Show jumping with schooling whips

wellsat

wellsat

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Standards at our RC have slipped considerably in the past few years such that far fewer people go than used to.

I have been disappointed to see people being allowed to jump with schooling whips earlier in the season so emailed the show's organisers to ask that the rule on whip length was enforced. As I walked past the Sj ring yesterday on the way to the dressage I saw 3 adults on horses waiting to go into the SJ carrying schooling whips. It obviously wasn't being enforced again.

Am I being unreasonable or do schooling whips have no place in a competitive SJ round?
 
I have always been taught not to jump in a schooling whip.

A schooling whip is for that, schooling.. Or dressage.

A jumping whip is for jumping, in any shape or form!

Is that so hard to understand!? :)
 
PonyFeet10 said:
I have always been taught not to jump in a schooling whip.

A schooling whip is for that, schooling.. Or dressage.

A jumping whip is for jumping, in any shape or form!

Is that so hard to understand!? :)
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Not always - I am training my youngster and am using a shorter dressage whip in his jump training sessions. Would agree that I wouldn't use it for competitions though
 
Luci07 said:
Not always - I am training my youngster and am using a shorter dressage whip in his jump training sessions. Would agree that I wouldn't use it for competitions though
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Fair enough, but a schooling whip was designed for schooling and a jumping whip was designed for jumping with. Why use a schooling whip for jumping? Curious.. :D
 
PonyFeet10 said:
Fair enough, but a schooling whip was designed for schooling and a jumping whip was designed for jumping with. Why use a schooling whip for jumping? Curious.. :D
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So you can whip your horse to make it go forwards without taking your hands off the reins.
 
Our RC Organisers are very strict with the rules:eek: Absolutely no schooling whips when SJ.
Quite right to imo.
Legs dont seem to get enough use sometimes.
 
wellsat said:
So you can whip your horse to make it go forwards without taking your hands off the reins.
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A whip should be used to encourage, not to 'make it'. When I carry a jumping whip with mine whilst jumping, a very light tap on the shoulder to focus their attention back on me is more than enough.

Completely agree - be positive

Are horses not trained to go off of the leg any more? Or by voice?

A horse has to be happy and willing to go over a jump, not forced unwillingly..
 
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PonyFeet10 said:
Why use a schooling whip for jumping? Curious.. :D
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I use a schooling whip when jumping at home as I want my horse to go as well between jumps as she does when I'm schooling on the flat (I don't actually need my whip for the jumping bit, just need it to back up my leg on the flat).

That said I would never compete with a schooling whip, as know the rules. ;)
 
mmmmmmm all SJ comps I know have a maximum length but must admit I would use a schooling whip at home to "tickle " the horse forward( no whip is meant to be used to hit a horse and I was taught to use schooling whip like a fly on horse "tickly and annoyingly " lol) but sadly to often a whip is used to whack a horse regardless of the riding and that just so so annoys me - before you use whip think "did I ask right questions there, did I ride right to the jump " :) xx
 
I have known a horse who will swerve going into a fence so to begin with the only way to get him straight as legs aren't enough are two schooling whips (one in each hand) to guide him straight.

I don't see an issue with them as long as the rider isn't terribly unbalanced and at risk of smacking the horse unintentionally.
 
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