Proper Whip Type for Ladies in the Field?

[Merry_Fox]

Good Morning All–a question on whips for a lady in the field. I’m new to foxhunting and have slowly been collecting my kit over the past few years. My goal is to be as traditional in my attire as possible and I’m getting conflicting information on whips for ladies in the field.

What is the correct type of whip for a lady follower to carry? I’ve been told jumping bats are acceptable but not correct. Some say the bamboo or wooden show sticks are acceptable but not traditional. I’ve heard that ladies only carry knob ends but not the hooked stag horn. I’ve heard that knob ends are for cubbing but hooked ends are for formal season. Or are both acceptable at any time? Also, is it correct for a lady in the field to ride with a hunt whip with just the loop but no thong attached?

Can anyone provide some expert guidance?

Thank you!

[Jaegermonster]

I believe that it is not correct to carry a whip in the field until you have your colors but I may be mistaken. But by the time you have earned your colors you should know what the other ladies in your hunt are carrying.
I’ve never seen anything in writing as far as the kind of whip or the end or anything.
I prefer the staghorn handle ones because they are handy for picking things up off ground and opening and closing gates and so on.

A bat is ok if you need it for your horse, a hunt whip is for the hounds and should not be used on your horse.

[Equibrit]

Use a crop if you need it (preferably with a wrist strap). Canes are for sidesaddle riders, whips are for staff, bats are useless.

[system]

Ah - I like my long handled bat for swatting flies.

[Merry_Fox]

So what I’m hearing is take whatever normal crop/whip/bat I use at home to aid with the forward motion and call it good. It doesn’t sound like I need to aquire anything new to blend in with the rest of the field.

[Jaegermonster]

Wellllllll, technically (and this could probably become a thread unto itself) it is considered incorrect to use any type of bat or crop on a field hunter because they could conceivably become whip shy and prevent you from carrying and using a hunt whip.
The correct way to encourage forward motion in a field hunter is with spurs, which are also a part of correct hunting turnout.
But I have seen lots of people carrying bats or crops in the field.

That’s one of those things that depends on how correct/traditional your hunt is, how much you care, and if you have any aspirations on being staff.

[Merry_Fox]

I just want to survive the first couple of go rounds by staying in the tack, keeping up, and not committing any serious etiquette faux pas!

Yes to spurs but I was also having visions of a ditch, stream, coop, etc. that caused momentary hesitation and watching a herd of tweed encased derrieres disappearing over the horizon and me and my poor pony watching them fade away.

[MyGiantPony]

@Equibrit;4333624

Use a crop if you need it (preferably with a wrist strap). Canes are for sidesaddle riders, whips are for staff, bats are useless.

But I was always taught that a ss rider carries a whip. I can’t imagine hunting with a cane. That would be a PITA.

[Beverley]

Real hunting whips ARE ALWAYS CORRECT

I’m aware that in recent times some hunts don’t ‘let’ field members carry hunting whips. Okay, whatever a hunt’s master says, goes. But, TRADITIONALLY- while you don’t HAVE to carry a proper hunting whip with thong, you certainly MAY do so- even if it’s your first time out- if you want to. You may NOT EVER use it on a hound unless you have specific instruction to do so by a Master or huntsman- but it is handy for getting gates, whopping the horse, and hanging the thong and lash down to alert hounds to avoid your horse, if necessary. You ‘can’ carry just the whip with no thong, but I don’t know why anyone would want to- I never have.

As for ‘correct type’ traditional horn handle or knob handle, whatever you want, it isn’t gender specific. Just don’t use white whip or white thong, these are reserved for PROFESSIONAL staff.

In general, in the world of foxhunting, really truly the rule is, carry what you need, and no more. If you need your regular jumping bat/crop/whatever for the particular horse, then yes, absolutely, carry it and use it! Just please don’t stick it in your boot when not in use, that looks really dorky.

[Beverley]

@Jaegermonster;4335330

Wellllllll, technically (and this could probably become a thread unto itself) it is considered incorrect to use any type of bat or crop on a field hunter because they could conceivably become whip shy and prevent you from carrying and using a hunt whip.

