Spurs and young horses

[Bay Mare]

This one's not for me! There's no way that I'm introducing the Saff Monster to spurs just yet!

At what age or stage of training is it recommended or beneficial to introduce spurs to a horse? There are no issues from the rider's point of view, she's perfectly capable of riding in spurs correctly. She's being pressured by some people at her yard but she doesn't feel it appropriate as her horse is only 4 and only just starting to work nicely in W,T & C. I agree with her and feel that she should follow her instincts. I don't really see any reason to be using spurs at this point.

Any opinions?

[DavidH]

"If it ain't broke don't fix it"
I would only use spurs on a young horse if it was the only option.
Interestingly, I have discarded my spurs for all 3 disciplines eventing Ed and he actually goes much better. Still forward but more relaxed. Only really needed them during the early stages of XC training. Now they are gathering dust. And this is from someone who ALWAYS wore spurs. ;)

[Keket]

Coquette just turned four, and we certainly don't ride her with spurs. She goes fine in walk, trot and canter. She collects at walk, and we're working with her on collecting at trot. We're starting some lateral work with her (turns on the haunches and sidepassing).

Lestate on the other hand doesn't like to go forward. He's only three, but he'll dig in his heels and refuse to move. So, he gets a poke with the spur every now and then if he's not responding to the leg. But we've never ridden Coquette with spurs, and hopefully, we won't need to for quite awhile. If the rider doesn't want to use spurs and the horse doesn't need them, why bother?

[emlybob]

I agree if it ain't broke don't fix it and spurs are not compulsory till higher up in the levels. If ** friend doesn;t feel she needs them ten she should go with her gut instinct and ignore any know it all stupid comments

[Tots N Dots]

I agree, I was forced to wear spurs as a child I used to push them under my boots as I hated them just had to be a bit carefull on dismount, but I dont really see the point, a young horse should be sensitive enough off the leg not to need them, and even if the horse should need them if the owner doesnt want to wear any why should she?

[Shadowlark]

Just for the flip side..

A lot of people I know English and Western use spurs sooner rather then later.. ie avoid a problem.

They feel that by using them right off you can increase the sensitivity of the horses sides, and help to give them a more clear signal with minimal movement helping to gain the fine control necessary for say bridless ridding or complicated dressage manuvers.

I use spurs quite a bit - I used to be dead set against them until I saw a clinician really "USE" them not as a sharp rowel on the end of his heel but as a cueing device. Now I use them when I ever I am schooling. My horse has zero impulsion issues and works on the bit in wonderful round frames. But now steering is almost effortless.

I have NEVER "worked him over" with spurs nore ever even really jarred him with them - but I do find that he is far more responsive then I was acheiving before them, because I think the cue is truly that much clearer for him. I wish I had used them on horses when I was younger, I think I could have achieved a lot more with them.

The image I used to get.. and still see all the time are people hammering horses with them.. I have seem them used to the point of blood shed.. and it really makes them look like a terrible horrific thing! But then anything used around or to train horses can be a great thing.. or horrific depending on the hands it's placed in. But truly told on a well balanced compassionate trainers feet they can acheive amazing things!

an article..
http://www.sustainabledressage.net/tack/other_equipment.php#spurs

There are plenty of pro's and con's and certainly if your friend is uncomfortable, then she really shouldn't use them to keep both parties happy :)

[Tots N Dots]

The image I used to get.. and still see all the time are people hammering horses with them.. I have seem them used to the point of blood shed.. and it really makes them look like a terrible horrific thing!
I am definately not saying anyone on here would, but I have seen them used past the point of blood shed :( which really really put me off, I think I am so wary of catching a horse accidently with them too

[Bay Mare]

Thanks for the different perspective, shadow :) I'm not against spurs when used properly and neither is my friend (and she most definitely can use them properly). I was just a bit :eek: that she was being pressurised to use them on a young horse. As you say, you see so many people who SHOULDN'T be riding in spurs or who deliberately use them incorrectly that it can become a bit of an instinctive reaction to them!

I think that she's going to stay without for now but will pass your comments on :) Good to see both sides :D

[magicmouse]

I wouldn't use them on a young horse. They're not necessary.

Having said that, I rode Mouse in spurs once and he completely ignored them, so whats the point?!

Sarah

[BeckyD]

I use spurs one my just turned 5 yr old, they are 25mm blunt round ended spurs and i use them to back up my leg aid as he is such a big horse (just over17'2"hh) he hardly knows i'm there, he goes ok with out them but i'm teaching him lateral movements at the minute and without them he gets confused what i'm asking, with them i can be more precise with my aids and this helps to have greater undestanding and avoiding unnessary confusion.

But saying that i wouldn't use spurs on my arab as a youngster as he just didn't need them, so i think it depends on the horse and the ability of the rider, in the right hands they will not do anyharm its when they are in the wrong hands they can.

[Herbie's mummy]

nope i do not like spurs full stop, we have legs for a reason :)

[coss]

unless a horse is going really slowly and not responding to legs at all i see no reason to ride with spurs. i always try them with a whip first just to get them moving more off of the leg. i certainly wouldn't ride a 4 yo in spurs as at that age they are only just getting the hang of "i have a rider on my back and they aren't going to hurt me". i will sometimes ride my gelding in spurs as his dressage work has improved so much that it sometimes makes new aid clearer or if he is really lazy and turned off of the leg. i will wear them for a few rides then take them off and he is much more responsive. he is 11 now so at that age he should know better than to ignore leg aids