kc100
Well-Known Member
I personally do not ride with a whip, but this is because I have a lovely, forward going horse who is very sensitive to my leg aids. Plus I'm working towards competing in dressage where whips are not allowed so I'd rather my horse learns without a whip.
However for certain horses, and used correctly by the rider, whips can be useful. You dont want your horse to become accustomed to you nagging with your legs (kicking all the time) therefore if he is not listening, a good tap with the whip to get him to pay attention would be far preferable to kicking over and over again. With a sluggish, inatentive horse I would normally ride with a whip, and if he didnt go from a squeeze it would be a kick, if he didnt go from the kick then he would get a firm tap (hard enough so he knows about it, it is pointless if it just tickles him). Always work through that process, never go for the whip first, it should be the final resort if he isnt listening.
If you dont use a whip and nag with your legs then he is being tought to ignore your leg aids which is a very bad thing and hard to get him out of this, so be careful.
However for certain horses, and used correctly by the rider, whips can be useful. You dont want your horse to become accustomed to you nagging with your legs (kicking all the time) therefore if he is not listening, a good tap with the whip to get him to pay attention would be far preferable to kicking over and over again. With a sluggish, inatentive horse I would normally ride with a whip, and if he didnt go from a squeeze it would be a kick, if he didnt go from the kick then he would get a firm tap (hard enough so he knows about it, it is pointless if it just tickles him). Always work through that process, never go for the whip first, it should be the final resort if he isnt listening.
If you dont use a whip and nag with your legs then he is being tought to ignore your leg aids which is a very bad thing and hard to get him out of this, so be careful.