Over and Under Whip Buying Guide: Length, Leather, and What to Look For

An over and under whip is a simple piece of tack, but a good one and a cheap one feel completely different the second you reach for it. I build my over and unders in my shop in Eminence, Indiana, from harness leather, in a long length that hangs on the saddle horn and a short length that goes on your wrist. This is what I'd tell you if you called me about one.

What is an over and under whip?

An over and under is a Western riding whip that stays within reach without you having to hold it. The long one loops over the saddle horn. The short one loops around your wrist. Either way, your hands stay on your reins until you need it.

The name comes from how it is used. You can bring it over or under, to either side of the horse, without switching hands. A whip is there to back up your leg cue.

Over and unders are mostly used in speed events: barrel racing, pole bending and the different variations of those. When you're in a run, there's no time to go looking for a whip. It needs to be right there.

Wrist or saddle horn: what length do I need?

The first thing to decide is where you want to carry it.

• Short whip, on your wrist. Mine is 31 inches with a wrist loop.
• Long whip, on the saddle horn. Mine is 54 inches with a horn loop.

Both are built exactly the same way, from the same harness leather. The only difference is the length and the loop, so pick the one that matches how you like to ride.

What separates a good whip from a cheap one?

Cheap whips may fall apart, and that's a problem. But the bigger issue with a cheap whip is the feel, the weight and the density of it.

You need to be able to grab it fast and have it there. A whip that's too light flops around in the wind. It won't travel through the air and make contact with the horse the same way a whip with dense fibers and a little more weight will. When you only have a split second, you want a whip that goes where you send it.

So when you pick one up, here's what I'd look for:

• Weight and body. It should have some heft to it, not feel thin and light.
• Dense leather. Dense fibers are what give a whip that weight and help it carry through the air.
• Sewn, not just glued. Two layers sewn together hold up.
• Rounded edges. Sharp, square edges aren't comfortable in your hand.

How I build my over and under whips

Every whip I make starts with two pieces of harness leather. I double them and sew them together. Then I edge them to get a rounded effect and run them through a rein rounder, so there are no sharp edges anywhere. That makes it comfortable in your hand, and it helps it glide through the air. After that it's finished the same way as every other piece that comes out of my shop.

I use harness leather because of that weight and density. Harness leather has super dense fibers and feels the heaviest of the leathers I work with, which is exactly what a whip needs. If you want to know more about how harness leather compares to the others, I wrote about it in harness vs bridle vs latigo leather.

The end of the whip is a split-end popper. The two tails slap together and make some noise, so a lot of the cue is the sound.

My over and under whip at a glance

Choose your length on the Over N Under Whip page. You can see the rest of what I build in the tack collection. Most orders ship within 24 hours. Every now and then it takes 2 to 3 business days, and very rarely up to 4 to 5.

Reins for speed events

If you run barrels, I also make laced barrel reins with a latigo core and chrome tan lacing, in a bunch of lacing colors. They're $84.

If you're still deciding on reins, my guide on how to choose western reins walks through length, width and feel.

Are over and under whips allowed?

That depends on where you compete. Every association has its own rules, and I'm not up to date on all of them, so check the current rulebook for the association you run under before you show up with one.

How do I take care of a leather whip?

The same way as the rest of your tack. Brush off the dirt and sand, clean it with a liquid saddle soap, let it dry completely and put on a thin coat of a good conditioner like Skidmore's. Let that sit for a day and wipe it down with saddle soap one more time to take off any tacky feel. Don't douse it in oil. My whips come oiled and conditioned already. The full routine is in how to clean and condition leather.

If you ever want me to do it for you, I'll clean and condition anything I sell for free, for life. Get it to me and I'll ship it back at my cost.

My lifetime warranty

Everything I make has a lifetime warranty. It covers anything that breaks or fails in normal use. Parts that wear with use, like latigos and off billets, aren't covered once they've worn out. If it can be repaired, I'll repair it. If it can't, I'll replace it, at no charge. If you have any questions, contact me. The details are on the warranty and leather care page.

Frequently asked questions

What is an over and under whip used for?

It backs up your leg cue when you need more from your horse. It's mostly used in speed events like barrel racing and pole bending. Because it rides on your wrist or the saddle horn, it's there when you need it without taking a hand off the reins.

How long should an over and under whip be?

It depends on how you carry it. A short whip goes on your wrist; mine is 31 inches with a wrist loop. A long whip attaches to the saddle horn; mine is 54 inches with a horn loop.

Why does the weight of a whip matter?

A whip that's too light flops in the wind and won't travel through the air to the horse the same way a whip with dense fibers and a little more weight will. You need to grab it fast and have it go where you send it.

What leather is your over and under whip made from?

Harness leather. I double two pieces and sew them together, edge them for a rounded effect and run them through a rein rounder so there are no sharp edges.

Are over and under whips allowed in barrel racing?

Rules vary by association. Check the current rulebook for the association you compete in.