Using 2 schooling whips

[Sarah1]

Hi
Just wondered if anyone had ever used 2 schooling whips to get a horse more forward?!
Also has anyone had any success with this method?
Thanks

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

not to get them to go more forward found a pair of spurs and more transitions making sure they are infront of the leg works ?

i have used 2 schooling whips to keep my horse straight and his quarters in though ! !

 

[ecrozier]

Not done it myself but know someone who has, and seems to have worked! On an ex hunter who'd never done a test in his life, they've gone from low 50s in prelims to high 60s in novice tests in under a year, and beat several people in a novice test the other day who are working at affiliated elem! So must have some good effects...

 

[Tempi]

Yup, i used to ride Bloss with two schooling whips - saves you swapping whips over aswell, and its good for 'tapping up' as it gets both hind legs under easier.

 

[kerilli]

yep, definitely works. i've seen top trainers using 2 whips too. it's better than spurs imho cos you can keep the horse going forward from a light aid, immediately backed up by a flick with whichever whip is appropriate, if he ignores the light aid.
just be careful if you're not schooling alone... says someone whose mare was flicked hard across the face by someone else's very long schooling whip, putting her off warming-up areas for life!

 

[fairhill]

My mum uses two schooling whips to help Chloe move more forwards, but it's because she's got weak legs and can't use spurs (and Chloe takes the mickey with her regardless).

I've found that someone on the ground with a lunge whip, or spurs and a long schooling whip are more effective.

 

[ihatework]

Yes, I used to ride a very lazy backward thinking horse and it certainly helped. But echo what Stacy said, beneficial to use in combo with lots of transitions and straightening excercises

 

[RunToEarth]

I've used two whips with Wills as he is lazy and as PG says it saves swapping over.

 

[Sarah1]

Thanks guys! Keep those past experiences coming!

 

[Sarah1]

Thanks hun, how are you & your 2?

 

[miller]

Used to all the time for the same reasons PG and Kerilli have mentioned - can't do it now cos numpty horse stood on the spare whip and broke it!

 

[Blizzard]

When Lance came at 6yrs old he was sold by previous owner for napping 3 miles home with her, he was the worst napper ever.
He had to be ridden with 2 whips so get him to go forward, so he couldnt nap in either direction.

It worked, because he was just being a sod and had lerned to get away with it because of his size and strength, and he doesnt nap now, even 13yrs later.

I think its a good idea for schooling for helping control your horses back end without changing hands.

 

[Puppy]

Can I just ask, what are peoples' opinions about using two schooling whips when jumping?

 

[samp]

I have used them with Lottie to some success, she is more forward. I have also used 2 whips for jumping to stop madam from running out through shoulders, encourage her more forward and to keep her straight

 

[amandathepanda]

You have to have good co-ordination to manage two dressage whips at the same time but once you've got used to it they can be useful if you have a horse tends to fall in badly, has straightness issues or really can get behind the leg.

 

[RachelB]

I did with Maiden as it was just easier (not swapping over) and because then I could tap her whichever side was needed, for example if she was ignoring my outside leg. Very useful for lateral movements as well. However whenever I started practising for a dressage test I'd go back to one, there's no use using two for schooling then not being able to ride with only one and messing up a test!
As for jumping, I used to jump with a schooling whip but again now I've booked in for a competition I'm only using one short whip as that's what is allowed in competition. I don't see any reason not to use two schooling whips while training though.