Riding lessons - whips

[LeafyLeaves]

Disclaimer, non-horsey mum of a novice rider:

Dd has had riding lessons for 6 moths, the instructor seems to expect that riders bring their own whip, many children have shortish whips during the riding lesson. Where can I get a suitable whip and what do I need to know before buying one? Dd is 10 years and 4.8ft (if that influences things in terms of size). Links would be very helpful.

TIA.

[horseymum]

Hi, if your child is going to compete in the future, they would need one that complies with the rules of whatever body they compete under. This article explains https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/buyers-guides/bs-legal-whips-815300
For a novice, probably just one from your local tack shop, less than £10. They are a communication aid, not a fashion statement so a simple colour is fine. Don't get one with a wrist strap, or cut it off if you do, they're not safe. Put their name round the top with sellotape or similar as lots of kids will have the same ones. She should be taught how to carry and use it properly ( ie hardly ever)

[maxelly]

Pretty much any online tack shop/equestrian shop or your local one will sell you one. Just a cheap one will do as she'll likely lose it, but they do come in a variety of colours/patterns/sparkliness to please the kids 😁anything from this page pretty much is fine although for a beginner I'd avoid anything described as a dressage or schooling whip because these are longer and so a little harder to handle, you can accidentally tickle the horse with them if your hands aren't stable. I would just check with her teacher before the lesson that she's happy for your DD to carry a whip, she does need to be shown how to use one properly if she never has...

https://gsequestrian.co.uk/collections/kids-whips-bats?sort_by=best-selling&filter.v.availability=1

[XelaM]

Short whip from amazon or any tack shop.

Example:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Angeer-Leather-Riding-Anti-Slip-Handle/dp/B099PRGDV6/ref=mp_s_a_1_20_sspa?crid=25F1BWXQYCXD6&amp%3Bdib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jfnJWc2pwVYS-vPHecrJrWpQiiZK3cZ9qLVHC2cF5Ex4HL2_jP4mfow_R55rWkQBzJLouKZt-rrG1BaOVSxY_XObgGWwMDhCFNKuW6HZenIDG_L2efFAmSOIDai40SDI3zJddGdkl1xneMjzq8hGiWKAkb8OKs1mlN_nSfidN4Bch1TGcipeW9JQBVcE0P8Q7PyzzKmbPUr4EXKHFSDjZg.4oTCF0CjkgY9CSeeWSurQ-AxnT8NLKXqzdmhE_oVE8o&amp%3Bdib_tag=se&amp%3Bkeywords=horse%20whip&amp%3Bqid=1711109239&amp%3Bsprefix=horsr%20whip%2Caps%2C171&amp%3Bsr=8-20-spons&amp%3Bsp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfbXRm&amp%3Bpsc=1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[LeafyLeaves]

Thank you @XelaM would this also work?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/HySCHOOL-Silver-Riding-Whip-grey/dp/B00IXNW0E0/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.HeSW-gCZc4KDu6K6hMhq3KJOVn_tdV87sXFKPRWRlMxhhsRZqNHvXrLJWmbPTNjFa8ZLaRxhe8OTyJn3M9YE7hs7ZqrzraJjykQMfrL5EvRkJzjAvY0f43QX0pmKcA5GKMi0ixgSRVEVYpSNBx3KoQzsxR1QwaWQOyKlLqA2An-tIUNMkr3wBTLWkZ2igDnf8erQzUdEI03WFBaIBC6yHRp1tFeFzxpcjjDf9LyBQy43LxLPkczMSB6k_QEOVu_OPQBoLn_PCIXMM07TR-wm8tIhqwH460bTEThPpOUHnkI.BnUNqvWtFAttMNlxCBPIpjLBxlHbWJ_K08yXBuV084w&amp%3Bdib_tag=se&amp%3Bkeywords=HySCHOOL%20Silver%20Riding%20Whip%2026%22&amp%3Bqid=1711109824&amp%3Bsr=8-1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[LeafyLeaves]

What length is good? 26"?

[FestiveAuntFanny]

Everyone just uses cheapo decathlon crops at my club, not whips. They're about 40cm long. Whips more for dressage or longer ones for lunging.

Not every horse will need one but the other riders will know. I use mine on about a quarter of the horses but when you need one, you need one!

[FestiveAuntFanny]

Sorry forgot link

https://www.decathlon.fr/p/cravache-equitation-500-58-cm/_/R-p-147557?mc=8485270&c=noir

[MiddleagedBeachbum]

I’ve been riding my whole life and not used one since I was about 12 years old - so over 30 years.

