Can you carry a dressage crop? Asking for a friend…:winkgrin:
Here you go:
WHIPS. One whip no longer than 120 cm (47.2 in) including lash may be carried when riding on the flat at any time. One whip no longer than 120 cm (47.2 in) may be carried during the Dressage Test except in USEF/USEA Championships and USEA Championship divisions. As an exception, riders competing sidesaddle may carry a whip in the dressage test at all competitions, including championships. A standard lunge whip may be used when lunging a horse. If a whip is carried in the Cross-Country and/or Jumping Test, or while jumping any obstacle before these tests, it must not be weighted at the end or exceed 75cm (30") in length. An adjustable-length whip may not be carried by a mounted rider.
Timely, because I am riding my dressage test at the Area 2 Championships tomorrow morning and the rule about “no whips” in Championships had slipped my mind! :eek: (The last time I rode in the Ch. was 10 years ago.)
Thanks for bringing this up, IOW!!!
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No you can’t. “If a whip is carried in the Cross-Country and/or Jumping Test, or while jumping any obstacle before these tests, it must not be weighted at the end or exceed 75cm (30”) in length. An adjustable-length whip may not be carried by a mounted rider."
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Interesting that when referencing the jumping phases they refer to it as a “whip” (generic term?) rather than a “crop”; and as for the weighted end I’m guessing this means the butt end, held by the rider?, since I can’t imagine anyone riding with a heavy “popper” at the end of a crop. OR, for that matter, using an adjustable length whip - like a telescoping longe whip?, though I guess they have to cover all possible bases WRT the rules.
A “whip” is tapered at the end, usually with a small lash. A crop or bat is not - they have a blunt or flat end. Not sure what they call the little smacker thing.
Is it only about length, though?
This is a good subject, I’m going to tag @Janet since she will know for sure 
When I was at Loch Moy earlier this year (starter trial) there was a young girl in my division who took a regular length dressage whip into the ring and did her show jump round with it. I wondered at the time why no one had “caught” that (her coach? stadium steward?), but they DID go up to her when she was on her way to x-country and told her she wasn’t allowed to carry it for jumping; she was not disqualified after the fact, though.
(I think Starter Trials try to be more accommodating and encouraging in general, so…)
Telescoping whips are used in driving and make sense in some other situations. They are out there. Like to hear more about the definition of whip and crop in tne rulebook, interesting question. Same thing or not ?
My trainer uses a dressage whip sometimes at starter trials on her greenies. No one’s ever cared. Not sure why they would. It’s not like she beats them with it!
I would assume because starter is not a recognized division.
My “friend” has 2 issues. A horse who could give a rats butt about a crop with the wide leather end but straightens himself up for a dressage whip. The other issue is this is the first horse she has had that actually benefited from the use of a whip and isn’t as adept at reaching back for a slap on the butt. With a dressage whip you can tap without changing your hands. “She” will get it and while I thought there was a rule, I thought I would check.
I think it’s easier to accidentally touch the horse with a longer dressage Whip if used while jumping vs a shorter crop.
If length is the only issue, maybe it’s fine? I’m still waiting for Janet to weigh in
Highflyer said 30" max
Having anxiously raced to the trailer to check whip length, I 've found that it does count on CC.:yes:
And they do check.But not always.
Hmm, so does this mean that the length is the only thing that matters for a jumping crop/whip?
Now I really want to know the answer :lol:
And when I was warming up for my dressage at the championships this morning, I noticed a few other riders (in addition to me) carrying whips. I gave mine to my husband on my walk to the competition rings and wasn’t paying attention to anyone else - so I assume that they “divested themselves” of their whips as well.
The steward said nothing about it, so had I not posted on this thread and checked the rulebook, I would have merrily carried my whip into the ring and would’ve been disqualified.
Gotta love COTH!
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USEF rules use the FEI terminology, which is sometimes confusing to Americans. So “whip” = “crop”.
“Weighted”, to my understanding, means weighted at the tip. Not that I have come across one, but that is what it refers to.
There are dressage whips which are adjustable in length. (Look in any dressage focused catalog). The concern is that the rider would present to the bit checker with the whip in the “short” configuration, and change to the"long" configuration before entering the ring.
For jumping, the whip/crop may not exceed 30", including any lash or snapper. Usually, they are not checked/measured, but that is the rule, and a dressage whip greater than 30" on cross country would definitely be noticed.
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Thanks, Janet - I knew you’d come through!
As a steward for competitions run under FEI rules, in addition to the length of the whip, it must have a flapper on the end - not a lash like a dressage whip. You may not carry a dressage whip when jumping ANY obstacles - including trot or ground poles. A few years ago the rule said you could not ride in the jump warm up area with a dressage whip, but with many places having dual purpose dressage and jump warm up areas, the rule got changed.
I suggest your friend starts practicing with a short whip!
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Yes I meant I’m not sure why anyone would care at a starter trial since they are schooling events. But some are more sticklers than others for sticking to USEA rules.
Aha!!
Thanks for the clarification
I’m guessing that local HTs are more “relaxed” than competitions run under FEI rules, hence the confusion. Interesting point about the rings and warm up. I wonder how many people have been talked to about jumping with a dressage whip in warm up?
Good to know the rules regardless, even if it’s something that won’t impact you directly.
At the ones I run we try to at least have the TD talk to you about something like this-- assuming we caught you. I honestly would not be very happy with a pro who knows the rules doing it. If she asked for permission or to run HC it would be a different story.
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Well, really I think the problem is her jump bats are really short:lol:. I have a nice 28" County jump whip that I should gift her.
