Whip rules!

[stormox]

Looking at the recent posts on whips and hitting horses, - barbaric, ban him, cruel etc etc - Do people EVER think there are situations you should give your horse a hard smack?
Is there even a place for whips in todays world? Or should we hack out without one and let the horse whip round at a plastic bag in the hedge?
Should we look around and see who's watching before administering a 'sharp crack' and possibly then be too late to be effective?

 

[emilylou]

If a smack with the whip avoids another greater danger, then its the lesser of two evils. e.g. horse spooks at something on the side of the road and needs to be quickly moved out of oncoming traffic, horse approaching a fence and not paying attention to it, rider demands horses attention with a smack, avoiding a potential horse and rider fall, horse is not listening to your leg aid and you need the horse to move over to avoid stepping in a hole.

They are a blunt tool and should only be used as a last resort when necessary, but sometimes they are necessary. Unfortunately they are used far to often to compensate for poor riding and low equity with the horse. But I do think that a complete ban on riding with a stick would only result in more bad accidents and having hit myself hard with one to see how it feels I can say that on a large, well muscled animal, a short, sharp smack used as a firm aid when needed (not a beating) wouldn't cause any significant harm.

I also find them very useful to wave behind me in the eyeline of a young horse to encourage them forwards, not touching the horse at all.

Its not the tool, its the hand that holds it.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

If I have to wait for people to not be watching when I use my whip, then I know I am not using it appropriately.

Dex would get a crack if it was dangerous - albeit this has not yet happened, eg: he was napping on the road. He gets a tap on the shoulder if he's being inattentive or messing about eg: at a gate that I am trying to close - it just means 'I am still asking something of you, please focus'. I don't care who is watching when this happens.

Other than that I have not yet found it necessary to use one, including whenever I have needed to lunge, which we do without in all paces from verbal cues - and within reason I trust other conscientious, sensible and fair owners to use their judgement on when and how to use theirs, they know their horses better than I.

 

[Miss_Millie]

I don't own a whip, it's fully possible to train and ride a horse without one. Yes horses are prey animals and will spook from time to time, but imo if punishing them with a smack is the only way to get them past a scary object, maybe the rider needs to go back to the basics.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I think I have made my opinion on use of whips clear elsewhere, but I will state again on this thread. If it has to be used to avoid serious danger and harm to horse, rider, bystanders or vehicles, I will use it without temper or panic in an appropriate manner to avert a catastrophe.

However, I would also do my utmost to train or retrain my horse in a safe environment to be more compliant and understanding of my aids, hands, legs general body position and movement and voice commands in most situations.

I am a great believer in using my voice and tone as an aid in training and in practice. I know purists disapprove of using the voice but it has always worked for me in most sticky situations.

 

[Trickywooo]

I've copied my response from the other thread.

I think there are occasions where a well timed smack is necessary. When it is the interest of keeping horse/rider/other members of the public and their pets safe, whilst it may not be pleasant I would rather give my horse a firm smack than risk me, my horse, or anyone else getting hurt.

Like many items of tack, whips have their uses and are an important aid. However it seems some people have no understanding of their use or purpose. The tit trying to make his horse come forwards clearly doesn't have a clue. They are not meant to be used to beat a horse, or temper tantrum "my horse won't listen to me waaaaah..... TAKE THIS *wack*". They are an extention of your arm, a back up from your leg, and in an emergency or serious situation, can be used to correct, however, the timing must be precise, no good walloping the horse 5 minutes after it kicked out, and there is no need to use excessive force or multiple smacks. A single firm smack in my experience backed up with voice, is more than sufficient to make the horse understanding the message.

 

[Hallo2012]

I think I have made my opinion on use of whips clear elsewhere, but I will state again on this thread. If it has to be used to avoid serious danger and harm to horse, rider, bystanders or vehicles, I will use it without temper or panic in an appropriate manner to avert a catastrophe.

However, I would also do my utmost to train or retrain my horse in a safe environment to be more compliant and understanding of my aids, hands, legs general body position and movement and voice commands in most situations.