I don’t believe they are ever a necessity and are out dated and cruel. I’m shocked more people aren’t saying this?

[lavagal]

Got ours from Decathlon £4

[LeafyLeaves]

Would any of these do?
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/search?Ntt=whip


I had wondered about that @MiddleagedBeachbum but they are used at our stables and the horses and ponies are very well looked after and all the young riders use them, my dd gets given one by her teacher.

[AutumnCrow]

@MiddleagedBeachbum

I’ve been riding my whole life and not used one since I was about 12 years old - so over 30 years.

I don’t believe they are ever a necessity and are out dated and cruel. I’m shocked more people aren’t saying this?

I'm surprised, too. I never used a crop, as child or adult, and certainly never a whip.

[horseymum]

I did say they should be taught to use them properly. I ride out on the road and find it's a safety issue, occasionally just needed. Also can stick it out to take up more space. I don't encourage younger riders to use short whips as they generally can't take their hand off the reins to use correctly. My children have carried short ones a visible sign to a pony and rarely used them. Long one is easier to use in correct place but harder to learn to hold and transfer hands correctly. can be kinder to give a short tap rather than constantly nagging with little legs. Often kids see theas a fashion statement or a status thing, they should understand when to carry one and when if ever to use it.

[FestiveAuntFanny]

@MiddleagedBeachbum

I’ve been riding my whole life and not used one since I was about 12 years old - so over 30 years.

I don’t believe they are ever a necessity and are out dated and cruel. I’m shocked more people aren’t saying this?

Last time I carried one I used it exactly once at the begining of a lesson. Horse then moved from a gentle squeeze the whole lesson.

Same horse, same class, different rider with no crop was kicked for the entire lesson. Kicked to walk, kicked to trot, kicked to canter.

In an ideal world where you are riding a non-jaded RS horse maybe you are right but if I were a rs horse I'd rather one tap on the rump to an hour of kicking.

[Lastqueenofscotland2]

I hate seeing kids with no effective leg aid being taught to just smack a pony… it’s grim and shouldn’t be happening. Used properly they are just an aid but sadly often miss-used.

[Autumn1990]

I always carried a whipped or crop whilst riding out. Mainly to hit random dogs with. In the school she shouldn’t really need one although the pony may take advantage if she doesn’t carry one.

[OrlandointheWilderness]

Riding school ponies are canny. Chances are they clock which riders have one and which don't, and the ones that don't get to kick all lesson. She probably won't even need to use it! I'd far rather a controlled quick tap once than 60 minutes of kicking, and it's better for her riding too. I've always ridden with one, riding daft big hunters and comp horses it can be useful to just even lay it on their shoulder or move it in their eye line to prevent a shy or nap.

[SabbatWheel]

@LeafyLeaves

Would any of these do?
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/search?Ntt=whip


I had wondered about that @MiddleagedBeachbum but they are used at our stables and the horses and ponies are very well looked after and all the young riders use them, my dd gets given one by her teacher.

Yes one of these will be fine.
We were always taught with a whip in hand and were taught to ‘squeeze, kick, flick’ if a pony wasn’t responding first time. Pony then responded better.
However, I can count on the fingers of one hand how many times I had to use one.

It helps to get used to carrying a whip while riding - if she does dressage properly in future it can be a subtle back-up to the aids. A jumping bat is useful to guide a shoulder for a horse that might fall out on one side.

I always carry a short whip when hacking - said whip is used to push away brambles etc. and can be used as an extension to your arm when you need to signal slow down to the odd tosser in a car that is coming up too fast (despite all the hi vis).

[idontlikealdi]

My kids carry a crop on all rides but don't use them.

[HowDoYouSolveAProblemLikeMyRear]

@MiddleagedBeachbum

I’ve been riding my whole life and not used one since I was about 12 years old - so over 30 years.

I don’t believe they are ever a necessity and are out dated and cruel. I’m shocked more people aren’t saying this?

People are still using them on the horses? Haven't ridden for a couple of decades and I assumed this wasn't acceptable any more. What a shame.

I always carried a riding crop on hacks though, to push the spikier vegetation away on some of the narrower bridleways.

I can't imagine using it on any horse though, let alone the late beloved pony I regularly rode. She'd have justifiably reared and bucked until I fell off, anyway!

