Practicing this skill of applying a whip properly can be achieved best by ground driving
your horse. You can teach the horse to listen
and react to very subtle cues if you are willing to invest the time in training this skill.
When your horse begins to fall out of collection, you can use the whip to move your
horse forward to connect with the bit. If you
watch more seasoned exhibitors, you’ll see
examples of good reinsmanship at many of
the shows you attend. If you train your eye
to watch the performances, you will be able
to pick out the exhibitors with great whip
handling skills, because it will reflect well in
their overall presentation of their horses.
Although good reinsmanship is not judged
in rail (driving) classes, it can greatly affect
the overall picture of your horses’ presenta-
tion in the arena. This is especially true when
it comes to the rein back. When the judge is a
few horses down from you in the lineup, and
you know you are about to be asked to back,
you can apply the whip gently to move the
horse up into the bridle. This signals to the
horse, “Okay, we are going to move now”.
Then you can ask for two or three straight
steps backward. If your horse is set up in
line straight and you move off backward
immediately upon being asked, that looks
pretty sharp! It appears you were prepared,
thinking ahead and work well enough with
your horse to achieve a short, straight and
prompt back. Well executed, this maneuver
could make a difference where you place,
when compared to others in the class. Some
judges use the back maneuver as a tie breaker
in that respect.
participate and do very well. This is just one
more way to explore driving, all the while
promoting your breed! Have a nice drive,
and don’t forget to use your whip!
Meet
Suzanne Border
Suzanne Border is an AMHA
judge with many years experience in driving both in the
show ring and at Combined
Driving Events held across the
country and internationally.
I encourage everyone to attend any American Driving Society clinics or events in your
part of the country where you’ll see first rate
“Whips” at work and you’ll also learn a lot
more about the sport of driving. There are
clinics you can participate in or audit and attending a Combined Driving Event (CDE)
in your neck of the woods will help you hone
your driving skills outside the arena. Most of
these events have scaled down versions for
Very Small Equine (VSE) that level the playing field for Miniatures and allow them to
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