Spurs

[Silly Filly]

I have an Irish Cob mare who when i got (in May) was very forward going and lovely, now i am lucky if i can get her to trot and canter when schooling!

She is very sensitive to spurs and sometimes bucks when i use them! Would you continue to use spurs so she gets used to them (only once a week or something). I want to show more but obviously it will not look good if she wont trot or canter in our individual displays! She is lovely going in spurs (except for when she bucks!).

I do not particuarly agree with spurs but will they be kinder in a way as i will use less leg?

Please help.

Thank you.

[Maria]

If your mare used to be forward going and now isn't, I think I'd first look at whether there are any physical reasons for this rather than resorting to spurs. When did she last have her teeth checked? The saddle checked? Does she appear sound/level?

Are you unintentionally blocking her forward movement when you're riding? Do you have regular lessons? Perhaps someone on the ground might be able to pick up something you're missing. I can remember a light bulb moment when someone told me to remember to release the seat aid when I asked a horse to move forward from halt.

[kelsey]

Try using a dressage whip instead of spurs.

Ask her to go forward, if no response give an immediate sharper aid, if still no response one sharp tap just behind your leg with the whip. Make sure not to pull back on the reins once you get the desired forward response, even if she goes into a canter let her go on a few strides before bringing her back.

[Silly Filly]

I think the reason she was forward going was because everything was new and now she has had a chance to settle she is just lazy natured!

Her teeth are fine (were done couple of weeks ago), saddle is fine too and she appears sound.

I use a dressage whip but she doesnt really respond to a tap as she is not scared of being smacked! Even if i do it hard she still doesnt listen!! With spurs she is lovely going and really listens but i do not want her to buck!! I do not really want to use spurs but feel i have no other choice. If i do use them would you practice once a week with them so she gets used to them?

[shirley]

My cob is not very forward going I too have trouble with getting him to go off the leg. I kick, and I mean kick hard and use my whip, but doing this at shows and in dressage arenas is just not the done thing and also I got fed up with it too. It took me two weeks to decide to even try spurs, which was my instuctors idea to try. When we did I had to just turn my foot in and he went like magic. He came up lighter on the fore hand and stepped underneath himself, I really did feel I was floating on air!!! So since then I wear them for all my schooling and for lessons I have with my instructor. The results are coming along. Also as I wear them I am getting used to just how much pressure to apply for what my boy needs. On the converse side I do not use them for hacking as these are our play times, sometimes we just dawdle around our perimeter rides, others canter / trot etc.
My boy did not appear completely happy when I first used them, but as he sees I will not overuse them and just do enough to communicate my intention he responds and now accepts them as part and parcel whilst being schooled.
Does your mare buck all the time you have them on? Or just occasionally, so see what those occasions are and try to remedy them. Also how old is your mare. If young could be she does not really understand.
Good luck anyway