I am thinking of buying a dressage whip for someone, in the new legal length. I know what I like, but not what she likes. What is your favorite type? Stiff or flexible? etc etc. All comments appreciated!
thanks for any suggestions
Loretta
Personally, I like 'em really stiff! :winkgrin:
My favorite is the Fleck whip with the two oval wooden grip handles. Very balanced feel and stiff so you only need to flick it lightly to communicate clearly.
I second this whip. Luckily I have a smaller horse and will not need to buy a new one!
I also like the Fleck. My current one has the brass tip on the handle with little brass-colored detail right below the handle. Attractive, light, stiff, and very balanced. I loved my previous Fleck, just a plain handle (rubber or something), but also balanced and easy to hold.
[QUOTE=caevent;3730150]
My favorite is the Fleck whip with the two oval wooden grip handles. Very balanced feel and stiff so you only need to flick it lightly to communicate clearly.[/QUOTE]
ditto this!!!
[QUOTE=Ted the Peep 'Ho;3730222]
ditto this!!![/QUOTE]
Ted, I’m surprised to find you like the whip at all. Do you feel it keeps mom’s legs off of you? Or it just makes you feel dapper?
I have the blackwatch plaid one with the silver handle.
Right amount of stiffness, and wonderfully balanced whip.
I show with the Fleck nubuck handle brass-topped whip and I like it alot. But I school with the Colored-handled whips (actually, the whole thing is colored) from Dressage extensions. They are cheap - around $20 - but are VERY well balanced for such a cheap whip. Moderately stiff. I’m really into whip balance so I like these and the flecks.
I like the ones with poppers (leather tabs) because they make sound. I find some horses react well with the sound, and you only have to tap to make a pop! My mare HATEs the little tickler tassles. Kinda like when you were a kid and someone tickled you into surrendering! I hated that too I guess, sorry girl I realize now!
My whip was under $16 and is pretty awesome. 
I can’t seem to remember the brand name.
[QUOTE=lorilu;3729770]
I am thinking of buying a dressage whip for someone, in the new legal length. I know what I like, but not what she likes. What is your favorite type? Stiff or flexible? etc etc. All comments appreciated!
thanks for any suggestions
Loretta[/QUOTE]
I like the Flecks as well- they come in a great variety and are reasonably priced- since my horses like to chew on them…argh!!
Regarding stiffness- the more advanced the rider the stiffer…(haha)…is better- because it is more precise…
Thanks for all the input. I hadn’t thought about the two-knobbed Fleck… but I had thought about Flecks in general. The popper sounds interesting, also. Balance is important, and I have always heard that they are well balanced. Some of the nice ones, tho, in the catalogues are not “yet” in the “new” length…
molliwog, those are gorgeous, but out of my price range!
L
Thanks for that link molliwog. Cool site.
I love collecting whips, like shoes I guess. I just bought a red handled whip, which I like because I can always find it. I like Fleck whips. I’m partial to the bamboo handled one. it’s on my wish list.
i like wonder whips – and for me, any whip has to have a flat cap on it so that it stays in my hand if i were to loosen my grip…not that i would ever do that…
Honestly, I think I would be a bit leery of giving someone a whip as a gift. Whips are such a personal feel kind of thing; at least to me they are. It’s kind of like giving someone music…might be a big success or it might be all wrong…
If you do I would recommend getting a gift reciept so they can exchange it if they like.
However, FWIW, I have recently discoverd the popper type of dressage whip, also by Fleck, and I am a fan! The horse I am riding right now is a bit lazy and the sound effect seems to motivate him!
I like cheap whips. Not too floppy, though, or too stiff. it really is an individual thing.
Does anyone else think the new whip length rule was written to encourage us to run out & buy new whips?? Kidding, just kidding, but it was the first thing that popped into my head…
There is a new whip rule?
New whip rule
120 cm (47.2 in) is the new max length. Used to be 110 cm (43.3 in). USEF DR120.5 effective 12/1/08.
I am happy with the whip length I have now, but haven’t tried a longer one.
Can COTHers comment on the benefits of the longer length?
NOTE: I have no problem with the new rule. I just want comments for a lower-level AA rider 
Oh… I have a lot of thoughts on longer whips versus shorter whips…
one of them is that personally, I thought that the shorter whip rule was just stupid. As if you cannot abuse a horse w/a short whip. Actually I think a longer whip is potentially LESS abusive as it allows you to be more accurate and reach the horse with less movement of the hand. I hate riding w/a short whip, if I go to ride a clients horse and their whip is not to my liking I bring my own. Yup, the car looks just like a dominatrix owns it… chaps, whip, spurs :lol:
I am a little distressed that something like this “needed” to be a rule. You cannot stop people from beating the tar out of their horses with any length whip when they are at home.
As far as which whip is best, I prefer a longer whip, very stiff, and for some horses I cut the lash off. Fleck makes the best ones IMO. But it depends… I also like to keep a bunch of those cheap colored plastic ones from Dressage Extensions around so that I can lose them when riding out, and the kids can play with them without me hyperventilating.
Right now I am down to two whips and am hoping Santa will bring me some so I can be stocked up again.
