Legs too fat for whip

[quietann]

OK … I am not doing much dressage any more, but that’s our basic training and I prefer to carry a dressage whip. This includes for trail riding.

Note: I’m asking “how to carry a dressage whip,” not “how to use a dressage whip in training.” And yes, I’ve experimented with no whip. In the arena it might be doable, though Miss Horse will be more sluggish, but on the trail it is my “back up tool.”

But. I have very round heavy legs. The classic “not for dressage” anatomy. Carrying the whip and using it are both difficult. It distracts me, and when I go to use it, I have to pull the carrying hand way to the outside to touch the flank, let alone just behind my leg. I can carry it just in front of my leg and use it on the shoulder (and yes I know that’s not kosher for showing, but I am not showing anymore) but am more likely to drop it.

(ETA: I have Dupuytrens contracture in my right hand – so do not really have grip in ring and pinkie fingers. I can still use them for cueing, but not grip something as narrow as a whip.)

It makes my hand position suck, too. To carry a whip, I have to either move my hand way away from the horse, or turn it in (piano hand it.)

“Lose weight” is, well, a Thing, but I have been much less heavy than I am now, and it was still a problem. And I am not exactly super heavy now. BMI = 27 and I am about 15-20 pounds above my ideal weight. Just built like a cob!

[piedmontfields]

Have you tried one of those curved dressage whips? (I have not, but they look interesting and might help you.)

Ex.: http://www.dressageextensions.com/d-cue-curved-whip/p/16281/

[quietann]

@piedmontfields

Have you tried one of those curved dressage whips? (I have not, but they look interesting and might help you.)

Ex.: http://www.dressageextensions.com/d-cue-curved-whip/p/16281/

I have seen those before but never tried one. Reviews, anyone?

[Wicky]

Am also suffering from the same problem. I can not touch and hold the touch without moving my hand far to the outside. I saw this kind of whip years ago but never got one. I hope someone here can give a review!

[Wicky]

Mmph. Found this, but no reviews by users! https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/eventing/222438-easy-cue-dressage-whip

[Wicky]

https://www.alannaflax-clark.com/single-post/2015/11/24/The-Easy-Cue-Dressage-Whip

[Hopeless]

I completely understand why you would want to use a dressage whip as opposed to anything else, but would it be possible to just use a crop? I know that I had a mare that I just needed to say,“hey, listen to me”. Usually I didn’t even ever need to use it, but I had it. Sometimes a smack on the shoulder is enough to "wake 'em up.

[theresak]

A lot of times when I see this, the rider needs to choke up on the whip. Hold the whip right where the handle meets the whip.

Also, experiment with stiffer and whippier whips and different lengths. I love this Fleck whip because it’s nice and stiff and doesn’t bounce off my thigh. Also check your hand and arm position with thumbs up, elbows at or slightly in front of your sides, hands on either side of the neck…

[merrygoround]

A dressage whip need not be gripped! It has a mushroom cap for a reason! When you pick up the reins, you lock them down with your thumb and forefinger. The leaves a open circle at the top of your hand. That open circle holds the mushroom cap. The whip can lie loosely across your palm. If your wrists are at the correct angle and your thumb and forefinger are on top of your hand, the whip will lie diagonally across your thigh.

If as you are riding you quickly rotate your wrist outward so that your fingers are on top, the tip of the whip will tap the horse’s side behind your leg.

Sit on a stool and try it! In general you need not even change the position of your forearm.

[quietann]

@merrygoround

A dressage whip need not be gripped! It has a mushroom cap for a reason! When you pick up the reins, you lock them down with your thumb and forefinger. The leaves a open circle at the top of your hand. That open circle holds the mushroom cap. The whip can lie loosely across your palm. If your wrists are at the correct angle and your thumb and forefinger are on top of your hand, the whip will lie diagonally across your thigh.

If as you are riding you quickly rotate your wrist outward so that your fingers are on top, the tip of the whip will tap the horse’s side behind your leg.

Sit on a stool and try it! In general you need not even change the position of your forearm.

Not if your legs are round and thick. Trust me on this.

[Tanny98]

@quietann

Not if your legs are round and thick. Trust me on this.

My condolences… so glad this isn’t just me and I have yet to figure it out myself… I hate carrying a whip.

[Obsidian_Fire]

@quietann Okay, I have this same issue, anatomy-wise. But… my horses ride one-handed even in a snaffle. So if I need my whip, I can put my reins in one hand if need be, and use the other to spank.

The other option I use, is a set of western style reins with a romal on them. Again, if I have to use it to spank, I go one handed, but it does work.

In the arena, I just make sure my whip is long enough, and flexible enough, that I can touch the horse without much effort on my part.

I have a bucking strap on my saddle. Where the buckles go thru the D’s on the front of your saddle, it makes a little open “circle” (pocket?) and I tuck my whip in there when I’m not using it. The mushroom cap keeps it hanging there securely.
I only pull my whip out when I need it, and this way I don’t have to carry (and risk dropping it) the entire time.

