Crop, Lunging Whip, Spurs – The Artificial Aids
These are artificial aids which some riders regard as forms of punishment for the horse. On the contrary! The crop, schooling whip and spurs must be regarded as teaching aids, which help us to educate the horse at the beginning of his training.
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The objective of this artcle is to explain to you how to educate your horse not to be afraid of these aids and that he respects them. We will call this action of accustoming the horse to the artifical aids as the “desensitisation” of the horse.
The Crop or Schooling Whip
The riding crop is used mainly for jumping and the schooling whip is very useful for working the horse generally and particularly for dressage. The crop is generally shorter, about 50 cm long and more rigid, with a broad “tongue” at the end. The schooling whip is much longer with a “thong” at the end. They measure about 1m 25 without the thong. The schooling whip should be flexible but not too flexible as many that are on sale, it must have some rigidity. Be careful that is not too heavy either.
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Desensitising should be done at the beginning of the horse’s training. Obviously, it must be progressive, depending on the reactions of the horse. The horse should be held on a short rein attached to the ring of the cavesson, which is preferable with a young horse, or on the rein on the side you are working on. Do not hold the horse too tightly. If he moves, calm him with a reassuring word and give him a titbit. When the horse is desensitised, the whip can whistle or crack close to him and you can touch him on the croup with the stick.
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The Lunging Whip
From his first time on the lunge, the young horse discovers this instrument, which is an essential object for the working on the lunge but can also be very useful in certain phases of foot work. The horse should be taught not to be afraid of the lunging whip. That he understands it but doesn’t fear it!
The best lunging whips have a leather thong. Few commercial lunging whips are long enough to be able to touch the horse that you are lunging. To get round this problem, I buy two and cut the thong off one and join the two together to lengthen the lunging whip.
The Use of the Spur
The main purpose of the spur is to create impulsion and increase forward movement. It should be a reinforcement of the use of the leg, a refinement. The spur has a role in impulsion but is also has a role in collection. The rider needs to be able to use the spur in its two roles, either with the pressure of the leg to cause a collection effect or the attack which is the sporadic application of the spur causing a subtle touch which creates the impulsion effect.
So it is possible to stop on the spur, as well as to help the horse to improve the paces. Without be able to use the collecting effect it is not possible to pass to a higher level horsemanship.
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How do you teach the horse the spur?
Start by gripping with your leg (permanent and progressive pressure) on the girth at each stride and progress to prodding behind the girth.
When squeezing, I oppose with the opposite hand (oppose, don’t pull), and with prodding, the opposite hand is still.
Gradually, the horse learns to collect himself under the squeezing without changing his linear movement, and learns to move ahead under the prodding. He then knows the spur.
Don’t use the spurs on both sides at the same time. This can confuse the horse, not knowing if he is supposed to create impulsion or collect himself and the horse needs to ignore half of the aids he is receiving. The correct use of the spurs in conjunction with the leg leads to lightness.
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