How to use a riding crop

[BiBunny]

Ideally, you use it just behind your leg as an enforcement of the leg aid. Otherwise, you just generate a horse that's numb to leg AND whip, instead of actually encouraging and training the horse to move off the leg. A crop can also be useful to use on the shoulder to help encourage a sharper turn, or to clarify when teaching a horse a combination of aids that are intended to direct the shoulder versus the entire body. It also can act as a "go" encouragement in this manner, but it's worth noting that you're hitting a horse where you want him to go. Kind of like smacking someone in the chest to get them to move forward faster. It works and is all you can do at certain times, but it's not ideal. A crop should ONLY be used on the rump when all else fails to move the horse forward, and the rider should be prepared for an...opinionated response.

Oh..wait...this is a BDSM forum. Uhmmmm

So yah you hit them with this whippy bit? I think? Dammit, I knew I studied the wrong information for the test... *slowly slides away*

Having grown up riding horses I was taught to use crops and riding whips in precisely the opposite manner. Most horses respond very well to warnings foreshadowing pain. A swat from the paddle shaped crop can be felt and is a bit of a shock but doesn't really hurt. The whip can be whistled over the riders head (not over the horses ears unless you like eating dirt), which will get the attention of all but the most combative horses. At that juncture you should only need to actually whip them maybe once (if that), and they know the sound of the whip means business. If all you have is the crop the heavier handle can be used like a cane (which were also commonly used in centuries past) to tap the flank or neck, but I was also taught to seriously consider dismounting as an alternative to genuinely beating a horse. Or just stop and pay close attention if the horse seems nervous or stressed. There have been several times a reluctant horse has spared me from close encounters with bears, bees, or badgers. Pushing a horse when you shouldn't can get a rider thrown and ditched in a very bad place.

I also grew up with family legends of those animals that were very much the exception.

I always preferred spurs to whips or crops unless lunging or driving. They seem a more elegant solution (assuming they get the same response). *Sniff*

Also shiny!

 

[cfuhrer]

I always preferred spurs to whips or crops unless lunging or driving. They seem a more elegant solution (assuming they get the same response). *Sniff*

Also shiny!

Also the pointy end. Lol

 

[BiBunny]

Also the pointy end. Lol

Also that.

 

[bhndblueyes88]

I always preferred spurs to whips or crops unless lunging or driving. They seem a more elegant solution (assuming they get the same response). *Sniff*

Also shiny!

Spurs are a FAR more elegant and precise aid to use. It also DIRECTLY is associated with the leg aid, so it's far more effective a training tool.

BUT

They are REALLY REALLY REALLY easy to misuse. Unfortunately, this results in a horse that's entirely dead to the leg, and that's a long road to fix that requires far more patience and acceptance for "failure" than most people are willing to put into it. Resulting in, essentially, an escalation and arms race between the horse's ability to ignore an aid and the "stimulation" inflicted.


We're SO great at staying on topic, aren't we

*attempt* you can totally train people with these basic concepts, for the record. So translate for use on your personal sub/slave?