¶ Whip Circle
¶ Introduction
¶ What Is the Whip Circle?
The Whip Circle is a ponyplay activity that has been practised for many years on SecondLife. Initially it was used as a way for Trainers to teach ponies the basic movement commands that would later be utilized while carting, but over time the activity has grown and morphed into something that has more complexity and substance.
In this guide I (magentamolly) hope to show you how the Whip Circle is done, it will include pictures and descriptions of the various rules that need to be followed as well as suggestions on how to make the activity harder or easier for the ponies in questions.
My hope is that this can be used by ponies and Trainers alike to improve their skills and knowledge of the subject, and perhaps in time help to expand on the things that can be done within the Whip Circle.
¶ The Fundamentals
So what is the Whip Circle? Well, the clue is in the name! It is an activity that takes place within a ring and tests a ponies reaction to commands given by the Trainer, the activity is great for 1 on 1 play but also holds up remarkably well when multiple ponies are involved.
Most Whip Circles look something like what can be found in the below image;
The designs will change depending on which sim you are at, but many aspects will always remain consistent. There will be an outer and inner ring connected by paths/spokes at four points, in the centre you will find a place to either leash the ponies or for the Trainer to stand. Between the paths that form the design of the circle will usually be empty space, this is often simply grass that Trainers can use to conduct their lesson from or a place for ponies to rest.
While leashing the ponies to the centre of the circle is not necessary, there is a certain beauty to seeing those chains twirl around the circle as the ponies execute a Trainers commands in sync with each other.
The variant of the Whip Circle I will attempt to explain in this document will be aimed at teaching you the three tiered system that many of the Founders at Tall Tails practiced when the sim was created.
¶ Whip Circle Variants
Before getting into the ins and outs of the Whip Circle, I felt it would be good to mention a little bit of my history with the activity.
My Introduction to the discipline, as with many other things, was done at PFS. The Trainers there taught me their preferred method of trainer, and as you make your own journey throughout the ponyplay world you may find that other stables have different views and methods on how the Whip Circle should be handled. Ponyplay is an ever evolving thing, and as much as many of us would like to hold on to traditional methods things will inevitably change as time moves forward.
With that in mind, please feel free to take these rules and morph and change them as your heart desires. One of the joys of ponyplay is being able to change things to surprise your charges, a little variety can only make things better and prevent things from becoming dull!
¶ Basic
Also known as Version 0 or v0, Basic is exactly what the name suggests it will be. The most basic and simple form of Whip Circle commands that all other variants henceforth will be based upon. In terms of teaching as a Trainer, you may find that this section is the one that ponies will find the easiest to grasp and learn.
Basic Whip Circle is always done at a walking speed. As with all the variants going forward, the Trainer should start by positioning the ponies at the ends of each spoke of the circle, in most circles this will be denoted by letters or numbers. (eg. A,B,C and D or 1,2,3 and 4)
It is generally considered normal practice to start the circle by facing the ponies clockwise, but there will be times throughout the activity that the pony will need to change direction to face counter-clockwise. For the rest of this guide clockwise will be shortened to CW and counter-clockwise will be shortened to CCW.
Once the pony is in position and facing your desired direction the circle can begin.
The first command is the Single Whip Crack. When the pony hears this it is an indication to start moving forwards in the direction they are facing. As mentioned previously, in Basic the pony should move at a walking speed and should attempt to stay as close to the centre of the path as possible.
To stop a pony the Trainer will give the Double Whip Crack signal. When this is heard the pony is expected to stop exactly where they are and continue facing the direction they were previously moving in. If you are already stationary, you can ignore the command and continue staying still.
Next are the two signals used for turning, these will be the Three Whip Crack and the Four Whip Crack signals.
When given the Three Whip Crack signal the pony is expected to turn to their left in a 180° arc, they will then continue moving forwards in the opposite direction to how they were previously moving.
When given the Four Whip Crack signal the pony is expected to turn to their left in a 180° arc, they will then continue moving forwards in the opposite direction to how they were previously moving.
When making these turns, it is best to continue moving at the same time, stopping and then turning can look jarring and not as pretty as expected. The key here is to make it so that your turn does not force you off the path in either direction.
Sometimes however, this command can be given while you are stationary. If this is the case, simply make your 180° turn while remaining in the same spot.
The final command of basic is the Five Whip Crack signal. This signal is usually given with the intention of ending the session, or as a way to gather all ponies on the circle to one spot. When this command is given and all ponies are standing still, they should make their way towards the Trainer hosting the session and curtsy/bow as a sign of respect. If they are walking at the time the command should be ignored.
