Suitable core for Riding Crop

[Northmount]

Cut a willow switch.  You can adjust the whippiness by trimming the skinny end.  Take more off, becomes a much stiffer switch.  Cheap, easy to replace!

Tom

 

[awharnessshop]

A crop has a much different action than a "buggy whip"  I sell a lot of Westfield whips, and have been to the factory many times. Westfield is the oldest whip manufacturer in the world, and makes a superior products. Their cores are predominantly fiberglass, depending on the application. Traditionally they were made of whale bone (baleen) they would put rattan on the outside and wrap the core with linen and laqour them. A crop, or the shorter bat typically has less action and at one point they would have been made of holly wood, ewe wood, or bamboo even.during the industrial revolution souther  plantation owners would also have what they referred to As a "walk trot stick"  used with saddlebreds. It is fashionable for carriage whips with a drop lash to be made of these traditional woods as well. With the carriage whips finished, unwrapped with a plaited thong that has a baleen tip  with a split goose quill and "whip stitched" top is what you normally see. The lash will go anywheres from 1/3- 1 1/2 of the way down the shaft, depending on the turn out. The lash must reach the shoulder of the furthest horse.  The materials change with the times. Goad sticks and whips  for oxen can be made from white ash, as this is a popular hobby still in New England I still see kids running around the local fairs whipping on each other. Be resourceful for that right feel, a lot has to do with personal preference. Carriage whips are all about balance, from carbon fiber to holly whips, balance is paramount.  with a crop, it's more used to encourage, maybe a little spank, but the rider has the option to use seat, and legs to cue the horse.

[Kristy]

Thank you for the advice Art and Tom!

 

And thank you very much for the history and information, awharness! Not only interesting, but very helpful.

 

And am very impressed with this forum overall - probably the friendliest and most helpful site I have visited, thank you.

 

I look forward to learning enough that I may be able to help someone else out one day.

[electrathon]

Nylon rods are typically far more flexible and "whippy" than fiberglass.  Try looking at chimney cleaning rods for a non-traditional source.

[Kristy]

Given a hundred years I would never have thought of chimney cleaning rods - that is excellent, thank you Electrathon!

 

[RockyAussie]

Have you looked at the fiberglass tent poles? You get 4 in a pack for about $12.00au. Rays camping and heaps of others online local.

Best of luck Brian F

[Kristy]

Thanks, Brian - that is a brilliant idea!

I'll check them out!

[Delmorian]

I've been looking for a possible core for a crop/swager stick, now that I am learning to plait leather. Someone mentioned that rawhide was probably "too real" for me (I had explained I was learning on a first project - paracord whip) but I flip-flopped, explaining I did have a sizable chunk of rawhide from an old Bard-board project who the recipient moved away befor they got to the front of the project line. I'm going to look for a pattern, thought I might share the inspiration...