Riding Gaited Horses With a Dressage Whip
By Gaye DeRusso
I see people kick gaited horses over and over because the horse won't do what they ask. When I ask why you don't carry a whip, many get very offended, thinking it would hurt the horse. But I can tell you kicking a horse is much worse than giving a horse a light tap with a whip. If you don't believe me, try tapping yourself in the leg with a whip, then kick yourself in the leg with your other leg. Believe me you will feel the difference.
Also, when you kick, the gaited horse will usually skip gaits and go from a flat walk to a pace or trot, instead of a saddle gait, running walk or fox trot.
A whip is a much kinder way to go. But you do have to use the correct one and learn how to use it correctly. It will take time as everything does, but it's a good thing to learn.
For the gaited horse I like to use a dressage whip, because you can keep both hands on the reins, keep contact and half halt all at the same time.
If you use a crop (short stick) or the end of your reins, to make the horse move forward if he ignores your leg, you will have to put your reins in one hand, then turn around to hit the horse with the other hand. It will go forward but it is usually too much. Then you take your rein back and slow it down and your right back where you started. So, there is no point doing it that way.
Using a dressage whip, is very helpful in teaching a horse to gait and stay in gait especially if they are on the lazy side or not listening to you. I would not use a whip on a hot aka forward horse, there is no need you already have enough energy but If you are having issues teaching the hot horse to move sideways, you could use it then.
So, let's get started.
First what is a dressage whip?
It is a long whip. One that ranges from 3-4 feet in length. The reason it is so long, is so you can keep both hands on the reins but be able to tap the horse with the whip behind your leg to reinforce your leg. That way you can control how much energy you get from the horse. If you tap the horse with the whip and you get too much, you can immediately half halt and contain the energy you asked for.
What is the purpose of the whip?
It is to help reinforce your leg. If you need more engagement from your horse or you are asking your horse to move sideways in a leg yield, and he is not responding to your leg, you can use the whip to help encourage your horse to move forward or sideways.
How do you carry the whip?
When riding in an arena, carry it in your inside hand. But if your horse tends to drift out or is not turning well, then use it in your outside hand. When you switch directions, you are supposed to change the whip to the other hand. It can be difficult in the beginning till you get used to it. If that is the case, then carry it in your dominant hand, until you get comfortable.
You are going to hold your reins, like you normally do in two hands. Then you will hold the whip handle and fold your fingers around it. Think of how you hold a ski pole. it should rest on the crease in the center of your palm. You will tilt the whip, so it rests on your thigh pointing down behind your leg. This way it is not flopping around or hitting your horse by accident. It will take some time for you to get use to carrying it.
I always desensitize the horse with the whip first before I try and carry it when I am on his back. That way he is not afraid of the whip. And always remember if you have an issue, just open your fingers, and drop the whip, do not throw it, as that can spook your horse.
How to switch hands?
Say your whip is in your right hand. Put both reins in your right hand while still holding the whip. Rotate the whip up, then grab the whip with your left hand, position it in your palm across the crease and then take your rein back into your left hand. So, you will be making an arc over the horse's neck with the stick as you change hands.
If this is too hard, you can put both reins into your right hand with the whip. With your left hand grab the handle and pull it through your right hand like a sword. Reposition it in your left hand, then take your left rein back.
How do you use the whip?
When you need to encourage your horse to move forward or over sideways, you will always use your leg first, just lightly and if he does not respond with enough energy to your leg, you will use light taps behind your leg to encourage him to go forward or sideways, but always use your leg first. Carry the whip on the side that you are using the leg. So, if you are pushing the horse sideways with your left leg, you will carry the whip in your left hand.
You will usually need to widen your hands first and then you just flick your wrist to make contact with the whip. Similar to how you turn a doorknob. Keep tapping until you get the desired result. Start with light taps then each time hit with a little more firmness, but never just all of a sudden hit the horse hard with the stick or you may get a response you were not looking for.