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[netg]

I’ve been more than 15-20lbs over, and had friends who were the same. The whole point of a dressage whip is it bends. @merrygoround 's method causes the whip to bend around your leg. It doesn’t touch your horse in a straight line from hand to horse. This is why @theresak 's recommendation to try different stiffnesses was such a good one.

[quietann]

@Obsidian Fire

@quietann Okay, I have this same issue, anatomy-wise. But… my horses ride one-handed even in a snaffle. So if I need my whip, I can put my reins in one hand if need be, and use the other to spank.

The other option I use, is a set of western style reins with a romal on them. Again, if I have to use it to spank, I go one handed, but it does work.

In the arena, I just make sure my whip is long enough, and flexible enough, that I can touch the horse without much effort on my part.

I have a bucking strap on my saddle. Where the buckles go thru the D’s on the front of your saddle, it makes a little open “circle” (pocket?) and I tuck my whip in there when I’m not using it. The mushroom cap keeps it hanging there securely.
I only pull my whip out when I need it, and this way I don’t have to carry (and risk dropping it) the entire time.

Oh my mare will go one-handed in a snaffle. I am not really skilled enough to keep her from wiggling all over when riding one-handed, but yes – when I remember – I can use the whip this way. (I can also spank her shoulders using the bight on the snaffle reins, but I really don’t like doing that.) I should add a bucking strap so I can use it for whatever whip I might be carrying.

[ASB_Stars]

I would recommend finding yourself one of those cheap whips that bends everywhere- like the old “wonder whips”. They usually even had a popper on the end. Then when you flick it, it will make contact behind your leg. Not lovely for a horse show, but who cares!

[Wicky]

IMHO, the point is to have a whip that speaks to the horse in different ways. It is not used to smack him when he is bad. A pressure with the whip asks for forward. IF I don’t get enough forward I vibrate, and if I still don’t get enough then he gets a smack. And I ride with a whip in both hands so I can speak to each hind leg. So, I need something that can touch the horse with just a little pressure, and with my thigh in the way, this doesn’t work unless I bring my hand way out.

[quietann]

@Tanny98

My condolences… so glad this isn’t just me and I have yet to figure it out myself… I hate carrying a whip.

I have a feeling we have a lot of tall skinny people on this thread. My general experience with such people is that they just don’t get it, since they are closer to the “ideal” body type for dressage, which is tall slender man.

Now that I’ve offended a bunch of folks, a couple more examples. Very early in my re-riding, I told a well-known trainer who happens to be slender and pretty flat-chested that well, with D cups and my particular conformation, if I let my upper arms hang down by my sides, I can’t reach forward and back because the damn boobage gets in the way. Similarly, with arms in such a position, and lower arms in a straight line to the bit, my hands are nowhere near the horse’s neck; they are more or less over the pommel of the saddle. (And I am not riding a huge horse; I have a 15 hand Morgan.) This woman just didn’t believe me and unfortunately it wasn’t a situation where I could hop on my horse and demonstrate.

But ANYWAY. I am going to try the Easy Cue whip… thanks for the reminder!

[ThreeFigs]

I tried that curved whip once – a student had one and I rode with it for a few minutes. IMHO, those are NOT the answer. I didn’t like the (lack of) balance or feel of that whip. It felt very clumsy to me.

The folks above have several good suggestions. A very flexible (whippy) whip or a longer one that will “whip” around your thigh and touch the horse when applied. A crop used only on the shoulder. Perhaps a whip or crop that has a thickened gel handle or a wrist strap? Does your horse tolerate spurs?

[Pandoras_plight]

Strange suggestion it may be but my I say to try looking for a very soft fine variety of driving whip? They tend to be a tad longer and more responsive to a flick type motion and a longer end. I learned this trick as a very (cough)“compact” Rider who could not do anything but hit her own leg or the saddle pad with most whips but needed one on some horses because almost all my leg was blocked by the saddle :lol:

[Tanny98]

@quietann

I have a feeling we have a lot of tall skinny people on this thread. My general experience with such people is that they just don’t get it, since they are closer to the “ideal” body type for dressage, which is tall slender man.

Now that I’ve offended a bunch of folks, a couple more examples. Very early in my re-riding, I told a well-known trainer who happens to be slender and pretty flat-chested that well, with D cups and my particular conformation, if I let my upper arms hang down by my sides, I can’t reach forward and back because the damn boobage gets in the way. Similarly, with arms in such a position, and lower arms in a straight line to the bit, my hands are nowhere near the horse’s neck; they are more or less over the pommel of the saddle. (And I am not riding a huge horse; I have a 15 hand Morgan.) This woman just didn’t believe me and unfortunately it wasn’t a situation where I could hop on my horse and demonstrate.

But ANYWAY. I am going to try the Easy Cue whip… thanks for the reminder!

Preach sister I’m built like a little football player. My thighs and butt burry my saddle. And I’ve got short stubby arms too and rest over the pommel. The only
other thing I feel I can try is get the extra long whips with medium to light stiffness. Last ones I purchased I just weren’t long enough. Let me know how the curvy one works. It makes sense when your hips and thighs are miles wider than your shoulders and arms…