buying crop...

[lovechick]

hey guys, I'm buying crop from Ebay, but I cant decide between the 3, could u please vote on which one u think is best...

This one looks nice, but I'm unsure about the handle(might cause discomfort) its plastic& rubber and maybe leather loop...
http://www.auctionants.com/equiteric/10-105318.jpg

This one looks neat, and has old-english look to it, its rubber, plastic with leather loop:
http://ebay2.ipixmedia.com/abc/M28/_EBAY_87220905108b51cc0d16338155c8cae6/i-1.JPG

This one is kinda like the 1st one except the plastic thing in the end, but I dont like how it looks..
http://www.auctionants.com/equiteric/10-105203.jpg

THANKS!!!

[Shemmyboy]

I like the first one... Are you doing Dressage? I take you are doing jumping by the size of the crop... Oh ya now what that plastic thing is on the 3rd? Its a price tag. So get the 3rd one. I use that one.

[lovechick]

yeah i'm doing hunt seat&jumping, i need a crop, cause the one in my riding school are all worn off and torn and really ugly.
Ànd I know that thats the price tag on 3rd one, i just said that 1st looks the same and it has plastic handle too. But I like the middle one too, not the color..lol

[Ballydoyle]

I would suggest the third one, I think it would be great. You're beginning, right? I just knew because of other things you had posted. Happy hunting!
Taylor

[lovechick]

yeah, I'll get the last one, looks the best...

Do any of u guys know the proper way to use crop? cause at my riding school, I use the crop on horse's shoulder, but recently I was reading a book, and it says, that its wrong to use it that way, but instead I need to use it on behind...
what do u think?
The biggest challange with that is, the horse I ride is really ancient, and soooooo slow, so I always have to use the crop, when I need to canter and all, but its soo uncomfortable to turn all the way around, i will definitely lose my balance that way, cause I'm still a begginer.

Any advice would be greatly appriciated..:D

[Shemmyboy]

oh this is eeeesy. If you want him to pay attention to you, give him a tap on the shoulder. if you want to make him GOOOOOO than hit his butt. well, more like the side of the butt. actually, if your horse is awake(LOL) than he should hear the crop in the air if you do it fast enough. don't hit him hard, though. he's not a bad boy,is he? just kidding. good luck!!!!

[cavia porcellus]

I never liked crops, they got in the way and I was always dropping them. As I became more experienced I totally ditched them as I found that if you can ride well and you and your horse understand one another then these artificial aids are not required. If you do use a crop, try not to get carried away with it or rely on it to make the horse do what you want. You should use it only to back up commands that you are giving the horse via your hands, legs & seat. As you become more experienced you may find you can control the horse without the need of a crop. Use them lightly on the shoulder or the rump, never on the ribs behind the girth as too many people do.

[Chelsea20]

I vote for crop #3.

Using a crop correctly: Bridge your reigns (your instructor can show you how to do this if you don't know yet :) in the hand that isn't holding the crop. Tap your horse directly behing your leg. Put your hand holding the crop back on the reigns and continue.

Note: be careful to be ready when your horse moves forward in response after you tap him w/your crop so you don't punish him by falling into the saddle or pulling on his mouth when he reacts correctly by moving forward.

This is the hunter seat (english) way to use a crop. It is incorrect to hit your horse on the shoulder (the point is to make him/her move forward after he/she does not respond to your leg). Many beginners do use crops on the shoulder b/c they lack the balance to use the crop correctly.

Chelsea:D

[Chelsea20]

Oh yeah-you don't need to turn your whole body to look when you use your stick-haha many people would lose thier balane if the Continue looking where you're going:D

Here are two sites/articles about correct/incorrect use of a crop if you feel like reading more on the topic.

http://www.meredithmanor.com/features/articles/drm/whips_and_spurs.aspy did.

The whip is another artificial aid which is the subject of much controversy. Occasionally movements are even started to ban whips from competition. Whips, of course, are the obvious tools with which to abuse the horse. But as has been said in another context, whips don't abuse horses, people abuse horses. The whip is a very easy aid for the horse to understand, and a very easy tool for the rider to learn to use correctly. Use of legs in the beginner rider to ask for movement is often accompanied by rider tension and loss of balance which restrict and confuse the horse. By contrast, the most inexperienced rider who has been taught a modicum of correct position and balance in full seat can learn to reach back and lightly tap the horse with her whip without any other tension. It is also easy to teach a horse (if he has not been previously abused) that the whip is merely a means of communication, and not to be feared. (Abused horses can learn it, too, but it takes more time and skill!)

-this paragraph is from this article http://www.equusite.com/articles/other/otherWhatComesNaturally.shtml