Riding crops? Your opinions

[Redders]

I just use a long schooling whip in the areas required- falling in/out through shoulder I hold it against it, if I want more impulsive from back end I use a gentle tap on hind quarters, I don't tend to need it to et her moving, just to refine how she moves, if that makes sense. I've never actually needed it to get her going at all, but would use in most appropriate place for the movement I am asking for.

 

[tallyho!]

Interestingly, recently I have been training with an in-hand instructor and it's been such a journey with my young mare.

The whip on the shoulder should really be used to ask for movement of the shoulder towards the outside of a perceived circle, so away from us or in a direction, but always involving a lift rather than a step, so imagine a cross-over step (half-pass of the forehand in walk in-hand) to encourage coming off the forehand.

So, I can understand why in jumping, it is used to ask for a lift.

It just needs to be understood and used in context. Otherwise, it means not a lot.

 

[DappleGreyDaydreamer]

Agree with this... I'm am also intrigued by the amount of people who have said a tap on the shoulder for misbehaviour. Generalising a little, you would tend to want to ride forward out of any misbehaviour i.e. buck, rear, nap, spook... so why not a smack behind the leg to send the horse on?
Just an observation from this post, and also the reason I would tend to ride 'naughty' horses with a schooling whip so a hand off the reins is never required.

Generally I would agree with you, and can't speak for others using it on the shoulder, but in my case my horse is still young and learning, and if I drop the contact on his mouth then he becomes very confused and it completely messes up our exercise, so I can't reach back and tap behind the leg for the time being.

 

[Tnavas]

Generally I would agree with you, and can't speak for others using it on the shoulder, but in my case my horse is still young and learning, and if I drop the contact on his mouth then he becomes very confused and it completely messes up our exercise, so I can't reach back and tap behind the leg for the time being.

Then you need a schooling whip - that is why they are long so that you don't have to take your hands off the rein and lose contact.