As with many things in ponyplay, elegance is an important thing to consider when returning to the Trainer. While it is simpler to just turn and head directly for them, I personally believe it is better for the pony to follow the path of the circle and to turn into one of the spokes to find their way back. We donât want any pony hooves destroying the well manicured grass between the paths do we?
Please note that in all of our example pictures the Trainer position may be different to what you see in a real demonstration. Each Trainer has their own preferred method of standing during a Whip Circle training.
- Start with all ponies facing clockwise in the circle.
- 1 Whip Crack - Move forwards at a walking pace in the direction you are facing.
- 2 Whip Cracks - Stop moving but maintain the direction you face. Ignore if you are already standing still.
- 3 Whip Cracks - Make a 180° left turn, this can be done stationary or while moving.
- 4 Whip Cracks - Make a 180° right turn, this can be done stationary or while moving.
- 5 Whip Cracks - When stationary, immediately return to the trainer and curtsy/bow. Taking a more elegant route to the Trainer is preferred. If moving this can be ignored.
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Version 1
Sometimes referred to in shorthand as v1, Version 1 is where special rules come into play to make the ponies movement a little more varied and regimented. Version 1, while I wouldnât say is hard, can be tricky due to the nature of how some elements will stay the same and others will differ. As a Trainer, patience is key to helping your ponies learn and master this version.
Commands in Whip Circle are usually given using a HUD similar to how they are done when taking a pony Carting. Later in the guide you will be able to find some potential resources for HUDs. It is a generally accepted rule that a pony will follow signals only after they have all been audibly heard.
In Version 1, the Single Whip Crack is still used to tell a pony that they must start moving forwards. With this new ruleset however, if the Single Whip Crack is given a second time, this is an indication that the Trainer wants the pony to begin running around the Whip Circle. Again, the pony should try their best to remain as close to the centre of the path as possible and continue moving in the direction in which they were facing.. This command can be given twice in quick succession to get a pony from stationary to running very quickly.
If the pony is already running, they are free to ignore an additional Single Whip Crack.
With the introduction of running we are now in need of a way to slow a pony down. The Double Whip Crack, when walking, is still used to tell a pony that they should stop moving and become stationary, but now if a pony is running this is also the method used to tell them that they must slow down from a run back to a walk. Throughout the pony should keep moving in the same direction as when they started. This command can be given twice in quick succession to get a pony from running to stationary very quickly.
If the pony is already stationary, they are free to ignore an additional Double Whip Crack.
Next are the turning commands, the Three Whip Crack and the Four Whip Crack signals.
This is where many ponies will begin to be caught out by the new rules as we will now be implementing specific conditions on when a pony can and cannot make turns within the circle.
The philosophy here is that the pony should not under any circumstance turn away from the trainer, this is done as in real life pony play the submissive would be leashed to the centre of the circle and if they attempted to turn away from that centre (where the Trainer is usually located) the chains would begin to wrap around their head, or worse, their neck. Some trainers within SL often explain this by using the phrase, âDonât show me your butt!â.
So with the above in mind, when the Three Whip Crack signal is given, the pony should only make a 180° left turn if doing so will not force them to turn away from the centre of the circle. If the command is given and they would break this rule by following it, the pony should simply ignore the rule and continue moving in the same direction as when the command was given.
Similarly, if the Four Whip Crack Signal is given the pony should only make a 180° degree turn if doing so will not break the rule of turning away from the Trainer in the middle of the circle. Like before, if the command is given and it would break this rule, it should simply be ignored.
Like in Basic, these rules apply when both stationary and moving, though if the pony is moving they are expected to make a smooth and fluid turn without leaving the path of the circle. When running this can be tough and a pony may need practice to do this consistently well.
Finally we have the Five Whip Crack command. This remains unchanged from Basic, and is used to either gather your ponies in one place or indicate the end of the session. When given this command and the ponies are stationary, they should make their way back to the Trainer and then curtsy/bow as a show of respect. While the ponies can take the quickest route to the Trainer, it is considered much more elegant to return by using the paths and spokes the circle provides.
Quick Rules
- Start with all ponies facing clockwise in the circle.
- 1 Whip Crack - Move forwards at a walking pace in the direction you are facing. If you are already walking you should begin to run. Ignore if you are already running.
- 2 Whip Cracks - If walking, stop moving but maintain the direction you face. If running then slow down to a walk. Ignore if you are already standing still.
