A whip can also be called a stick, crop, wand or flag.
It is a stick that is used to touch a horse when it isn’t practical to use your hand or leg (when riding).
Whips can be long or short, flexible or stiff. They can have a string on the end, or not.
The shortest whips are often called crops. The longest whips are usually used when lunging a horse.
The whip should only be an extension of the person’s intention.
The whip does not have to cause discomfort any more than someone tapping you on the arm to get your attention. It can be used like a orchestra conductor uses their baton to influence the musicians.
On the end of the extreme a whip can also be used with the type of energy and strength to protect your personal space, similar to how horse’s use their hindlegs to kick out at those getting to close.
Like all other equipment we use on a horse, remember there is a way to use it to create clarity or to instill fear.
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