[Shannith]

It's a fairly standard

Light leg/seat aid
Stronger leg/seat aid
Same with voice

If ignored leg/voice and touch with whip

Not a go faster or punishment tool

[Lastqueenofscotland2]

@Shannith

It's a fairly standard

Light leg/seat aid
Stronger leg/seat aid
Same with voice

If ignored leg/voice and touch with whip

Not a go faster or punishment tool

While I don’t disagree I don’t think very novice children hitting ponies repeatedly (which is sadly very common in riding schools) because they haven’t learnt to use their legs is good teaching.

In Europe novices spend forever on the lunge/in walk really developing a seat. We just treat it like a big standard extra curricular activity here so it must be fun for the kids often at the expense of them learning to ride properly or for the welfare of the pony.

[maxelly]

@HowDoYouSolveAProblemLikeMyRear

People are still using them on the horses? Haven't ridden for a couple of decades and I assumed this wasn't acceptable any more. What a shame.

I always carried a riding crop on hacks though, to push the spikier vegetation away on some of the narrower bridleways.

I can't imagine using it on any horse though, let alone the late beloved pony I regularly rode. She'd have justifiably reared and bucked until I fell off, anyway!

Why would it not be acceptable? The use of a crop/stick/whip/whatever you call it in proper equitation has never been as a punishment or to hurt or beat the horse. You use a stick of the correct length to tap or touch the part of the horse you want it to move away from (to yield to pressure). This is literally the fundamental of how horses are taught to follow the commands or aids of the riders. Horses are very physical/body language dominated, obviously they're not born understanding human language nor can they be taught using food as a motivator like a dog, so if you want to handle or ride them at all (if you think domestic horses shouldn't exist at all that's another matter of course) you literally have to use physical aids to control them and show them what you want them to do
A stick of some kind (along with some kind of headpiece/bridle) is your most basic piece of kit and pretty much every system of horse training (classical dressage/western/working equitation/natural horsemanship) uses one. Of course a well trained horse has been taught to respond to extremely subtle commands so you won't see a competitive dressage or western horse in the ring having a stick used but guaranteed physical touch (NB touch, not being beaten or made to feel pain) including with some kind of line or stick will have been part of their training.

For beginner riders in the English system including children, part of their education should be how to safely and kindly use a stick as a reinforcement/correction to all leg aids, including forwards and sideways aids. Of course in a ideal world the horse understands and responds to a correctly issued leg aid first time every time but miscommunication or wilful ignoring will happen from time to time and a swift and gentle tap behind the leg is a much kinder and more effective correction than booting with the leg into a horse's stomach (that can genuinely hurt the horse) or yanking the reins (confusing for the horse) or shouting (frightening). No rider should ever be encouraged to hit or beat or smack their horse, of course it happens but misuse of correct aids will sadly happen whatever those aids are...

[Express0]

I would rather see a whip being used appropriately than a pony being booted in the ribs or the constant heel nagging.
Roding school ponies are clever. You very often only have to hold the whip and they will go forwards more

[Lovemycat2023]

I’m an adult who rides school horses in weekly lessons and we always carry one. I carry a longer whip in the school, and a short crop for hacks. The only time I don’t is when it’s very cold as I lose feeling in my fingers.

If your child is new to using one their instructor will teach them how to hold it properly (so it doesn’t tickle the horse) and how to change it from one hand to another.

Agree that it needs to be used very infrequently, only to back up leg aids (to avoid endless kicking) or to get you out of situations on a hack.

[Balloonhearts]

@Lastqueenofscotland2

While I don’t disagree I don’t think very novice children hitting ponies repeatedly (which is sadly very common in riding schools) because they haven’t learnt to use their legs is good teaching.

In Europe novices spend forever on the lunge/in walk really developing a seat. We just treat it like a big standard extra curricular activity here so it must be fun for the kids often at the expense of them learning to ride properly or for the welfare of the pony.

🤣 You don't hit them with it! Do you really think any riding school would encourage riders to hit their horses? If my instructor saw someone hit her horses, she'd bloody hit them back!

It's to back up your aids when they aren't being responsive. You use no more force than you would to tap someone on the shoulder.

We have a lazy one at my school. If he won't trot, you tap him gently twice on the shoulder and ask again. Not responding to a request to canter, you touch him lightly behind the girth on his outside flank. Want a better leg yield? Touch behind the leg and ask again.

Riding school horses do get a bit unresponsive having learners on them all the time. He doesn't always know if I want a canter or if I'm just fidgeting. So I touch him with the crop, ask again and now that he knows it's a signal, he'll do it.