Riding crops, bats and whips are used by all disciplines of the equestrian world. They are use for encouragement and persuasion when just your legs are not enough. Crops are designed to back up the natural aids (leg, seat and voice) of a horseback rider. When children use a bat or crop when riding their ponies we call it, “ the keys to the car”. Riding crops and bats are usually made from a shaft of fiberglass or plastic that is covered in braided or woven plastic or leather. The handle end of the whip usually has a grip made from wrapped leather of rubber. The end of the crop has a flat tongue shaped piece of leather sewn to the end. The handle may have a leather loop to slip over your wrist to help secure the crop.
Crops are shorter than riding bats. Adults and children who compete in horse shows use a black riding bat. Most bats are either 15” or 18” long and are fairly slim for your hand to hold. Riding crops on the other hand are longer and are used for schooling your horse or pony and are available in a rainbow of colors. These crops average about 24” long. Hunt and horse racing crops are far more substantial then the schooling crops. Hunt crops are made from braided leather-covered shafts and have less flexibility then a schooling crop. Race whips or crops tend to have a golf grip handle and are wrapped in a vinyl lanyard. These crops have more flexibility than the fox hunting crops and they are carefully designed for balance.
The term "whip" is a more common term that includes both riding crops as well as longer types of horse whips used for both ground and work riding. The dressage whip is a true whip, longer than a crop, (up to 43 inches, including lash or popper) for horse training, it allows the rider to touch the horses side behind their leg, while keeping both hands on the reins. |
