Using a whip.

[solomon]

I just wonder how often and when everyone uses a whip on their horse if ever? I tap Pete with a schooling whip on his rump to load him. I will also use it when he is dragging his feet out on a hack. Rarely use in the school as he is always very forward there.
Over to you.

[zara]

I generally carry a schooling whip when I ride AJ and I use it to back up my leg or to tap his shoulder to get his attention if he isn't concentrating. Tordi is terrified of whips and sticks so I never ride with one; I do use a lunging whip for loose schooling and he accepts this; I just point with it or flick it and never touch him or use it in anger. Some of the teens on the yard infuriate me with the way they use them.

[haffyfan]

Occasionally have carried one with pen as in the earlier days found she was more forward if i carried one (no need to use). Never have with murph or harry and rarely do with pen now. The only time i ever flicked murph (and it was a gentle flick) to encourage him to move as a youngster be promptly lashed out at me!

[brigadier]

Always carry one hacking as you never know what you might need it for- Ive hit the roof of cars and chased dogs with one before now, also useful if going down bridle paths to break encroaching twigs etc and very useful to swat cleggs. Welly is scared of whips and doesnt need one to back up my leg but I do occasionally tap his shoulder if he doesnt move away from my leg when I ask in lateral work. When I was struggling with his right transition I used a schooling whip behind to reinforce my leg and he nearly bucked me off- it wasnt a nasty buck but more a frustrated "Im really trying here" buck. I cant carry a schooling whip now! Lesson learned!
Harriet is fine with whips but again I rarely need one as she is forward and moves away from my leg lovely. I did have to reinforce right turn on the forehand with a whip but only once.
I rarely lunge now- more free school, Floss will not be lunged with a whip- she is terrified, I just use my hand to indicate trot or canter- likewise Toudle although he is less bothered now as he knows he isnt going to be hit with it. Harriet isnt bothered at all and Welly also is less bothered by the lunge whip, my issue is they watch for me to put it lower and then they stop for their mint so I have to concentrate all the time!
I think over use of the whip is a 'young' uneducated thing and I was certainly guilty of that as a young rider, but you only need your horse to bolt when you are changing hands and it quickly cures you of over use!

[pboy]

The only time I've used one with Indio was when we first started jumping and he was very wobbly. I just needed it to lie on his shoulder and help to keep him straight.

Pocholo is a bit more complicated! I carry a short one out hacking as if he spooks he becomes completely dead to the leg. Also just having it there tends to make him braver...funny that ;-). In the school he can be very lazy, but sometimes carrying a whip makes him very tense. I tend to start off without then pick up a schooling whip if he's not quick enough off the leg, then put it down again. As others have said I don't like to overuse it, plus if we did ever compete there are some classes (championships mainly) where you're not allowed a whip so it's silly to get the horse dependent on it.

[zara]

Tordi is exactly the same pboy x

[pboy]

P definitely isn't terrified though Zara - if he is being silly I can give him a proper smack and he just goes 'fair enough, she got me'!

[racaille]

Not dressage legal here so rarely use one in the school and only then to reinforce my leg, like teaching travers. Like Brig, I always carry one out hacking (but not randos). Always have one jumping in case of a threatened run out or stop.