Spurs, erm....?

[Kezzabelle]

Im going my first riding lesson in a few days after a break of 3 years. Being a heavier rider i ride chunky horses but i tend to find them quite lazy, im wondering if its worth while owning a pair of spurs, bearing in mind im going to a new school though? My boyfriend (who's never been within 10ft of a horse!) seems to think they are cruel, are they? Also i know theres loads of different types of spurs, if im to get a pair can anyone recommend which ones?

thanks, Kez x

[mikka]

Kez, in my opinion spurs belong only on extremely accomplished riders. You don't mention how long you've been riding for, or what style of riding you enjoy, but if you've been away from the sport for several years, you'll need to re-establish your skills first.
I'm sure you're familiar with the expression about someone having "earned his/her spurs"? It's true - only the very best riders should use them.

Instead of looking at these leg-dead horses as a problem, why not look upon them as a challenge to your riding skills? Truly good riders can make even the most lazy horses move well! You might be surprised at what you can accomplish.

In one sense, I agree with your boyfriend; spurs are cruel on the wrong feet.

Good luck with your riding. Let us know how you get on.

[Silver1]

speaking of which, how do you perk up a horse thats dead in the sides? I feel really bad about kicking the horses so hard, but you have to kick their sides in before they even walk. Is there anything I can do to make them more responsive? I don't want to resort to spurs, because the horses are so wonderful and i don't want to inflict pain.

[mikka]

Silver1, that's a good question and it forces me to think back over what I've done to make leg-dead horses move.

I think it's an attitude. When I get on a horse who's known to be slow, I mount with a great deal of business-like "attitude". I want to tell the horse that I'm not fooling around - without being rough or coarse. I sit in the saddle with great conviction and gather the reins equally so. Authority is established, in my opinion, at this point.

If the horse doesn't move on after a couple of leg twitches, I will give him/her some gentle "kicks" while taking more contact on the reins. If that doesn't work, I'll use my crop on the near shoulder, but only as a "flutter".

This is as far as I'll go in the "ask, tell, demand" series.....

[Silver1]

thats a good idea! Thanks a lot! I'll give it a try :D one thing though, what if your riding western?

[kedwards]

I don't think spurs are inherently cruel. In fact, used correctly, they can be much kinder than kicking. Like Mikka said, however, they do require a good rider with a steady leg. I would ask your instructor about whether she wants you to use them. If she does, she might have a pair around you can borrow.

[Gracie]

Don't forget you don't always have to resort to "Kicking" Moving your leg a little bit higher or lower or in a different motion helps too! Inside of squeezing sometimes you can brush your leg back and forth gently and some horses will respond to that:) Just a suggestion, because nothing bothers me more than seeing a horse being rammed in its side repeativly, it must'nt be good for them! I would almost rather see a quick fair slap with a riding crop then see them being kicked!

Back to the spurs business I agree with Mikka only expirenced riders with a good solid leg postion should use them! Otherwise you'll be knicking the horse with them when they dont need it!
Also some riding schools may not want you to use spurs on their horses as well!:)

[Bruce32]

Flynn, being of the chunky and lazy type, used to require a great deal of kicking and/or use of the crop to get him moving forward. I was unhappy with both, not wanting to deaden his sides nor wishing to inflict any pain on him, but was very reluctant to try spurs for all the reasons that have been mentioned here. Eventually I did get a set and used them under the close eye of a good instructor at first. The change in him was remarkeable. The most interesting thing was that I didn't actually have to use them. As soon as he was aware that they were there his performance improved and he now responds to a mere tensing of the calf muscles. I didn't want to deaden him to spurs either so, now that I've got him listening to more subtle aids, I wear the spurs infrequently and at random intervals, just to keep him on his toes, as it were. I don't know if this is an approved method or even a good idea, but it seems to work for us. Any opinions?

[Gracie]

Bruce: I agree, if you use them responsibily under supervision I think they can be an excellent aid! But there are those who use them with no help of a professional and end up making a bigger problem then what they started with!

[Crazy horse2601]

I think with horses it's all atitude. If you spend the whole lesson kicking him and forcing him round then neither of u r gonna enjoy it, true some horses do need a bit of encouragement so an extra aid with your legs would be a good idea.
Some horses behave better if they know you've got an aritficial aid (whip, spurs) but some just misbehave with them. have u tried using a whip. I sometimes carry one and only use it twice in a lesson! Anyway, I'm probably just babbling on again :rolleyes: good luck! :)

[ali cat]

reading this with great interest as i have been having mega problems with rosie since she isn't getting enough turnout t the moment(and i can do NOTHING about this--though i wish i could) and her napping is getting worse----i now have not ridden her for 10 days--to give us both a break from frustration--i walk her out in hand and someone else rides her in daylight ours--when i'm at work

anyway--i had been thinking of spurs as she does not respond to leg or whip--and i don't want a battle ---each hour long ride was taking me 2 hours- at least 3 episodes of napping that take 20 mins to get through

i nudge--i kick (a little) i do one slap on my leg with whip---i slap her once with whip--she walks backwards---i nudge her back to start--and then we go through this again and again-and again--the first ime i turned her round and reined back some 20 paces --turned her round and off we went happy as larry!!!

