” My mom, grandmother and aunts used fresh-picked switches from a dogwood bush-lots of sting, but no harm...”
My Mom had a riding crop. Only had to use it once!
Ow-I’m sure she didn’t-and I’m glad my mom didn’t have one! The only whips around were not used on horses-one of my uncles had a braided bullwhip that he would crack in the air when he wanted to show us how he could make cows go through a gate or into the barn by just whistling and snapping that whip near them-we were not allowed to even try to use the thing with supervision until we were about 12-13, because someone could be badly hurt.
Wooden spoon.
Fly swatter.
Shoe.
Whatever was within reach.