- 3 Whip Cracks - Make a 180° left turn, this can be done stationary or while moving. If this movement causes you to turn away from the trainer the command should be ignored.
- 4 Whip Cracks - Make a 180° right turn, this can be done stationary or while moving. If this movement causes you to turn away from the trainer the command should be ignored.
- 5 Whip Cracks - Immediately return to the trainer and curtsy/bow. Taking a more elegant route to the Trainer is preferred.
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Version 2
Frequently shortened to v2, Version 2 of the Whip Circle is often seen as the final and most complicated version of the activity, but despite itâs perceived difficulty it can be the most beautiful to watch when multiple ponies are able to remain in sync with each other. As this version builds upon the previous ones a Trainer should be prepared to offer patience and demonstrate the rules in order to avoid any confusion.
In Version 2, as in the previous version, the Single Whip Crack has multiple uses. If the pony is standing still it is an indication that they should begin walking in whatever direction they were facing, if however they were already walking they should begin to run. In both circumstances the pony should do their best to remain central on the circle. This command can be given twice in quick succession to get a pony from stationary to running very quickly.
If the pony is already running, they are free to ignore an additional Single Whip Crack.
Similarly, the Double Whip Crack command remains unchanged from the previous version. When the pony is given this command and they are walking, they are expected to come to a halt and remain still facing the same direction which they were previously moving. If the pony is running when the command is given, this is a signal that the pony must slow down to a walking pace while continuing in the same direction they were going. This command can be given twice in quick succession to get a pony from running to stationary very quickly.
If the pony is already stationary, they are free to ignore an additional Double Whip Crack.
Where Version 2 begins to differ in comparison to Version 1 is the way in which a pony is able to complete a turn within the circle. For this we will still be using the Three Whip Crack and the Four Whip Crack signals.
As was the case before, the pony is expected to be mindful of the direction they are facing and not make a turn that would cause them to turn their back towards the trainer.
When the pony is given the Three Whip Crack signal, they will continue moving forwards until they reach the next spoke that goes to the inner circle, they will turn left up this spoke until they reach the middle, go around the middle by taking the clockwise route around the inner circle, they will then exit the centre by taking the spoke opposite to the one they entered from and then finally they will take a left when re-joining the outer circle. Throughout this process they will stay at the same speed they were at when they entered.
With this in mind, the Four Whip Crack signal is done in a similar manner. When the command is given the pony will continue along the path until they reach the next spoke in the circle, they will turn right at this spoke and head towards the centre where they will take the clockwise path around the middle before exiting on the opposite spoke to the one they entered from, when they reach the end of this spoke they will turn right and continue around the outer circle as before. The pony will maintain the same speed throughout the command based on how they were moving when they started.
Something to keep in mind with both the Three Whip Crack and Four Whip Crack signals is that the commands from the Trainer can come just as a pony is passing a spoke on the circle. When this happens it is expected that the pony will continue around the circle and take the next spoke on the path. Making a turn before the Trainers animation has finished is not seen as an elegant move.
You may have noticed with the previous commands that so far in Version 2 the pony has no way to swap the direction which they are facing. In Version 2 the Five Whip Crack signal now has two functions, and one of these is used to allow the pony to change fr clockwise to counter clockwise, or vice versa. This is often where the confusion comes into play for the ponies as they have to keep in mind these changes while also making sure they do not mix them up with the commands for the Three Whip Crack and Four Whip Crack signal.
When the pony is moving in this version and the Five Whip Crack signal is given, they should wait until they approach the next spoke before turning in towards the centre. They should then travel down the spoke and go 360° around the centre, exiting on the same spoke that they entered from. When they reach the end of that spoke the pony should then start going around the centre circle in the opposite direction to how they started.
If the pony is stationary when the Five Whip Crack command is given, as in previous versions the pony is expected to return to the Trainer, it is an indication that Trainer wishes to end the session or wishes to gather all ponies together in one spot. While the ponies can take the quickest route to the Trainer, it is considered much more elegant to return by using the paths and spokes the circle provides.
Quick Rules
- 1 Whip Crack - Move forwards at a walking pace in the direction you are facing. If you are already walking you should begin to run. Ignore if you are already running.
- 2 Whip Cracks - If walking, stop moving but maintain the direction you face. If running then slow down to a walk. Ignore if you are already standing still.
