About

My name is Jerry Dean and I am your custom whip maker.  Since you’re here at this part of the site I’d like to introduce and tell you a little about myself.  First off, I am a born again, blood washed, Christian.  I always try to conduct myself as well as my business in a Christ like & God honoring way.  I thank the Lord that he has blessed me with the skill and art of whip making.  My goal in this business is to make you the best whip I can at the best price.  All of the whips made here at Flying D Whips are handmade by me; so there is no assembly line, no one somewhere else plaiting your order, or branding your handles.  I also rarely have any whips in stock; I make them upon order as well as payment.

            I am a second generation cowboy, in 1980 my parents opened a guided horseback riding operation in Cashiers, NC. In 1991 the opened a stable in the Pisgah National Forest in Brevard, NC.  My wife and I now own and operate the one in Brevard and have since 2003.  We have 10 of the best trail horses going as well as some of the best guides.  I have the mindset of, “Don’t worry about being the biggest and greatest, focus on being the best you can with what you’ve got.”

`           So how did I get started making whips?  Well most everyone has had a whip of some kind. Whether it was a cheapo flea market whip, a decent feed store whip, or even the old leather one that had was your grandfathers that got lost. In 2011 I meant former Guinness World record holder John Baily at my church.  He is an evangelist who travels the country preaching and doing whip and knife throwing demonstrations. If you are interested in his ministry it’s Lash and Steel Ministries located in Silver Springs, FL.  When I met John he had a few whips for sale from his whip maker Bob Duke.  I bought a black 10 ft Florida cow whip from him.  Over the summer I went through more crackers than a over weight parrot.  Eventually I started wearing out the fall and then the twist at the end.  I paid $110 for this whip and I loved it; I hated to think it was ruined.  I studied the way the stands all laid together in uniform pattern.  Being that I had done a little braiding of bailing twine I knew I could find out how to fix it, possibly learn to make them myself.  Well the internet is a great thing and I found a maker in GA, Mr. Rhett Kelly.  He makes and repairs whips, I found one of his YouTube videos, go his info and sent him my whip to be repaired.  Mr. Kelly also had made a full-length DVD tutorial to make a Florida cow whip start to finish.  He fixed up my whip and gave me a deal on the DVD.  The first one made was a black 6ft, it was real loose and plaited really ugly.  Well, needless to say I got a lot better real fast, I definitely want to thank Rhett for making that DVD for aspiring makers.  I made a couple for friends as Christmas presents and another one or two for myself.  In January of 2012 I took the better of my collection to a small bull riding.  I knew there would be some of my old rodeo buddies there and I wanted to show off my new hobby.  I got THREE orders that night! I was so excited and amazed, I was gonna be a whip maker. Those guys still have and use those whips.  I joined Facebook groups to advertise, went to local rodeos and bull riding’s, and just started getting my name and whips out there.  I now have whips all over America, several in Canada eh, as well as a few in UK.  I’m still amazed at where all I have had the privilege to send a whip to.

            My main desire to make you my customer a great whip that will work well, last a long time and not cost a fortune.  I don’t believe a great product should be expensive.  I also love repeat business, but the only thing better than a repeat customer is a new one who will be a repeat customer!

            So where did the name and logo come from? When I was younger, from 14 to 30 I rode bulls and bucking horses.  I was decent but not near good enough to make a living at it.  The idea I had was to one day be a stock contractor and own and supply rodeos with good bucking stock. My rodeo company was going to “Flying D Rodeo Co.”  Well to do that it takes land, money, opportunity, breeding programs, money, knowing how to do it, and money. All of which I didn’t have, but I changed one word and it became “Flying D Whips!”  Fortunately, with this business there’s no stock to feed, help to pay, water and feed to haul, or any of those things that come with the dedication of having a live stock company. All I have to keep on hand is plenty of cord and wood for handles. I can and have made whips anywhere.  I make them in my living room, at my riding stable, I’ve even worked on them at church.

            Before I started making the whips, and even before I started rodeoing I like to draw and paint.  I never had any aspirations of being any type of paid artist, I just liked art.  So that has been a big part of my whip making, I try to make sure what I do looks good if nothing else.  I think most people would agree that if the product looks good and works well it reflects on the maker and that they really pay attention to the details and strive to do good work.  I enjoy getting orders for fancy plaited or colorful whips.  But I also have a great appreciation for plain black, brown, tan, or neutral whips.

            Now that you know a little about me, let’s “Get Crackin” and get your custom whip ordered.