Dressage Whips
A dressage whip acts as a supplemental aid for a rider to use to encourage a horse to go forward, sideways, offer increased engagement and similar intentions. Light taps on a horse’s hindquarters, barrel or occasionally a shoulder are not intended as punishment, but rather to support the aids that a rider executes with his or her legs, seat and weight as necessary.
A dressage whip is an essential piece of equipment for any dressage rider. It is used to provide light taps to the horse's hindquarters, barrel, or shoulder to encourage forward movement, sideways movement, increased engagement, and other desired behaviors. A typical dressage whip measures either 43 1/2" or 47 1/2" long, although some can be found at 36" and 39" long to suit small riders or small horses. The whip is made up of three main parts: the shaft, the handle, and the lash. The shaft is the long, flexible part of the whip. It is typically made of an engineered composite material, fiberglass, or plastic. The shaft is covered in an abrasion-resistant material that can range in color from black to a sparkly design. The handle is the part of the whip that the rider holds. It is typically made of braided leather, a grippy synthetic, composite materials, or even a gel. The handle is designed to provide a good grip and to fit comfortably in the rider's hand. The lash is the tip of the whip. It is a short, flexible piece of material that is used to deliver the light taps to the horse. The lash is typically made of leather or synthetic material.