i am ashamed to admit last time i lost it and belted her 3 or 4 times hard and she moved on--but thats not right--i was crying with frustration--we were on the way home for gods sake---SO--what to do---the owner does not ride at all---the other rider turns around and comes home if she naps----cos if you do ''win'' she shies--bucks --and puts sudden stops in all the way home--as if to say--''i still have the upper hand''

i'm at a loss--so at the moment --i exercise her in hand--i make sure i'm the food provider--i groom --i chat with her---but i find excuses not to ride--and i hate myself for it--but not as much as i hate the feeling of wrecking what relationship we have with fights

so whats the answer---bearing in mind she's not mine--and have no say over turnout--am i right to leave it til she forgets we fight--will she forget? i really am stuck in a vicious circle here and don't know what to do to get out of it


rosie is 7/8 yr old--heavy cob--very strong and is in a double with a huge hard rubber bit--she is willful but full of personality and i like her!

[chapsi]

The spur issue is delicate. Most of my life I was under the impression that "good riders" didn't use either spurs or crops to make horses move. I always critisised people who wore spurs at the yard... until recently.
My horse was going forward and used to be easy to ride for a few months. Gradually he became rebelious whilst riding, resorting to being slow, uncooperative, lazy on the whole (my horse and I is a long story). Rein pressure, leg pressure and crop use (as a signal) are no longer a response to his attitude. So, today I used for the first time spurs, but of a special kind.
I ordered a new type of spurs from Germany, which inflict no pain whatsoever on the horse. These spurs are made by two plastic spheres; as you move your leg on the girth area, they roll on the horses skin, giving him an extra impuls.
On my horse? well, perhaps just a tiny little bit more willingness to canter, but noting major.
Just a word of warning. Another rider at our yard, who was riding with me in the school and wears big hard spurs, fell off today. He pricks his horse constantly, and this afternoon he wanted to show off for his family. He asked for a canter bluntly, so the horse bucked and sent him flying over to the wodden fence! Well done horsey; Quo Vadis 1, Hugo 0:rolleyes:

[Kezzabelle]

Thanks for the advice guys! I never realised how much there was to consider before buying spurs, i now understand alot more about them. Thanks gracie, for the leg movements i'll be sure to try them if i have any problems. Only 2 more days to go until i have my very first riding lesson in over THREE years! yay!

Kez x

[Shmon]

spurs and crops are not cruel - but PLEASE know how to use them. Our barn doesn't allow anyone but those in the advanced classes to use spurs - and even then, we have to ask our trainer if we can use them (I only use them for one particular horse who goes MUCH better after I touch him once with my spur - if he knows they are there, he obeys much better!). Spurs can be misused (accidentally, of course) by a rider who doesn't have a completely tight, secure leg. You can accidentally poke the horse in the ribs without even knowing it - this can both cause the horse to ignore your spur after a while, or drive them crazy!

If the horse is ignoring my leg, I usually give a much stronger leg aid, and if they still ignore me, a little tap on the crop reminds them that I'm the one in charge and I decide what we do. Just don't stand there and kick and kick a horse that's dead to the leg - it won't do you or the horse any good. Smack him on the butt with your hand or a crop or something to get his attention.

So, in response to your question, I would NOT get a pair of spurs just yet - especially since it's been a while since you last rode. Ask your trainer after you've been riding again for a while when the right time to buy spurs is. I've been riding for 3 years, and just bought my first pair of spurs (prince of wales type) two months ago.

[soaring_eagle]

i guess i'm really lucky with the horses i ride at the stables i go to .... they all tend to be rather forward going, interested in what you want them to do.

[Kezzabelle]

Hi soaring_eagle,
Well turns out the horse im riding at this new riding school is very forward going, Riz is a very well manered horse and is an absloute pleasure to ride! Before i posted my thread i thought that spurs were just give the horse a bit of a boost, i now realise that a pair of spurs in the wrong hands can be terrible for a horse. I didnt realise how experienced (and how much control you need over your legs) you had to be to wear spurs but thanks to the replies i now know loads about them!

Kez x

[floppy]

THe only time i ever use to wear spurs was when i was given them. I ride without them much more happily but sometimes my poor little leggies didnt seem to get much out of the big horses and so i was always given spurs as i have very good control over my legs especially as the majourity of horses i rode before i got my own horse were very sensitive to the leg.

but i also ride at the moment for a friend her haflinger that will not spead up for anyone...you can use your legs..you can use a whip but nothing works...but what does make her light off your leg is spurs. I use a pair of western spurs (western ridden) that have the little wheel thing that turns around and you just have to tickle her with them...dont know what they are called in english..