If your horse is drifting say to the right, then hold the whip in your right hand. Say your turning left and he starts to drift right and won't turn, you can tilt the end of the whip forward toward his head and neck to block him from going to the right. Usually, a little wave with the stick will be enough to help them to turn.
Why is this helpful with gaited horses?
I use the dressage whip when I am encouraging a gaited horse to engage its backend or to move sideways such as a leg yield. Sometimes you need more energy from the horse but if you squeeze too hard, they skip gaits and can pace or trot. With the dressage whip you ask for the gait with your leg, but then you can ask for a little more speed with just a little more leg and if they do not respond then lightly tap the horse behind your leg with the whip.
On the trail, I only carry the stick if I have a lazier horse or a spooky horse that needs encouragement. Most horses are more forward on the trail versus the arena where they get bored.
I use the whip to help keep the horse awake and engaging his hindquarters, to help with his gait and to make sure he moves forward when I ask. It is also helpful in case you have a dog that tries to attack, you can use the whip to help defend yourself and your horse.
Spurs can encourage a horse to go forward, but when trying to work toward a specific gait, some horses will not engage themselves as much with the spur as they will from a dressage whip. I use spurs mostly for lateral work which I will post in another article.
Think of when you see a high-level dressage rider doing all sorts of cool movements with their horse, they carry a whip and wear spurs, because they want the horse to perform with the lightest aids from the rider. You will never see them kick or beat the horse, they just ask and then ask for more.
Whips and spurs are artificial aids that are used to reinforce your natural aids, your legs and seat. They are not to punish the horse but to enhance performance. If you have been having issues with your horse ignoring your leg and going forward, not moving sideways, not listening to you, not wanting to leave the barn, even tripping, a dressage whip might make a big difference. When I have a trippy horse, giving a little tap before an obstacle or tree root can help wake them up so they pick up their feet better.
So now you understand what a dressage whip is and what it can do to help you with your gaited horse. But remember it is to enhance your leg, not to replace it.
Dressage Whip https://amzn.to/3XajMu6
Disclaimer - If you click on link and buy something, I will receive a small commission which helps support my site. Thanks for your support!
By Gaye DeRusso
I see people kick gaited horses over and over because the horse won't do what they ask. When I ask why you don't carry a whip, many get very offended, thinking it would hurt the horse. But I can tell you kicking a horse is much worse than giving a horse a light tap with a whip. If you don't believe me, try tapping yourself in the leg with a whip, then kick yourself in the leg with your other leg. Believe me you will feel the difference.
Also, when you kick, the gaited horse will usually skip gaits and go from a flat walk to a pace or trot, instead of a saddle gait, running walk or fox trot.
A whip is a much kinder way to go. But you do have to use the correct one and learn how to use it correctly. It will take time as everything does, but it's a good thing to learn.
For the gaited horse I like to use a dressage whip, because you can keep both hands on the reins, keep contact and half halt all at the same time.
If you use a crop (short stick) or the end of your reins, to make the horse move forward if he ignores your leg, you will have to put your reins in one hand, then turn around to hit the horse with the other hand. It will go forward but it is usually too much. Then you take your rein back and slow it down and your right back where you started. So, there is no point doing it that way.
Using a dressage whip, is very helpful in teaching a horse to gait and stay in gait especially if they are on the lazy side or not listening to you. I would not use a whip on a hot aka forward horse, there is no need you already have enough energy but If you are having issues teaching the hot horse to move sideways, you could use it then.
So, let's get started.
First what is a dressage whip?
It is a long whip. One that ranges from 3-4 feet in length. The reason it is so long, is so you can keep both hands on the reins but be able to tap the horse with the whip behind your leg to reinforce your leg. That way you can control how much energy you get from the horse. If you tap the horse with the whip and you get too much, you can immediately half halt and contain the energy you asked for.
What is the purpose of the whip?
It is to help reinforce your leg. If you need more engagement from your horse or you are asking your horse to move sideways in a leg yield, and he is not responding to your leg, you can use the whip to help encourage your horse to move forward or sideways.
How do you carry the whip?
