w020 Gilt handled schooling whip
w025 1868 Sidesaddle whip
w032 Ivory handled whip
w034 Swaine wire decorated whip
w038 Hoof handled whip
w056 1891 Swaine sidesaddle whip
w064 Sidesaddle whip
w076 Horn whip
w081 Sidesaddle whip
w090 Mother of Pearl handled whip
w097 Tortoiseshell handled whip
w108 Sidesaddle whip
w116 Cane & leather whip
w120 Ivory handled whip
w127 Sidesaddle whip
w128 Sidesaddle whip, snakeskin handle
w129 Horn handled whip
w130 Brigg handled whip
w131 Indian handled whip
w132 Silver handled whip
w136 Brigg handled whip
w137 Scroll handled whip
w142 Silver handled whip
w162 Horn whip 1883
w168 Argentinian dog headed whip
w172 Side saddle whip
w173 Sidesaddle whip
w174 Twisted whip
w175 Sidesaddle whip
w176 Sidesaddle whip
w181 Zair sidesaddle whip
w182 Ivory handled cane
w191 Silver handled whip
w193 Ivory handled whip
w214 Swaine Isaac whip
w225 Wood whip
w226 Turquoise ring handled whip
w227 Hound whip handle
w232 1906 handled whip
w234 Rattan cane whip
w235 Bamboo cane whip
w241 Decorated whip
w246 Sidesaddle whip
w248 Sidesaddle whip
w272 Bone handled Sidesaddle whip
w273 Ivory handled Sidesaddle whip
w280 Tortoiseshell handled whip
w283 Hoof handled whip
w284 Egyptian sword whip
w287 Sidesaddle whip with ivory fist
w294 Sidesaddle / Cutting whip
w295 Man's whip with silver wire
w308 Sidesaddle whip
w348 Ivory handled Sidesaddle whip
w353 Sidesaddle cane with hammer handle
w355 Sidesaddle whip with turquoises
w196 Fly whisk (Sold)
w221 Horn handled whip
w222 Horn handled whip
A sidesaddle whip or cane is carried in the right hand and is used to give the aids that the right leg gives when riding astride.
Many 19th Century whips are very decorative - they were the fashion accessories and status symbols of their day.
They were usually constructed from a whalebone or baleen core which was wrapped first in a layer of paper, and then covered with braided whalebone, linen, horsehair or catgut.
The grip is sometimes covered in leather and sometimes carved from ivory or horn. The collars and tops of these whips are often silver or gilded, and sometimes set with small gems or cast figures.
The tip of the whip was usually finished with a short plaited rawhide and silk lash.
Antique whips are often much lighter and more flexible then modern dressage whips, it is not clear whether Victorian horses were much more sensitive than ours, or, far more likely, these whips were just carried for display.
Gents Whips - Fashionable men also rode out socially, and there are decorated "Park" and "Cutting" whips around as well as regimental whips, made from similar materials to the sidesaddle whips. This is probably a good place to mention "bulls pizzle" whips. It is often said that antique whips were made from dried bulls genitals - a few indeed were .... but it is rather hard to believe that a genteel Victorian lady would carry one ... I think they were made in small numbers, as a curiosity.
Whips are also seen made of steamed and stretched horn, and treated wood & cane. I have included a few whips from other equestrian traditions in this section, including the Gaucho rebenque, the Central Asian Nagaika and fly whisks.