I’m curious where you learned this theory- I never have heard it before. Nor have I ever known proper use of a bat or crop to cause a horse to have an issue with a hunting whip. Come to think of it, correcting the occasional horse with the hunting whip itself hasn’t caused the horse any consternation either!

[Equibrit]

@Merry Fox;4335407

I just want to survive the first couple of go rounds by staying in the tack, keeping up, and not committing any serious etiquette faux pas!

Yes to spurs but I was also having visions of a ditch, stream, coop, etc. that caused momentary hesitation and watching a herd of tweed encased derrieres disappearing over the horizon and me and my poor pony watching them fade away.

I wouldn’t worry about it so much. When you get out there you’ll have a totally different pony who will be thundering along amongst a throng of similarly fire breathing steeds. Just keep your eyes peeled for a reliable butt to follow !

Interesting site about whips/canes etc …http://www.sportingcollection.com/whips/antique-whips.html and other drool worthy stuff.

[JSwan]

@Merry Fox;4335407

I just want to survive the first couple of go rounds by staying in the tack, keeping up, and not committing any serious etiquette faux pas!

In that case just be a minimalist and focus on you and the horse. Nothing wrong with a whip but it’s just one more thing to hold, keep track of, drop, smack yourself in the face with, etc.

[Equibrit]

JS - I dare you to check out that last link I posted !

[JSwan]

Hmmm… do you double dog dare me?

Ok!

Oh my. She has gorgeous things. must resist…

[Jaegermonster]

[QUOTE=Beverley;4335702]
I’m curious where you learned this theory- I never have heard it before. Nor have I ever known proper use of a bat or crop to cause a horse to have an issue with a hunting whip. Come to think of it, correcting the occasional horse with the hunting whip itself hasn’t caused the horse any consternation either!:)[/QUOTE]

Well for starters its in “Riding to Hounds in America”

[Jaegermonster]

[QUOTE=JSwan;4335774]
Hmmm… do you double dog dare me?

Ok!

Oh my. She has gorgeous things. must resist…[/QUOTE]

we’ll hold hands and say it together. That site is amazing.

[Beverley]

@Jaegermonster;4335929

Well for starters its in “Riding to Hounds in America”

Hmmm. Don’t recall reading it there, but I can also claim insufficient memory at this time!

In any event- I’ve honestly never known it to be an issue. I’m sure if you throttled a horse with ANY object abusively it would develop an appropriate fear- but whackin’ one with a whip behind the leg to negotiate a sticky fence- or even on the neck to reprimand bad manners- is in my experience processed as the encouragement/correction that it’s intended to be.

[Painted_Wings]

I agree

I hunt young, very young, (two yr olds) horses with a beagle pack, sometimes by myself. Sometimes I whack them behind the saddle with the hunt whip to get them going forward over ditches or through thick brush. Never has made them whip shy. I’ve seen our foxhunt huntsman do it too.

I’ve never heard anything within our group about someone not being able to carry a whip. Using it on a hound however is not acceptable unless told to. Our huntsman is VERY particular about how the hounds are treated and the timing of the punishment.

[Merry_Fox]

Thanks for the comments everyone. I too had heard that it was correct to always carry a whip in the field as an insurance policy. I have my normal brown cross country whip (no wrist strap) but a friend offered to loan me an old staghorn whip without the thong. She pointed out that it could be used for gates and branches as well as encouraging forward motion.

[Jaegermonster]

[QUOTE=Beverley;4336232]
Hmmm. Don’t recall reading it there, but I can also claim insufficient memory at this time!

In any event- I’ve honestly never known it to be an issue. I’m sure if you throttled a horse with ANY object abusively it would develop an appropriate fear- but whackin’ one with a whip behind the leg to negotiate a sticky fence- or even on the neck to reprimand bad manners- is in my experience processed as the encouragement/correction that it’s intended to be.[/QUOTE]

I’m headed out to a horse show but when I get back I’ll get my copy and give you the page number.