When riding in an arena, carry it in your inside hand. But if your horse tends to drift out or is not turning well, then use it in your outside hand. When you switch directions, you are supposed to change the whip to the other hand. It can be difficult in the beginning till you get used to it. If that is the case, then carry it in your dominant hand, until you get comfortable.
You are going to hold your reins, like you normally do in two hands. Then you will hold the whip handle and fold your fingers around it. Think of how you hold a ski pole. it should rest on the crease in the center of your palm. You will tilt the whip, so it rests on your thigh pointing down behind your leg. This way it is not flopping around or hitting your horse by accident. It will take some time for you to get use to carrying it.
I always desensitize the horse with the whip first before I try and carry it when I am on his back. That way he is not afraid of the whip. And always remember if you have an issue, just open your fingers, and drop the whip, do not throw it, as that can spook your horse.
How to switch hands?
Say your whip is in your right hand. Put both reins in your right hand while still holding the whip. Rotate the whip up, then grab the whip with your left hand, position it in your palm across the crease and then take your rein back into your left hand. So, you will be making an arc over the horse's neck with the stick as you change hands.
If this is too hard, you can put both reins into your right hand with the whip. With your left hand grab the handle and pull it through your right hand like a sword. Reposition it in your left hand, then take your left rein back.
How do you use the whip?
When you need to encourage your horse to move forward or over sideways, you will always use your leg first, just lightly and if he does not respond with enough energy to your leg, you will use light taps behind your leg to encourage him to go forward or sideways, but always use your leg first. Carry the whip on the side that you are using the leg. So, if you are pushing the horse sideways with your left leg, you will carry the whip in your left hand.
You will usually need to widen your hands first and then you just flick your wrist to make contact with the whip. Similar to how you turn a doorknob. Keep tapping until you get the desired result. Start with light taps then each time hit with a little more firmness, but never just all of a sudden hit the horse hard with the stick or you may get a response you were not looking for.
If your horse is drifting say to the right, then hold the whip in your right hand. Say your turning left and he starts to drift right and won't turn, you can tilt the end of the whip forward toward his head and neck to block him from going to the right. Usually, a little wave with the stick will be enough to help them to turn.
Why is this helpful with gaited horses?
I use the dressage whip when I am encouraging a gaited horse to engage its backend or to move sideways such as a leg yield. Sometimes you need more energy from the horse but if you squeeze too hard, they skip gaits and can pace or trot. With the dressage whip you ask for the gait with your leg, but then you can ask for a little more speed with just a little more leg and if they do not respond then lightly tap the horse behind your leg with the whip.
On the trail, I only carry the stick if I have a lazier horse or a spooky horse that needs encouragement. Most horses are more forward on the trail versus the arena where they get bored.
I use the whip to help keep the horse awake and engaging his hindquarters, to help with his gait and to make sure he moves forward when I ask. It is also helpful in case you have a dog that tries to attack, you can use the whip to help defend yourself and your horse.
Spurs can encourage a horse to go forward, but when trying to work toward a specific gait, some horses will not engage themselves as much with the spur as they will from a dressage whip. I use spurs mostly for lateral work which I will post in another article.
Think of when you see a high-level dressage rider doing all sorts of cool movements with their horse, they carry a whip and wear spurs, because they want the horse to perform with the lightest aids from the rider. You will never see them kick or beat the horse, they just ask and then ask for more.
Whips and spurs are artificial aids that are used to reinforce your natural aids, your legs and seat. They are not to punish the horse but to enhance performance. If you have been having issues with your horse ignoring your leg and going forward, not moving sideways, not listening to you, not wanting to leave the barn, even tripping, a dressage whip might make a big difference. When I have a trippy horse, giving a little tap before an obstacle or tree root can help wake them up so they pick up their feet better.
So now you understand what a dressage whip is and what it can do to help you with your gaited horse. But remember it is to enhance your leg, not to replace it.
Dressage Whip https://amzn.to/3XajMu6
Disclaimer - If you click on link and buy something, I will receive a small commission which helps support my site. Thanks for your support!