Is it right to use a riding crop on a horse.

[RATTER15]

I was just thinking, I don't know a great deal about horses and have never used a riding crop on a horse, I have however done a fair bit of riding.
Horse racing brings the riding crop into full use, being used to make the horse run faster, if no jockeys had a riding crop they would all be at the same disadvantage, however they may not run as fast and therefore not so entertaining.

I'm pretty sure it must hurt the horses especially with its constant use in the same place over and over.

I don't personally have any strong views on this as I have never been hit with one and never used one and i,m sure I don't want to be, are they necessary?

[rowanwitch]

They sting.... I'm saying no more....

[EvianBaby]

I'm the same as you Ratter, I don't really know enough about it to have an opinion on whether it's right or wrong to use them however I believe jockeys claim it's the sound the crop makes that makes the horses run faster. If that's the case, surely there would be something else they could use?

[Old_Geezer]

I know less than you about horse riding as I have done very little, but the same thought occurred to me. Whilst I do not know how much a horse feels when hit by a crop it seems to me it ain't daft, it knows it's racing for the line so why would hitting it be needed. And as you say if considered not part of the sport every jockey competing would have the same rules preventing them from trying to gain advantage. Looks to me to be just an unnecessary "tradition".

[RATTER15]

Rowan, do you also find that the bridle chaffs a bit when wet? :)

[jno]

but did you go any faster, rowanwitch?

I presume it's supposed to hurt the horses, otherwise what would be the point? If it merely tickled, they'd just stand there giggling. If nobody used one, and horses ran 5mph slower as a result, would this really spoil anyone's day? Not mine; but I'm not a racegoer anyway.

[sunny-dave]

From my riding experience a horse knows exactly
a) whether you have a crop in your hand
b) whether there is any possibility that you might use it
it then tailors its behaviour appropriately...

... unless of course it is threatened by something extremely dangerous (eg a fertiliser bag in a hedgerow) at which point nothing works at all.

[Baldric]

Done a lot of riding over the years, never really seen the need for a crop

until now,

Rowan!!!!

[boxtops]

I'd heard that the jockey club were thinking of instituting a rule which says that the crop shouldn't be used more than ?5 times in a race.

[rowanwitch]

A paddle is more effective and does less damage... not sure if the jockey club would agree though

[RATTER15]

Rowan, its a horse not a canoe!!!!

[heathfield]

http://www.tabnews.co.za/?p=11336

[Purple_Popple]

I agree with Dave, having done plenty of riding the horse isnt daft, they do 'wake up' when they see you are even holding a crop in your hand. Some horses being very forward or headstrong do respond to a light tap on the flank though and it can stop them messing about.

[237SJ]

I agree. They know when you`ve got one. They`re not stupid. They`re just an additional aid though (in the same way that you would put your leg on to get them to do something). I hate to see them being used to whip horses in racing.

[Bambiagain]

Horses are all individuals. Some are more sensitive than others. One of the horses I ride jumps a mile if someone hits an adjacent horse (we ride Western, and sometimes people use the reins, which are long and not buckled together like the other sort - but only when we really need to, of course). The horse I have a part share in can be an awkward so and so. Using a whip, or a rein, makes not a blind bit of difference to her when she is in a strop. I ride in spurs - blunt ones, of course - and when she is in one of her moods, I touch her with those and she knows who is boss. There is no need to push them into her hard, and it's better than constant kicking for both her and me. Horses' skins are tougher than ours, and using a whip carefully - not beating the daylights out of them - doesn't hurt most horses nearly as much as it would hurt us. I'm sure they feel it (otherwise nobody would use a whip) but a sharp tap or two isn't that bad for most horses.

[Barmaid]

I don't like to see it over-used. However, the last nag I had, would have been nigh on impossible to ride without a crop. Just to let him know who was boss mind. Although having said that, if I yelled at him he would cower like a baby the big wuss.

I have never used a crop in anger though and only ever as an aid. A gentle brush is often enough.

THe thing I HATED to see was pony clubbers kicking their mounts mercilously. Two heels either side can't have been nice......

[Euphemia]

I had a rather stubborn horse that had a habit of lying down when being ridden. A gentle tap of the crop reminded him that this wasn't a good idea.
On one occasion (another) horse started to disappear from under me down a bog. I gave couple of taps of the crop on his rump to get him to keep moving in order to free himself.

[wildwood]

Even now there are racing rules about excessive use of the crop. If you're gonna be upset by someone using a crop on a horse sensibly, then you might as well protest against riding a horse altogether. What you see on the track is gentle handling compared to what many horses experience in training.
I am against hurdle races as there is hardly a race where at least one horse doesn't fall down.

For those of you who believe some horses love to be ridden..... try riding any unbroken horse, I guarantee none will love it.

I have seen most of the mis-treatment from young inexperienced rider at gymkhanas and club meets, where many ponies get a 'reminder' who is boss behind the trees.

[Bambiagain]

Wildwood - re your comment on riding an unbroken horse. It all depends on how the horse has been handled before. I know a horse who is currently being broken and was bred by the person who is doing the breaking. From day one she has been handled, and has always been the first horse in the group she lives in to come for attention. The first time she had a saddle on her back she raised no objecion. Her owner's small daughter sits on her without a problem, and she is being gently introduced to being ridden. I accept that a horse that has not been handled properly may well object to being ridden in the first place, but that need not be the case.

[venator]

Horses are like people - some things work, others don't.

Do you think an athlete who can make thousands of pounds and a lasting career by winning a race - say Olympic gold - is under less stress?

[Chaffinch]

I always carry a whip, as my horses know when I am and mostly do as they are told (Hmmm!!) Using a whip in racing can "prevent" accidents e.g if a horse is say vearing to the left into the rails a slap down the left side of the neck will correct its course, to the right.

I have also backed too many horses to remember, but never broken one! to back a horse is to saddle it and make it rideable, to break a horse is the "break its spirit" no thanks