All About Riding Crops and Dressage Whips

Riding Crops and Whips are all artificial aids used to encourage horses to listen to the rider's leg and seat aids. Here is some key information about each tool to give you a better idea of which option would be most beneficial for you and your horse:

Riding Crops or bats are the most common type of artificial aid. They are a relatively short, thin, and flexible stick with a grip and a piece of leather or rubber at the end called the keeper. These are commonly used in the English disciplines and come in many colors, lengths, and styles. They are used mainly to encourage lazy horses to respect leg aids. To supplement their leg aid, the rider will first ask the horse with their leg to move forward. If the horse does not respond to this attempt they will place the crop behind its leg and tap or give the horse a meaningful wack. If used correctly, in time the horse will no longer need a crop as they will learn to respect the initial aid.

Dressage Whips is similar to riding crops but they are much longer and thinner at the end. They are used for the same purpose but the rider does not have to move their hand back as much to supplement their aids. Instead, they can flick their wrist to deliver a tap to the horse's side. Riding whips are also used for groundwork to train green horses.

Lunge Whips or Driving Whips are used for lunging or driving. They are long sticks with a long flexible whip attached to the end. When lunging the whip is used as an aid to encourage the horse to move forward or out. If used properly, the whip doesn’t usually have to touch the horse to be effective as they can see it and hear it. An extremely lazy horse may receive a tap, but the whip should never be fully cracked on a horse as it can leave welts. When driving, the horse may be tapped gently with the whip as the horse cannot see behind them. Some whips can also be cracked and make noise to encourage the horse forward.

Frequently Asked Questions About Riding Crops and Whips

What is a riding crop?

A riding crop is used to teach horses how to obey seat and leg aids. Typically, a riding crop is a 20 - 30 inch fiberglass rod covered with another material. They often have a hand grip and a piece of leather or rubber at the end called the keeper.

What is a dressage whip?

A Dressage Whip is a type of whip specifically designed for dressage work. The dressage whip is long and it is a normal size near the handle of the whip but gets thinner and thinner near the end of the whip. Because of its flexibility, the rider is able to correct the horse by simply flicking their wrist and holding the whip over their thigh. This allows the rider to give corrections without compromising their position.

How do you pick a riding crop?

To pick a crop first think about the type of riding you are doing. If you will be showing it is best to get a medium-length black or brown crop. If you are on the trails or schooling you can get any kind of crop you want. Also, ensure that the hand grip is not too big for the rider's hands, small children may need crops with small grips. Crops are typically only as harsh as the hands of the rider so the length and style are based mainly on preference.

How long should a horse riding crop be?

Most riding crops are between 21 - 25 inches long. There is no right length for crops as they are not fitted to the rider. They are mainly based on rider preferences, discipline, or the needs of your horse.