Hunting whips have been in use since the early 20th century. They were generally sold as ‘ladies’ or ‘gentlemen’ depending on the size, weight and length of the whips. Since men are larger than women, men’s whips often had longer, thicker, and heavier handles. In general, whips are divided into two types. One type is a firm stick that is designed to hit directly to inflict pain and the other type is a flexible one, which is designed to swing in a particular way to inflict fear of pain. The hunting whip is a combination of a firm stick and a flexible whip.
Hunting whips are not intended for horses even if the rider carries them with them. It is used to remind hounds to stay off the horses’ hooves and also as a communication device for hounds. The whip is similar to a riding crop except for the stock, which is more rigid than flexible. The stocks are generally made of cane, which is varnished to give it a darker appearance, or covered with leather, horsehair, linen or whalebone. The cover provides a better grip during the rainy season. Modern rods come with a steel line to make them harder to break. The stock features a long silk or cord lash at one end and a hook at the other end. The hook end is used to open and close doors during hunting by the rider and the color of the whip varies from hunt to hunt.
The strap is an important part of the whip, helping the rider to hold it firmly. It can be wrapped around the hand or wrist to prevent it from falling off. The leash also prevents the hounds from getting too close to the rider and the horse’s feet, thus preventing accidents. The strap can be hung on the riders arms when not in use.
Whip handles are usually made from staghorn, ivory or silver, representing the wealthy and luxurious lifestyle of aristocrats, however modern hunting whips are replacing this with buffalo horn or synthetic handles. The materials used to make whips are different today as the earlier materials used to make whips are no longer practical due to endangered animals and environmental issues. However, there are many hunting whips for sale on the Internet or in antique stores for those antique collectors.