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Here's an example of my post this week on the History Hoydens.
Crops, Whips, and Quirts
Crops, whips and quirts. I see references to these equestrian accessories in romance novels all the time. Sometimes, the terms are used correctly. Sometimes they are not. I thought I might post here what the differences are:
A Crop: A crop usually consists of a long shaft of cane or which is covered in leather or fabric. The rod of a crop thickens at one end to form a handle, and terminates in a thin, flexible tress, or a flap-like leather tongue (sometimes called a popper). The handle may have a loop of leather to help secure the grip. The length of a crop is designed to allow for tip to be applied to the horse with a controlled flick of the wrist. Thus, a true crop is relatively short. Crops are designed to back up the natural aids (leg, seat, and voice) of a rider. The famous Victorian equestrian and courtesan, Catherine “Skittles” Walters, is said to have popularized the crop as an elegant accessory to riding habits in the 1860’s.
A Whip: The term "whip" is a more common term that includes both riding crops as well as longer types of horse whips used for both riding, ground work, and carriage driving. A whip is a slower than a crop, mostly due to its greater length and flexibility. The dressage whip is a true riding whip, longer than a crop, (up to 43 inches, including lash or popper), allowing a rider to touch the mount's side while keeping both hands on the reins. Hunting whips are not for use on the horse during the hunt, but have a "hook" at the end to use in opening and shutting gates without dismounting, as well as a long leather strip to keep the hounds from coming near the horse's legs, and possibly getting kicked.
A Quirt: A quirt, sometimes called a riding quirt, horse quirt, or a dog quirt, is a forked type of stock whip which usually has two falls at the end (like the tails on some tawses). The falls on a quirt are made of leather. The shaft of the quirt is usually a leather tube filled with lead shot. The handle is often made from braided leather and is usually somewhat stiff. The old style horse quirt is still carried by some Western horsemen, and this is the style of quirt seen in the early Western cowboy films. The quirt, due to its slow action, is not particularly effective as a riding aid for horses and is not intended for that purpose. It is an effective tool to slap or goad cattle from horseback.
I must point out that it is considered very bad form for a rider or horse trainer to actually use a crop, a whip, or a quirt on a horse with force (the application of a crop to the race horse being the exception), especially as an instrument of punishment. When a crop or a whip are applied to a riding horse, it’s usually more of a “tap” and intended to be a cue to do something. Women riding sidesaddle often rely on the tap of crop on the offside (right side) to give the horse certain signals. For sidesaddle riders, the crop was (is) a utilitarian component of the riding habit.
Psychic wiccan Deja Hamilton pulls shapeshifter Lincoln McCabe from the lake, and the two form an alliance against the covetous older brother who wants Lincoln dead.
Psychic wiccan Deja Hamilton pulls shapeshifter Lincoln McCabe from the lake, and the two form an alliance against the covetous older brother who wants Lincoln dead.
The Matchmaker:
Angela Calminetti, mother of five, New Age practitioner and gifted psychic and telepath, is proud of her family ties and does everything she can to make sure that all of her younger siblings are as happy in love and marriage
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