Stockwhip

Throughout Australia stockmen and drovers have used the stockwhip since the early 19th century and it is still the preferred whip used by Australian cattlemen and women today.

The stockwhip is part of most mounted stockmen's equipment and may be used to keep in contact with other riders, as a weapon against a snake, to lead a horse or dog, or as a counter - by tying one knot for every one hundred head of livestock counted.

A stockwhip is part of the regulation equipment in stockman challenges and some Australian Stock Horse events.

Whipcracking events are a popular form of competition for juniors through to the older family members.

Only the most expensive whips are made from kangaroo hide and they often have a fully plaited handle.

The five parts of the Australian Stockwhip are the stock (the handle), the keeper, the thong, the fall and the cracker.

The keeper is made of a wide strip of leather passing over the end of the whip handle.

The fall is a single piece of tapered rawhide or redhide leather which is about 60 centimetres (24 inches) long and attached to the end of the thong.

The cracker (in the US called a popper), is a twisted piece of short rope (approx 10 cm) with a frayed end.

A cracker is frequently replaced, according to need and the discretion of the whip user, and may be made of cord or horsehair.