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Elite Veteran
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Location: south central usa | if you were to pick one, which one is the best way to go - or is it simply how the horse will react to one |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| runnink - 2015-02-02 10:16 AM
if you were to pick one, which one is the best way to go - or is it simply how the horse will react to one
we always go with a whip. they can always drop the whip or just not use it, sometimes with spurs they clinch their feet when they get scared or the horse spooks and it becomes a bigger wreck!! Until they know how to use them, I don't think kids should have them on.(when riding, they sure are cute when you see them walking around with them on) |
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 Midget Lover
 
Location: Kentucky | I think it depends on the age and riding ability of the child. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 729
Location: south central usa | was leaning towards the whip... |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | My first barrel horse I had as a kid would buck if I didn't wear spurs. Weird but true. So I would take it on a case by case basis. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | imho..neither..............kids should learn to be better riders first...........
m |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| mruggles - 2015-02-02 10:29 AM imho..neither..............kids should learn to be better riders first...........
m Agree, I see more kids and adults just getting in the way when trying to use a whip. I see them raising up and leaning back to whip causing them to pull on the reins or they are right at the timer by the time they find the whip and will whip then immediately pull up - confusing to the horse. I don't use either because I do not feel like I am a good enough rider yet.
Edited by rodeomom3 2015-02-02 11:02 AM
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | When teaching my nieces to ride, if their legs were too short to kick the horse, we gave them a whip, but always emphasized proper use--don't turn around to look at the horse's butt when whipping, and always keep your hands forward so you don't pull back on the reins while trying to get the horse to go forward. We also taught them to gently tap at first, and only increase how hard you tap them if they don't respond.
I don't have a problem with using either, as long as they are taught proper use. I mean let's face it, the majority of "kids" horses aren't "fancy broke" and don't have all the buttons that a finished BROKE horse will have, so they aren't trained to respond to a rider's weight shifting, or subtle cues. They pretty much know forward, backward, turn right, turn left, and stop. So if a kid can't get their horse to go forward/faster by kicking, a whip is very useful. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 794
| mruggles - 2015-02-02 10:29 AM
imho..neither..............kids should learn to be better riders first...........
mÂ
I totally agree. Most of the kids I have seen trying to use a whip spend more time looking for the whip or trying to whip than they do riding. Keep them focused on their horsemanship skills then add the whip when they are much older. |
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Expert
Posts: 1857
| cavlier - 2015-02-02 10:59 AM
mruggles - 2015-02-02 10:29 AM
imho..neither..............kids should learn to be better riders first...........
mÂ
I totally agree. Most of the kids I have seen trying to use a whip spend more time looking for the whip or trying to whip than they do riding. Keep them focused on their horsemanship skills then add the whip when they are much older.
My kids would be so angry with me if I tool the whip away. Their little pony knows when they have it and when they don't, a walk would become impossible. The frustration levels would be at an all time high around my place. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 887
Location: MN | FlyingJT - 2015-02-02 10:20 AM runnink - 2015-02-02 10:16 AM if you were to pick one, which one is the best way to go - or is it simply how the horse will react to one we always go with a whip. they can always drop the whip or just not use it, sometimes with spurs they clinch their feet when they get scared or the horse spooks and it becomes a bigger wreck!! Until they know how to use them, I don't think kids should have them on. (when riding, they sure are cute when you see them walking around with them on )
This. And when my daughter absolutely insisted on spurs, I let her...and she learned why she isn't ready for them! She also has a pony that knows when she does and doesn't have the whip. Funny how that sitck can fix a bit of sass from the pony. Even being a pretty good rider she will just battle sometimes to move foward without it!
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Expert
Posts: 1857
| Echo - 2015-02-02 11:16 AM
FlyingJT - 2015-02-02 10:20 AM runnink - 2015-02-02 10:16 AM if you were to pick one, which one is the best way to go - or is it simply how the horse will react to one we always go with a whip. they can always drop the whip or just not use it, sometimes with spurs they clinch their feet when they get scared or the horse spooks and it becomes a bigger wreck!! Until they know how to use them, I don't think kids should have them on. (when riding, they sure are cute when you see them walking around with them on )
Â
I love our pony, she really teaches my kids how to ride. She bucked my son off almost everyday, more like a little crow hop, but as soon as he rode it out and didn't fall off the first hop, she hasn't tried again. If anything she'll teach them to be tough! |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | Most of the kids I see would be better off with neither. When they attempt to use either they usually slow the horse down because they stop riding in the middle and sometimes just annoy the horse. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 975
Location: The barn...where else? SW Missouri | mruggles - 2015-02-02 10:29 AM
imho..neither..............kids should learn to be better riders first...........
mÂ
Agree. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 729
Location: south central usa | RunNbarrels - 2015-02-02 11:42 AM
mruggles - 2015-02-02 10:29 AM
imho..neither..............kids should learn to be better riders first...........
mÂ
Agree.
from our perspective we need something to get the horse's attention...she'll high lope through the pattern and then run out...all the while we are kicking in between barrels..even going to the first....the horse has just gotten slower and our daughter is simply progressing...we started out on her trotting the entire pattern, then loping, and now just looking for more speed in between the barrels..horse is 16-17...an over under a couple of times is all we probably need |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 464
| I've raised 3, and taught several more. A whip, is a bit too much for them to keep up with, and they end up hanging on the reaigns while whipping. Gumball spurs, until they get the hang of even that. |
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4641
Location: Texas | Neither. |
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 Sexy Bee Yacht
Posts: 5849
Location: WA | My 5 year old son wears spurs on the horse no adult should ever wear spurs on. BUT it was a decision that we took a lot of time on. He cannot use a whip on her, she will go WAY too fast. But just kicking she can ignore because he isn't strong enough to get his point across. I give lessons on this horse and the bigger girls can get her collected up, moving out, etc with no spurs. My son can't. So we decided to throw spurs on and see what happened at home. Even if he kicks, he can get her moving without a wreck. If he just kind of bounces his legs horse. But whips are a no no on her for a beginner because she will GO. I am as shocked as many of you probably reading this. I never wanted my kid in spurs until he could win world titles without (tongue in cheek). But he gets the basics of riding, he just isn't strong enough. Moral of the story, never say never. Know the horse, know the kid. Do what is best for THAT pair! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
| If you use Spurs, use bumper spurs!! I think a whip would be easier, but make sure the kid can ride well enough to handle the whip and reins. I have ever seen some little kid using a fly swatter as a whip! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 747
| Growing up, I wasn't aloud to use spurs or whips. When I was about 10 and was getting more competitive, my mother gave me a little pair of bumper spurs and an over and under just to keep my speed going in to my turns because I rode a very ratey horse. |
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