I’m in the market for a new dressage whip. I’ve always just used whatever ones we had around the barn, but I consistently have a hard time reaching behind my leg without completely taking my hand off the reins and reaching back. You see, my thighs are my problem area and when astride a horse, I think they’re just squished out and the whip doesn’t reach around them as well as it would if I were smaller (but hey, I’m working on it!) So I’m thinking the easy cue might help get around that (literally) but wanted to hear first hand accounts before doling out that much $$ for a whip. TIA!
I am not, shall we say, thigh challenged.
I’ve always used a straight whip, but I’m very picky about how flexible they are. If they’re not too stiff, I’ve never had a problem using them without moving my hands too far out of place. If they’re too flexible, then I find I can’t use them accurately enough.
So I can’t say yea or nay on the Easy Cue whip.
I think they’re terrible. Poor balance, hard to handle. Try a more flexible whip or work on improving your technique instead.
Personally, I prefer a stiff whip, as I can be more precise with timing and placement.
I wish I could physically go to a tack store and try them out. I really don’t know what I like. I would just grab whatever was around, and I was trained to use it properly, it’s really mostly a matter of I have to reach out with my hand to get over my thigh. Hopefully as I continue to get smaller and stronger it will be a non-issue. I’m just teaching a newer horse some very basic lateral work and it would be nice to be able to keep my hand on the reins for it.
If you’re concerned about buying without trying, you could try a Fleck SuperFlex or Delta Pro. They’re both very wang-y and flexible, and SmartPak sells them with a hassle-free returns policy. (Note: the Fleck schooling whip, which is cheaper, is not particularly wang-y and flexible. Just the SuperFlex and the Delta Pro.)
You want the whip to balance nicely in your hand. Fleck makes a really nice whip that I own and adore.
http://www.dressageextensions.com/feldman-whip/p/1616/
I have issues sometimes with reaching back with the whip but I suspect it’s mostly me and my position and should be overcome. This fleck whip works great around that and has nice swing and balance.
