Using your Whip XC

[MillbrookSong]

After watching Burghley all afternoon i noticed as did mum how many riders were not changing there stick from on hand to the other especially if they were doing the direct route at the big table, step up, bounce, skinnie. We saw so many run out that had there stick in the right hand. Is it just me or would you have swapped you whip to your left hand even if you ride with it in your right naturally just to give the horse a reassuring smack down the shoulder going up the step??

My answer to that would be yes i would - having watch my Hartpury DVD all be it a CCI* not **** i changed my whip at all combinations to the side i thought it was easier to run out on as well as when i jump corners

 

[teapot]

It's something I noticed too long before Scottie mentioned it and that's coming from someone who doesn't even compete! I thought it was common sense that you always moved your stick to the side that will be more vulnerable to a run out?

I even do it jumping ponies in an arena.

 

[jules89]

i do sometimes if im on ahorse that is known to run out, but i prefer to hold my stick in my right because i can forget about it being there and not drop it, whereas on my left because im not used to it, i might worry about it more and interfere more as a result. then again i am lucky because zeb is very straight into skinnies etc so i dont tend to use it (unless im panicking!!)

 

[RachelFerd]

hadn't thought of that
but then I BE'd for 4 years without any stick at all

to be honest though, I think with the speed that the jumping efforts are coming up in parts of the burghley course, it would be more hassle to swap the stick around than not - i imagine most are riding with it on the side that their horse is more likely to run out to. Leg plus rein against the neck *should* do as much as having the stick on the shoulder anyway.

 

[Mel85]

Yes I agree, I always swap my stick and when I'm walking the course I think about which hand I should have my stick in and remember to change it over.

 

[kerilli]

yes, i always swap my stick over for specific fences, and am very conscious of starting with it in the hand i might need it in first, etc.
it has caught me out twice though, when trying to change whip hand with double reins...!
with a fence such as the double of skinny houses though, you'd need it in right hand and then 3 strides later in left hand, so i guess it's better to make sure the horse stays straight no matter what!

 

[Gamebird]

I can't see any reason at all for jumping the direct route at the Discovery Valley with your whip in your right hand. There is plenty of time from the leaf pit to to the big house going in to change it over if it's not already in the left hand. Even a slap down the left shoulder going in to the ditch/step can straighten horses up or get their attention - so many didn't even seem to realise that the brush skinny was there. Scotty picked up on it and he should know!