Go On... Crack the Whip!

My next door neighbor, who is one of my best mates, is also a very talented bloke. He is a skilled stockman's whip maker. Here in Oz if you want to get an animal or even somebody who is “a sandwich short of a picnic” (a bit slow) to “do a nickwhoop (depart) then you need to run out today and buy yourself an Australian stockwhip.

The Australian Stockwhip 

is used by “drovers” (experienced stockmen) for “mustering” (gathering) a “mob” (herd) of cattle. The stockwhip is also like a drover’s cell phone and is used to keep in contact with other riders. The whip is an essential part of the mounted stockmen’s gear and is can also be used as a weapon against a “stroppy” (angry) snake, to lead a horse or dog, or to count the mob… by tying one knot for every head of livestock counted. Pretty clever eh?

I was always used to the American style of whip, which is made of inexpensive nylon. Here in Oz most of the whips are made of cattle hide. The “you beaut” (best, most expensive) whips are made of kangaroo leather but since kangaroos are a native animal and there seem to be millions of cattle here... they stick with the cowhide. (By the way, there are millions of kangaroos here as well.)

The common stockwhip is made of a stiff handle and braided leather that tapers down to a “cracker.” 

The standard Australian stockwhip is 6 feet long. (1.8metres) If you’re a strapping bloke or Sheila on horseback then you would need a larger and heavier whip.  Smaller and lighter whips that are designed for crowded places like cattle yards are called yard whips. These whips are swift and easy to use. I actually own a kangaroo hide yard whip… it’s great fun and is a true blue Aussie skill. Now all I need is a horse…

There are 5 parts to the Australian Stockwhip, the stock (the handle), the keeper, the thong, the fall and the cracker.

How to Crack a Stockwhip

Here in Australia you can watch heaps of people cracking their stockwhips at many tourist attractions. But, I have never seen anyone crack a whip with such ease as our mate, Keith who sells exquisite whips that his brother makes. Keith is so relaxed and he just makes it look… “too easy.” 

Now, for all of you guys out there reading, you know you have secretly always wanted to be able to crack a whip...

Well, now I am going to tell you how to do it and my mate, Keith is going to show you how to do it so you can all get practicing! 

The main techniques used when whipcracking are the cattleman's crack and round yard. The sound is created when the velocity of the cracker breaks the sound barrier and creates a sonic boom... how totally cool is that? The cracker at top speed can achieve more than 3 times the speed of sound... that's just so impressive! 

Cattleman's Crack

The whip is swung backwards over the shoulder and then sharply forward.

Round yard

The whip cracker spins the whip counter-clockwise over his/her head. When the whip is approximately 90 degrees to the right of the whip cracker. Then the whip cracker swings the whip in the opposite direction. It is one of the simplest techniques, but it is one if the loudest techniques used when whip cracking.

So... if you're looking for a great party trick that only requires numerous hours of practice... get yourself an Aussie stockman's whip. But, I must warn you be prepared for the intense bashing you'll receive from your whip until you are a true stockman whip master! Hoo Roo!

P.S. For a "small shipping and handling fee... ha, ha!" I will take orders for your whips. By the way a good stockman's whip can cost upwards of $300 to $400 dollars. I have seen some amazing whips that go for close to $1000!

* Info gathered from Wikipedia...