- 3 Whip Cracks - If moving, at the next spoke of the circle make a left turn, head towards the centre and then clockwise go 180° around the centre before exiting out on the spoke opposite to the one you entered from, at this point head left back around the outer circle. If stationary when the command is given make a 180° left turn. If this movement causes you to turn away from the trainer the command should be ignored.
- 4 Whip Cracks - If moving, at the next spoke of the circle make a right turn, head towards the centre and then clockwise go 180° around the centre before exiting out on the spoke opposite to the one you entered from, at this point head right back around the outer circle. If stationary when the command is given make a 180° right turn. If this movement causes you to turn away from the trainer the command should be ignored.
- 5 Whip Cracks - At the next spoke of the circle turn towards the centre, go 360° around the middle of the inner circle and exit on the same spoke you entered on, when you reach the outer circle head in the opposite direction to the one you were heading when you started. If stationary, immediately return to the trainer and curtsy/bow. Taking a more elegant route to the Trainer is preferred.
¶ Fun Additions & Non-Standard Variants
¶ Changing Philosophies
I have mentioned very briefly earlier on in the guide that the Whip Circle is an old activity within SecondLife ponyplay. As such, it has evolved and changed since its beginnings and so I suspect that there will be people out there who read this guide and see the methods described as being incorrect or believe that they should be taught in a totally different manner.
My own view is that of change and evolution. As we continue to do these kinds of activities and new peoples learn of the kink these variations and changes to the rules will inevitably happen, and in most cases I believe they should be encouraged. We should all be looking for ways in which we can prevent ponyplay from becoming stale and allowing people to express their creativity and adapt existing methods is a wonderful way to do that.
With that in mind, below are a few ways in which you can spice up your Whip Circle to prevent it from becoming a repetitive activity. Remember, keeping a pony on their toes and guessing keeps their wits and hooves sharp!
¶ Old School Whip Circle
Following the preceding section, this is the original most widespread Whip Circle Variant that for many years was standard throughout SL PonyPlay history. Basic, Version 1 and Version 2 are but an evolution of it, with a different goal.
The Old School Whip Circle is quite accurately a Basic version where running is allowed under the same rules of Version 1. One Whip Crack while stopped is a change to walking, and One Whip Crack while walking is a change to running. Same mechanics for Two Cracks Signals: From running to walking and from walking to a stop.
Traditional Whip Circles are simpler and don't have the centric smaller circle nor the four paths leading to it like we are used to, giving way to a few differences.
The trainer position, while not fixed by any rule in particular, tends to be in the middle near the anchor point of the reins, specially in contrast with Version 2 positions.
The 5 Whip Cracks Signals have a direct path to trainer like in the âMessy 5 Cracks' variants of most modern versions. It could be argued this is reason why the âMessy' way is still technically allowed, a stamp from the past.
Over the course of years a second variant of the 5 Whip Crack Signals did appear, in wwhich the pony would just face the center, ergo face the Trainer, needing to issue a One Whip Crack after it to actually start the return to center.
The philosophy behind this traditional variant is to get new people to Ponyplay used to each Whip Commands overall meaning, and is seen by many as a natural stepping stone before actually pulling a cart. It also puts an emphasis on focus and discipline, as many times in this variant the Whip Signals are spammed for longs periods of time, expecting complete and utter perfection executing them. These concepts do line up naturally with PonyPlay, making the Whip Circle a good tool to teach them.
Why did it evolve then?
The current Whip Circle at Tall Tails still retains the old way of teaching and âbreaking inâ new people conserving the Basic variant, albeit without running it is more limited. Version 1 and Version 2 do progress into making Whip Circle an activity with similar goals as dressages, losing their goal preparing for Carting in favor of a new more stylized and more elegant way to follow the Whip.
The Old School Whip Circle, while not officially in a Trainer Sign-Off at Tall Tails, is still used and welcomed, whenever anyone wants to show and teach this old variant that gave fruit to what we have today.
¶ Hand Signals
Ponyplay is a subset of BDSM, so many of the ponies who you will find in the circle with you are likely going to be wearing heavy restraints and RLV enabled gear. Some ponies like to immerse themselves deeply in the role and become something which is known as a Mare, this will usually restrict the things that a pony is able âhearâ within SecondLife and forces them to become much more reliant on the emotes used by the people around them.
Mares can be found at a few stables around SecondLife, so it is always good to be able to know how to handle them as it can sometimes be confusing to a new Groom or Trainer when they seem incapable of following what they would believe are simple commands.
