Whips - Style, Lash, Material, Etc.

[Ceylon_Star]

My whip met an untimely demise, and I need to get a replacement. In looking at Fleck’s website, I’m seeing three different styles for driving (not including their trotting whips) - Driving, Hungarian, and Drop Lash. They’re saying that the Drop Lash style is for full collar, and Driving/Hungarian are for breast collar. My cob goes in a full collar due to some conformational issues that make breastcollars unsuitable/painful. My last whip had a short lash, maybe 18" long. I did find I was reaching for his shoulder a bit with it. The longer lashes on Fleck’s driving whips seem like a MUCH better idea! I’m just not sure how important it is that I go with the Drop Lash style over the Driving or Hungarian style?

I’m also pondering materials. Mine was plastic, and I found it kind of heavy, despite being decently balanced. What are some of the pros and cons to the different whip materials? I’m seeing fiberglass, hollow fiberglass, carbon composite, woven covered… I’m thinking the woven-covered is what I had before - plastic with a woven nylon cover.

I’m also seeing a couple different lash materials. Nylon, spun, and leather. I feel like leather would be a bit more “thumpy” because it’s heavier, but at the same time I wonder if the extra weight would make it easier to control?

I liked the length of my old whip (150cm) but found the lash met the collar pad more than pony’s shoulder. It was just too stiff and pointy, not enough flick to it.

I’d rather spend a bit more $$$ and get something that’s really suited to our needs and isn’t going to kill my arm to hold up for long periods of time, instead of getting something cheaper and having to replace it frequently. I loved the smooth wrapped grip (I believe mine was faux leather, based on the rest of the materials used) of my last whip, so would likely go for something similar for my next one.

Thanks

[MunchingonHay]

You forgot to mention if you show or not :).

Pleasure show, drive for fun, breed classes…etc.

I personally like flecks. And i get whatever length does the job. (I trained horses to drive and managed fei horses)

[Ceylon_Star]

Down the road I’m looking at low level CDE/ADT. There’s not much offered near me, so 98% of my driving will be at home/around the neighborhood rather than at events. If in the future there are more driving events offered within a reasonable distance, I’m more than happy to invest in a more appropriate show whip if mine isn’t ideal for the show ring. Harness is black with brass (as are the hames - I couldn’t find the size I need in solid brass and can’t currently afford to have some custom made) and cart has been defined by the ADS/CAA (as well as Equine Canada) as a “2 wheeled phaeton road cart” and is burgundy and black with brass hardware, if that helps any.

I know that the shaft/stick/body of the whip length I like is 150cm, I’m just not sure on the lash, or the difference between the whip styles offered. In fact, looking at the pictures on Fleck’s site, I can’t really see the difference other than at the top of the drop lash page it says they’re suitable for full collar, and the driving/hungarian whip page says suitable for breastcollar.

[ideayoda]

(Contact Westfield Whip Company in Massachusetts…they will make anything custom.)

[buck22]

I went from a low-end Fleck with a plastic shaft to a UltraLight graphite and I am very very happy with it, the weight difference was tremendous.

I fly fish and I’m discovering a lot of the whip shafts are actually re-purposed fishing rod blanks. Having fished fiberglass and graphite (which was originally known as carbon graphite), I can say fiberglass shafts are heavier by a mile, and have a much slower “action”, they’re whippier. Graphite is a LOT lighter, durable but more fragile than glass (I already broke one of my ultralight whips, but it was my mistake folding a shaft back over the tip), and has a faster “action”, its sharper and less sluggish than glass.

For weight I don’t think you’ll get lighter than graphite.

I never realized about how to measure for lash length until I ordered mine, this is neat:
http://www.ultralitewhips.com/how-to-measure.html

I would think that leather would be heavier and maybe feel a bit top heavy?

[goodhors]

Know going into whip handling, that VERY SELDOM is your hand going to actually be holding the “handle” part. You want whip to balance over your thumb, using no fingers, as the point where you should be holding it. Some whips will have your hand WAY up on the stick at the balance point, probably not what you want to carry without modifying it for a better, lower balance point.

Holding at the “balance point” is less work, less strain on your hand and wrist when carrying the whip during the drive. Top is not pulling your hand downward all the time.

With our big horses, we tend to need long-stick whips so we can reach them. Going out in Multiples, the lash gets quite long, so having a well balanced, light whip gets to be quite important for Driver comfort. I do some work on our whips, customize length of lash, because SOMETIMES we break them with not paying attention packing or moving them around. Can’t afford to buy those pricey 4-in-hand whips often! Actually, husband has gotten to prefer our home-done whips over purchased ones, likes the lighter weight lashes to “send out” on the Tandem or Four. Easier on his wrist.

With the Pair, a much shorter lash is wanted, but still light to go with the LONG stick length he prefers. And your choices can change as you develop strength, learn a new idea at a Clinic or from your Trainer.

ADS and CAA both advise having a whip TIP that reaches the shoulder of equine. You can go with a long stick, shorter lash or the longer lash on a short stick. How well you can manage your whip, comfort in the whip balance, will help make your choice for you.

Also to be considered is how thick of a handle, so it uses up finger length, while holding it. I have long fingers, like a thicker handle stick so my fingers don’t overlap and dig into my hand’s palm. Shorter fingers may get tired holding such a thick stick, not comfortable to them. Again, you can modify your whip a bit, add some wrap for making it thicker if needed, or to just try the feel of it, maybe to put some sleight weight in the butt end for balance help.

Claudette at Country Carriages USA had a good selection of inexpensive whips for trying out types without breaking your wallet. Had the common black and white types in various lengths of stick and lash. We keep those on hand at home so I always have a nice spare. Around here, it seems “things happen” to whips that get used, even when everyone TRIES to be careful. Breaking a $15 whip is not heartbreaking, like it is when the $100 whip is damaged. Or worse, a Holly whip!

http://www.countrycarriagesusa.com/

Something you may not have noticed, is that you can buy the actual whip lash, short braided end as replacements, in various lengths. Local tack store has them in 6"-10"-18" sizes. So getting a long lash end, could make that “too short” whip just right, for about $2. Whip lash ends are made to be replaced as needed, just loop them on the stick’s cord end.

[Hilary]

Once again - someone asked the question I had! I have a bunch of whips but none are apparently right. They are too short - the one with the longer lash reaches a bit farther, but one of my instructors doesn’t like the last. I find it gets tangled in the trees when I drive clockwise around my field. I will use that measuring guide.

I used to find the whip got heavy but either I got better at managing it, or stronger.