Undeserved and inefficient use of the whip? *rant*

stencilface

stencilface

High upon a hillside
Joined
28 February 2008
Messages
21,078
Location
Leeds
Visit site
OK, so I know lots of showjumpers use the whip unnecessarily so I am not having a go at eventers here. But, whilst watching the show jumping for an intro today (and yesterday) I am shocked at how many people hit their horses without good reason.

Now, eventers tend to ride the sj like the xc, and lots of them ride with total washing lines. This is all fine, whatever works for you - if it works!!!! But when the horse refuses or runs out because they have no control over its direction, striding, or speed and they hit it, it is totally unnecessary. They also do a ineffective 'hit' imo. If you are going to hit a horse, then mean it, and do it once, not a tiny slap 4 times on its bum, just crack it once with some gusto.

Sorry, just a bit of a rant really. There were some very good, steady horses there today, who evidently were out to please, but when let down by their riders - there were unjustly punished! argh!

Now I am not perfect (far from it!!!) but I choose the times to hit my horse, which isn't very often as I am all too aware that if he stops (if!!!) it is more than likely my fault in the first place!
 
Totally agree with you. I don't ever ride with a whip but as I am predominantly a western rider these days, I do have very long 10ft reins hanging down either side of my horse. It is incredibly rare that I ever have to hit any of my horses, however if, as they have done once or twice, they mess around and aren't paying attention to me, I take one of my reins and lash it around their butt end...just the once, never more than that. It doesn't hurt them, but it does give them a bit of jolt to start concentrating properly.

Can't be doing with these tap, tap, tap people - just do it the once, do it properly, and the likelihood of you having to do it again is slimmer. For those who hit their horses because of their own inadequacies; well I have absolutely no time for them at all.
 
I often watch the SJ at our local competition yard, and I have come to the conclusion that alot of people are crap at jumping and I think it's nervousness alot of the time. I see people booting on, then hauling on the reins 3 strides out, or hanging on virtually to the bit rings and not using any forward drive at all, then whacking the horse when it refuses etc.

I often fence judge and I eliminated a rider at my fence for excessive use of the whip. Don't know if I was meant to but I wasn't having her behaving like that, so I radio'ed back, told them what I was doing and they said she had to leave the course.
 
Overall I agree with you, but I havae recently become a bit of a 'tap tap' person.

I have an ex-racer whose heart is in the right place but lacks confidence jumping. If I smacked him he would have a nervous breakdown, but a couple of taps about 4-5 strides in front of an oxer seems to get his brain in gear.

I have tried sitting quiet in front of a fence, he bottles out. Seems to need a bit of a nudge to get him to commit.
 
Well I'd agree about the ex racer bit, we have had quite a few and I know the fits they throw if they get worked up especially when they are trying to learn a whole new job. But I don't think we're talking about a tap, tap on approach (well I wasn't anyway) it's the ones who get a refusal, spun the horse in a circle and then wack, wack, wack on the bum way too late for the horse to know what is going on and why!
 
Yes, that what I was meaning. I know some horses can need a little reminder of the job on the way in - I used to give a tap down the shoulder. Its letting the horse move away from the fence and then ineffectually hitting it - as Mowgli said - the horse doesn't know what its done - esp if you let it 'run away' from the fence at the same time!
 
My pet hate is people that hit their horse before every fence, usually while hanging onto the reins so the horse cannot go forwards towards the jump.

It makes me want to whack them!
 
yeah i agree with one good crack but around the xc at west wilts with my new boy he got a smack before each fence to ensure he went as he was being sticky. one good flick on the stride before takeoff prevented him stopping and i don't feel it was excessive. though i have seen someone completely lose it and a fence judge made them lead the horse back, they couldn't ride back.
 
[ QUOTE ]

I often fence judge and I eliminated a rider at my fence for excessive use of the whip.

[/ QUOTE ]

i did that at a PC event for the 13yr & unders. the kid was at the fence before mine and that fence judge was obviously new to the game (blew her damn whistle every time a horse came through and no people in sight) anyway brat was beating hell out of poor pony so i said to my daughter to just write excessive use of whip at previous fence. when all was finished went to look at the scores and said child had been eliminated for excessive use of whip and another one had been eliminated for excessive use of whip and foul language! Funnily enough they were both in the same PC.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top