Changing versions within the Whip Circle is usually done by saying the version aloud to the pony. When that pony is restricted as a mare, they will be unable to hear those commands properly and will likely continue on as if nothing has changed. So how can we get around this issue without loosening a ponies restrictions?
Well, over time we have developed standardised hand signals for the ponies that they will be able to understand and follow. They are simple and can be followed by ponies who have no hearing restrictions as well.
- Raise Your Fist. This is the hand signal to tell ponies they should use Basic rules.
- Raise One Finger. This hand gesture tells the pony they should be using Version 1 rules.
- Raise Two Fingers. This signal will tell the ponies that they need to change to Version 2 rules.
If a Groom or Trainer would like to add additional difficulty to the Whip Circle, and the ponies are not heavily restricted, they are able to change how they give commands on the fly as the lesson is given. When the pony is forced to listen out for whip signals, verbal rule changes and silent rule changes, they must give their full attention to the task in order to not make any mistakes. This can be a tough but fun task for even the most experienced ponies.
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Inverted Version 2
As you will have noticed when reading through the rules of Version 2, the turning mechanics are very unique and require the pony to travel through the centre of the Whip Circle. This can be used to do a very special style of version of V2 which has a wonderfully beautiful effect.
If you have two or more ponies, instead of having all of them start facing CW on the circle, instead pick one or more ponies to start facing CCW. With this done, when you give the signal to start the ponies will begin walking around the circle in opposite directions, where it becomes interesting however, is when the turning signals begin to be given.
As the ponies are not allowed to turn away from the trainer, certain signals must be ignored in V2, but with ponies heading in opposite directions every command will need to be answered by a correct action by at least one of the participants, essentially there will never be a situation where a turning signal should be ignored completely.
This can be a very confusing experience for a pony, as not only will they have to deal with ponies coming towards them at all times, they will have to make decisions on when they should be ignoring commands without being able to look to the pony in front of them for any kind of reassurance.
As well as being a challenging experience for the ponies taking part, this inverted Version 2 method is very beautiful to watch when all involved are synced together.
¶ Tools of the Trade
The Whip Circle is one of the activities that requires the least investment to take part in with ponyplay. All that is required is a whip or crop as well as a HUD to produce the sounds and emotes needed to communicate your commands, oftentimes these two things can be purchased together as a bundle.
Below you will find some examples of products which can be bought to help you start your journey;
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Aida's Whip HUD
Another free HUD, and one I have seen people using.
Aidaâs HUD is super easy to use and can easily be moved around your screen into a position that you prefer. It lacks some of the more complicated features found in other HUDs but as a consequence of this is pretty much ready to use straight out of the box.
This is certainly worth testing and is a solid choice for anybody taking part in ponyplay.
MP: AM Restraints
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Wolfblade Carting HUD
While the name suggests the HUD is designed for use while carting, the commands for both activities are the same, because of this it is a perfect choice for new Grooms and experienced trainers.
This HUD is wonderfully fast and responsive and has many customizable options to make your signals either quicker or slower.
Another plus is that the HUD itself is rather small and unobtrusive and can be moved around your screen using SLâs built in edit functions.
It is a perfect choice for new Grooms and experienced trainers.
InWorld Location: Tall Tails Meadow
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Pink Bunny Whip Training HUD
This is a HUD which comes with an accompanying whip that can be worn. This was my own personal first HUD and served me very well for a long time!
Very quick and responsive, the options menu for the HUD allows you set your own gender as well as your ponies, as well as setting a RP name that will be shown in chat.
The mouselook check can be a useful feature if you wish to check if your ponies are doing the circle in first or third person.
¶ Special Thanks
This document was written from my perspective (magentamolly) but I could not have done it without the help of other people. I would like to give them a quick shout out as I appreciate all they did for me to get this working.
Loren Fox - Without her inkscape skills and patience we would have had none of the fancy graphics which you can see on this page. Her help was crucial to making this document and I can't thank her enough.
Axelle Beorn - My chief checker, she made sure that the things I have written were not absolute nonsense. She was also the person who taught me Whip Circle originally.
Danaira - My second checker, who made sure that not only I wasn't spouting nonsense but that Axelle too was not talking utter rubbish.
Tricky the Trouble - This mad one is a very big advocate of the Whip Circle and has written her own guide on the activity. Many of the things found here came from her document and she is of course the Mistress of the 3D whip circle. Beware her polish mind.
Alexis Sinclair - My snarky PA. She helps me proof read my document and make sure I am not making any silly spelling or grammar mistakes. All complaints can be directed to her.