider wears spurs.

 

[soph21]

always carry a whip, its handy for getting flies off, holding branches and brambles out the way! i have tried spurs once about 2 years ago, an old instructor put them on me, i had them on for about 10 mins and took them off as i wouldnt use my leg!! it might have hurt the horsey and thats nasty LOL!!!!

 

[harrihjc]

always and always with Flash, he's so lazy and just doesn't move off your leg at all if he knows you haven't got either, so as soon as he's sound we're going right back to basics because I don't think these things should be necessary!

 

[Scarlett]

I always carry a whip - only time I don't is if I'm on someone elses horse and they ask me not too. I may not use it but I will always carry it.

Spurs I will use if I need too, this is very very occasionally.

 

[Vicki1986]

only a whip when jumping away from home.

impulse spurs for schooling, hacking alone and competing. normal spurs for showing.

 

[lilpinkso]

never and never.

I visit clients who use both and say similar things to some of the replies to this thread, they are a little embarrased when i don't need either of them to ride the same horse and get better results

 

[vieshot]

Always have a whip, but dont always use it, only is horse is being a s***. Would wear spurs if i had a real lazy horse though.