Hunting crop help

[Samboy1004]

Hi just a quick question my mum give me a old hunting crop the one made of horn for opening gates with the long lash on it for cracking just wanted to know the point and what the cracking part of the crop was used for I know hanging it over your horse keeps the hounds away from your horses legs but what was the cracking part used for ???????????? Thanks Louise

 

[Goldenstar]

Controlling hounds ,
You can also pull gates shut by hooking them with the horn part and pulling from the lash end.

 

[Samboy1004]

Thanks for that but what is the point of cracking it ?????

 

[AdorableAlice]

The only time there would be a need to crack the whip would be if you were on point for the purpose of stopping hounds getting on to a road or land they should not be on.

You would be a trusted and experienced member of the field to be given such a crucial task.

 

[Goldenstar]

If the hounds where going in a direction they are not supposed to for example towards a busy road experianced members of the field can put their horses in the way and crack the whips the noise sends the hounds back the other way because they understand they are doing the wrong thing in this sort of situation the huntsman is normally calling them back it him so the hounds attention goes to him and they turn back.
Of course the horses have to trained to accept this.