WIP-WOP

[jimama]

Please can you tell me what a wip-wop is? My horse is not very forward and a friend has suggested I replace my whip with a wip-wop.

[mja]

I have never used one but have seen it in a magazine and its like a rope that you expletive on either side of horse's neck to make it respond when it doesnt go forward from legs or whip. I tried using the surplus of my reins instead to see how it worked and it does the job well!

[lifes-melody]

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[Expert_LizPitman]

Just in case John doesn't come on and see this, I thought I'd add my tuppence!

The intention of the wip wop, or giddy up rope, is not to hit your horse with it. It's better used as a visual stimulus, or even to make a noise, as a back up to your normal aids. When horses get switched off to the normal or correct aids for upwards transitions, it's often because they've been over used. People use leg, leg, leg sometimes with every stride, and in the end it becomes white noise, something to be ignored. What the giddy up rope does is gives the horse something different to pay attention to. As has been said, you can slap it around you, twirl it around to make a big visual something for your horse to respond to.

It is really important, though, that it's used sensitively and also sparingly, to ask the horse to pay attention to you and not ignore you. Once the horse pays attention, it is then really important that you reward him by recognising that fact by stopping asking. But that's what we should always do anyway!

A slap on the neck with your reins may also get your horse to pay attention to you but it's much more likely to have hurt him. Not only would the slap of the reins on the neck sting, you are also likely to have pulled on the bit at the same time. A normal lead rope, used on the horse, would probably also hurt unless you frayed the end. If in doubt, try it on yourself first.

(sorry to butt in, John, but I wanted to highlight the difference between using reins and the giddy up)

[mja]

I did say expletive not hit or slap..........

The reins was only to try and see if got reaction. My horse is forward enough off the legs not to need one but was experimenting and just threw surplus of reins over to other side of neck not actually slapping her with them and the sight of them flopping over had desired effect but not doing it all time. Apologies for not being clearer.

[Expert_JohnJones]

Hi Jimama,
Thank you for your question apologies for not replying sooner. Regarding the Wip Wop it is to encourage forward motion when riding as a visual stimulas, held in one hand and flipped from one thigh to the other it dosn't actually touch the horse only your legs. It is made of soft nylon rope. The aim is to use any tool as lightly as possible and as little as possible. As always its that hands that use it, only use what you need to. You could try as you walk along on your horse feel the barrel of your horse swing from side to side.
As the barrel of your horse raises your right leg, gently push the barrell back to the left and then as it raises your left leg send it back to the right. This is a good way to pick up your horses walk and it will become more active. The aim is to ride on a thought so have fun practicing and let me know how you get on:)
I look forward to more updates and feel free post more questions
Happy Trails
John
http://www.horselistener.co.uk