I am a great believer in using my voice and tone as an aid in training and in practice. I know purists disapprove of using the voice but it has always worked for me in most sticky situations.

basically this 100%

 

[JBM]

I’ve never carried one riding
Use one for liberty work only

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I think I have made my opinion on use of whips clear elsewhere, but I will state again on this thread. If it has to be used to avoid serious danger and harm to horse, rider, bystanders or vehicles, I will use it without temper or panic in an appropriate manner to avert a catastrophe.

However, I would also do my utmost to train or retrain my horse in a safe environment to be more compliant and understanding of my aids, hands, legs general body position and movement and voice commands in most situations.

I am a great believer in using my voice and tone as an aid in training and in practice. I know purists disapprove of using the voice but it has always worked for me in most sticky situations.

Agreed.

I rarely carry a whip but when I do it's my hunting whip. That's for 2 particular hacking routes that have dodgy gates on bridleways, arm extension usually needed......

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I rarely carry a whip but when I do it's my hunting whip. That's for 2 particular hacking routes that have dodgy gates on bridleways, arm extension usually needed......

Similar here, always had it with me around this way. One bitey collie attacking my old horse and putting her off work for 3 months was enough to appreciate that a good long schooling whip is essential to get a dog off your horse's underbelly and legs when useless owner stands by whimpering and hand wringing ineffectually trying to call their dog off.

That was one occasion when I was more than happy to use a whip on an animal. I am not proud of it as such, but it probably saved my lovely gentle old mare from even more serious injury during the incident. I learned at a later date said collie had already escaped twice before and tried to attack a child and also attacked and actually bit a gentleman out walking his dog. I wish the dog had been euthanised frankly.

 

[daffy44]

I'm a little disappointed that no one has yet mentioned the two most essential uses for a whip, firstly to knock off horseflies, especially from under the horses tummy, and last but certainly not least, as a microphone for hacking karaoke!

 

[rabatsa]

I am a carriage driver and would not dream of going out without a whip. It replaces a riders legs and can be used as a distraction, otherwise the only physical contact with the horse is through the reins.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I’d never hack out on the roads without a whip as emergency back up to stop the horse spooking out into traffic. Other than that its a fly swatter.

I routinely hack out off road without a whip. The trekking centre I ride with (all off road) does not permit any rider to carry a whip.

 

[LittleLegs&Co]

Yes, they are an essential for carriagedriving - they act as our 'legs' almost (i.e. for moving hindquarters over etc), and are needed for safety too (in a similar vein to what's been said above for riders) Yes, we do as much as we can to train to voice etc etc, but we really do need that extra aid. And yes, it's our responsiblity to make sure we use that aid responsibly so that we don't lose the right to

 

[sarcasm_queen]

I used to ride an absolute s**t of a native, whose party piece was to spin around on the road and gallop for home. The only way to stop him was to wallop him when he tried to turn around. I’m sure it looked awful to any passers by, but run away pony would have been much much worse. (He was an angel 90% of the time, just sometime he decided he’d prefer to be back in his field).

 

[webble]

I’ve never carried one riding
Use one for liberty work only

I find them handy for creating space when riding on the roads, also fit moving branches and nudging gates open/closed

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I don't really ride with a whip at all just now. It's a bit annoying that it has taken many years and multiple RS to find an instructor to help me identify that I can learn to use my leg aids more effectively in the first place and stop blocking with my seat. It's also taken some physio support and lots of off horse exercises to get stronger but the difference is really there. Yes I could have just carried a whip the whole time but that's not really fair on the horse if I'm not using my other aids effectively in the first place. It's not to say I won't ever carry a whip again as perhaps there will be a time when the other aids are there properly and I still need to then back them up.

Definitely useful for hacking on and off road. I have also used for in hand leading. Mostly to extend my arm for wafting to encourage forward movement from behind. Never ever to wallop.

 

[Orangehorse]

I always rode with a whip, and latterly with some high-viz on the end so I could hold it horizontally to alert drivers to give me plenty of space. Also useful for waving at cattle to to keep clear of horse. Never had to use it to fend off a dog, but it was always there just in case.

Can't remember the last time I used it on the horse.

 

[Clueless]

I like to carry a whip to hold onto tightly in a moment of crisis or wobbly nerves. Better than grabbing the reins.
The gel handles are great but can be popped.
I agree a back up to leg aid, or a wave by the eye to remind my cob that I’m here makes them a useful tool.
Not beating aid at all.