Carrying a Crop

[JOAN DOWIS <jdowis@pacbell.net>]

I have been carrying a crop all my riding life.  I feel naked without
it.  It is a training aid.  Growing up riding "English," taking lessons
and riding in shows, we all carried crops. It was just like a part of
the riding habit.  Abuse was not tolerated at any time.  I started
riding in my very early teens, and am now retirement age.  For many of
us with similar backgrounds, this is a non-issue.  There are many ways
of abusing animals for those who are so inclined.  Alternatively, there
are many training aids which, when used by experienced riders, are
certainly not abusive. Those of us who enjoy the relatively
undisciplined activity of endurance riding should recognize this
distinction better than others.  It serves none of us well when one
person sets himself up as the judge and jury for all other riders.  If
you can't make constructive comments, at the least you don't have to be
arrogant or snide about other riders.  In many riding disciplines,
carrying a crop is standard procedure.  Carrying a crop  is not the
issue -- how it is used is the issue.

Joan Dowis,
Frequent lurker.


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