Use a riding crop on the shoulder or a tap behind the legs?

Question

Please don't give me answers about how cruel it is or whatever because I defianty would never do it to harm my horse just to give her a little but more guidance and well when I ask her to move forward should I tap her shoulder or behind my leg and if I'm asking her to go forward do I tap left or right or does it really matter? And someone else told me a light tap on the horses rump is good is that an effective method?

Answer 1

Beginners often use the crop on the horse's shoulder because it is easier to do. In order to use the crop behind your leg, you have to take the reins in one hand and reach back with your other hand to use the crop. So it takes a bit more skill. But it is always preferable to use the crop behind your leg because it makes more sense to the horse. After all, you are using the crop because your horse didn't respond to your leg, so you want to use your crop right behind your leg so your horse connects the two. Experienced lesson horses generally are quite aware when they're being bad, and if you whack them on the shoulder they know exactly why they are being hit with the crop. But many other horses wouldn't realize that they got hit on the shoulder because they ignored your legs and didn't go forward. Besides, since impulsion and energy come from the horse's hindquarters, it makes more sense to hit him behind your leg. The only time tapping the shoulder with a crop is really effective is when you are trying to correct a horse dropping his shoulder and scooting sideways. Then the crop tells the horse to pick up that shoulder, and is not used to make him go more forward.



I don't know much about Western, but in English disciplines judges will expect you to use your crop behind your leg. In a beginner class they might overlook it if you use the crop on the shoulder, but it very much marks you as a beginner. Tapping on the rump is not something you should do at a show at all. I have seen some dressage trainers tap the rump for specific purposes, like to get a horse to lower his croup when teaching piaffe in hand. You generally hold the crop in your inside hand (so you have to switch hands when you change direction.) But if your horse tends to ignore one leg more than the other, or like to run out to one specific side, you may keep the crop in that hand all the time.



People who tell you that good riders don't need a crop are just ignorant. My old dressage trainer used to require that all riders carry a whip at all times when mounted. After all, just because you carry it doesn't mean you EVER need to actually use it. But if you ever need it, you have it ready. Better to tap your horse with the crop/whip the first time he tries to ignore your leg and fix the problem immediately than to keep kicking and kicking until your horse's sides are dead.

Answer 2

I am too uncoordinated to ride with a crop effectively, so I usually give my ponies a sharp tap on the rump with my hand. Because I do it so infrequently, this method has become pretty effective for me, but is definitely not for the show ring. Just be careful using a crop on the rump because some horses will buck.



I used to tap my draft mare on the rump, but after a couple times, she responded very well to the sound of the crop on my half chap.



I haven't found tapping the horse's shoulder effective as a forward moving encouragement, but more as a "please turn, why have you suddenly forgotten what rein and leg cues are?" sort of gig :)

Answer 3

It really depends on the horse. Some respond with a light tap on the shoulder some need a tap behind the leg and some even need a nice smack. If you are riding english the crop should always be kept in the outside hand so you will have to change hands as you change direction.

Answer 4

A riding crop is carried and sometimes used as an extension of the leg. If the horse does not answer the leg aid, a slight tap behind AND WITH the leg is permissible. Otherwise the horse thinks he's being hit for nothing and that is wrong. When you are in the riding school/menage, it's the inside leg that asks for impulsion and as you change rein, you change the crop into the inside hand. If out hacking "choose" an inside and outside. It's no use banging away with both legs and using a crop, the horse will be confused. It's better to use a schooling whip (hate that word) as you don't have to take both reins in one hand to use it.

Answer 5

To get a horse to move forward, I'll usually give a tap behind the leg.

I generally use the tap on the shoulder to remind the horse that I'm still on his back, and to straighten him up if he's veering to one side or dropping one shoulder.



A horse's forward movement comes from the hind end (well, it SHOULD)... so ideally you'll want to ask the horse to move from the back to the front.



Doesn't matter what side you tap on. Just hold your crop in your dominant hand (whether you're left or right handed)



I don't personally like tapping them on the rump. Horses can grow tolerant to that, because it's a big meaty area. The flank or barrel, however, is a lot more sensitive, and they'll feel it more.



Good luck, hope I helped.

Answer 6

At the shows I go to you can get dq'ed if you tap your horse on the shoulder with a crop. Personally I don't use a crop but when I have in the past I found it is much more effective to tap right behind the girth or on the rump.

Answer 7

i press the length of the crop against a horse shoulder and/or neck as a reminder is they start to get smart or a turn that they aren't giving enough impulsion into, and it works very well for me. since it looks bad in the ring to give your horse a big WAP on the butt, i only do if my horse is really out of line. if your gonna whack them on the but it has to be BIG. if you continuously give you horse little love taps on the rump it will get disgruntled and annoyed, i know a few that will buck you off! i say a whack on the behind for mis behaviour, and a press or flick on the shoulder/neck for clarification. when asking for a canter and your ho rse doesn't pick up, if a firm nudge with your leg doesn't work i press the length of the crop on the barrel, but no smacking cause that can be really startling for a horse.



also your friend is sadly wrong, to much use of your crop will make your horse oversensitivee to leg and mouth because you'll be neglecting them, and de-sensitized to the crop. a horse at my barn doesn't care no matter how hard you whack him cause he's been whacked so many times.

Answer 8

Behind your leg. And no, it's not cruel to give them a tap with a riding crop. It's worse to the horse to kick and kick and kick them really hard in the ribs with no effect than one *REASONABLE* tap behind your leg. Not so loud your instructor can actually, but not so gentle the horse will think a fly has landed on it.

Answer 9

Behind your leg, on her belly. If you smack her on the bum then she might buck, and a tap on the shoulder is to tell a horse off not to encourage it to move forwards. You should hold your crop on the inside of the school, and tap her with whichever hand is on the inside.

Answer 10

It depends, if they are leaning in on their shoulder or goofing off I tap on the shoulder. If they aren't using their hind end or I'm trying to get some more impulsion and forward I tap behind the leg or on the rump.

Answer 11

The only time a riding CROP is used is out hunting, t is the type with the right angled horn handle, for opening gates. A riding whip is either long or short, long for flat work, out hacking dressage, and short for jumping or racing. The long whip is either used behind your leg to tickle or flick to back up the use of the leg on that side, or out riding on the roads so you don't let the horse's qhindquarters swing out into traffic. When jumping only an experienced rider may use the short whip behind your leg to mean business, or possibly use it pressed against the shoulder to keep the horse's shoulder from bulgiing sideways. Racing is another matter entirely.

Answer 12

To encourage them forwards tap them on the rump but my riding instructor told me to tap them on the shoulder if they miss behave

Answer 13

to go forward, give him a light tap behind your leg. I usually only give taps on the shoulders when:

If they keep refusing on one side, the next time i approach that fence, i give them a light tap on the shoulder when i feel them starting to shift to the side.

they misbehave like buck or kick out, etc.

Answer 14

i use it on the shoulder and if they still will not obey, i crop their butt.



but some of the horses i ride undergo a personality change when i so much as grab the crop it's kinda funny:)

Answer 15

I tap the rump as it propels them forwards and encourages them into the bit and contact :)

Answer 16

when and if i usea crop, i use mine behind the girth, as this reinforces the leg aid. make sure you ask, tell and then command, then resort to the crop, good luck :) elsa xx

Answer 17

A good rider doesn't need a crop.