What do you think about using the whip in training?

Laura F · Well Schooled

What do you think about using the whip in training?

spirithorse · Advanced

Crop or whip?
I only use a 54" dressage whip and use it to move the hindquarters.

Jackie Cochran · Advanced

I use a riding crop. I apply it usually to my own leg (hurray for half chaps!) just to make a sudden sharp noise. I use it in concert with my leg aids to increase impulse.

Barbara F · Grand Prix

With my current horse, I generally don't need a whip and I only pick it up for specific exercises to help explain to the horse what I want.

I really only have to carry it, or tickle his side just behind my leg to get that little bit more engagement that I am looking for in a collected movement, but it is very rare that I pick it up at all - maybe once every ten days.

MagsNMe · Advanced

I carry a whip every day. Usually a regulation dressage whip, sometimes a 48" dressage whip with clapper. It's not for punishment, it is for training purposes.

I've seen a hundred times where people use a whip, crop or bat, to express their temper, that is wrong.

VeganVienna · Yearling

I don't use a whip or crop while training my Thoroughbred. At first, I was scared of using a crop on her, I thought she might have a horrible reaction to it and I would end up getting a few broken bones. Now fear isn't my reason, I see no reason to scare a horse into submission when I have the option of training her without it. On the other hand, I do use a whip while lunging. She has never been hit with it, and I use it only for clear communication of where I want her to go. Now I can lunge her without one, using my hands as signals.

Ranna · Well Schooled

I use a whip to point things out, to touch them to make myself clear, to help them understand.
The same as with spurs. I don't use them to hurt my horse's but to help them understand.
You can use whatever you want as long as you use it to help your horse, not to hurt him.

Nikki Salo · Grand Prix

Totally agree with Ranna!

I use a whip or spurs as an extention of my arm or legs. And only at times when the horse needs one or the other.

Emiry · Advanced

Spurs, don't need them yet. The only time spurs are really excepted in my barn are on the thick skinned horses, who just need that little edge that the spur gives your leg.

Crop, I do you as an extension of my arm/leg. Some horses you just need to tap your boot, others you just need to hit/tap behind your leg. For every horse but one in my barn, a crop is a necessity, even if you don't use it and it's just decoration. Gotta love school ponies.

Diamond_Jubilee · Well Schooled

I use a dressage whip on rare occasions when riding behind my leg when my pony isnt listening to me. He tends to be on the lazy side and all it takes is an occasional tap. I also wear spurs (really small tob thumb spurs) to get his attention, but by no means do I use them harshly! I use my whip for driving, but its almost always a tap as its used as a replacement for a leg. So I will touch him on the left side if hes leaning left etc. I sometimes have to give him a little tap with the whip if hes not listening to my clucks...With the other ponies I never use a crop or spurs as they have enough empulsion and they dont need it, but I do use the whip while driving so they dont lean in/out.