Spurs?

sjp1 · #1 6th Jul 2012, 07:10 PM

Am thinking of getting some roller ball spurs. Tobes dreadful lazy in the school because HE HATES it. I am none too keen either, but we really must do more school work. I get off red in the face and absolutely exhausted after lessons, and he is probably absolutely fed up of my nagging legs as every time I sit when trotting I have to use my legs or else we would grind to a halt!!!

Farrier came today - red face - Tobes polished the toes of his shoes out yet again after five weeks. Commented to farrier on shoe situation who suggested I need to 'get after him to make him get his back end under him and stop dragging himself along on the forehand'!!!

All of which actually rings true. We do drag ourselves along on the forehand. Less than we used to, but we are truly not back end engaged!!!

So ................. what do we think of roller ball spurs. I think they seem a very kind alternative. YO thinks they are far more naggy than normal short end spurs.

Views??

juliecwuk · #2 6th Jul 2012, 07:14 PM

I used them on Moët for the same reason about 18 months ago. I stopped using them about 4 months ago. It's really helped, I had roller ball ones too.

tubby · #3 7th Jul 2012, 02:20 PM

The roller ball ones are much gentler but you still have to be sure you can keep the spurs away from horse's sides when not actually being used or will just become a newer version of nagging.Also you have to move heel inwards & forwards to make them effective,takes a bit of getting used to for some but long term well worth it.

Sunshine-x · #4 7th Jul 2012, 03:34 PM

I find roller balls too naggy. I use prince of wales ones but you sound like you should try some short round ended ones with him if you haven't tried before with him.

sjp1 · #5 8th Jul 2012, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunshine-x

I find roller balls too naggy. I use prince of wales ones but you sound like you should try some short round ended ones with him if you haven't tried before with him.

Because the roller balls are too naggy? YO says normal spurs would be better. But don't want to send him into outerspace! He is fairly sharp out hacking, but either off on another planet in the school or very lazy.

Sunshine-x · #6 8th Jul 2012, 07:36 PM

I'd recommend something like this to start you off. http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/P/J...rs-(1774).aspx

I use a pair like the ones below but you need to be more aware of your leg as they are longer so easier to touch by mistake.
http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/P/J...rs-(1772).aspx

clashnoir · #7 9th Jul 2012, 08:20 AM

I have been thinking of getting some too so lots of interesting comments.
Mine is better in the school than hacking though.

newforest · #8 9th Jul 2012, 08:47 AM

I would probably look for something he enjoyed and would naturally perk up. I have never used spurs so i if felt needed a little something to say excuse me , i may carry a schooling whip.

OwnedbyChanter · #9 9th Jul 2012, 10:43 AM

I have to say I am not a fan of spurs for lazy horses. Spurs are there to refine the aids as you do more advance schooling. Chanter can be a bit lazy so I have to work at getting the impulsion and keeping it by use of transitions and if need be the back up of my schooling whip. I would never use them for hacking unless the horse had a dangerous habit of stopping in the middle of the road! but again I would treat this a a failure in my schooling as he should move off my leg when asked.

This is only my opinion and I know lots of people that use them but you do need a good lower leg position.

I do school an ID that can be very lazy but once he has received a copy of either hard kicks backed with a touch of the whip he moves just fine. But I do see his owner huffing and puffing while schooling him.

Mary Poppins · #10 9th Jul 2012, 11:07 AM

I would look at why you and your horse don't like schooling. What is it about schooling that you don't like? Do you go into each session with an aim and something to work on? If you tend to just ride around the arena with no real purpose this then will be demotivating for both of you.

My horse can be very lazy and nappy if I let him. If I ride with purpose from the start and make sure that I have a very positive attitude he becomes a completely different horse. When we get into an exercise that we both enjoy it is such a fantastic feeling. He concentrates, really aims to please and we both feel like we have achieved something.

Personally I don't like spurs. Most people on my yard use them and most of the horses do have some degree of spur marks. I think that many people wear spurs to 'look the part' or to mask poor riding. Unless you want to perform very refined dressage moves where the exact aid must be very precise to get a reaction I don't think that they are necessary and I really don't think that they should be used to get the horse moving forward. Good riding back up by a schooling whip if necessary should be all that is needed to gain implusion.

bitsnpieces · #11 9th Jul 2012, 11:27 AM

I agree with OwnedbyChanter and Mary Poppins on this one, spurs are a refining tool and you need to have a strong and steady lower leg in order to be able to use them properly.

What is your normal schooling sessioni like? What exercises do you usually do?

Puzzle has a habit of being really quite lazy if allowed to get away with it so I have to incorporate lots of transitions and regular polework to get her moving her little tush nicely.

sjp1 · #12 9th Jul 2012, 01:48 PM

We just do general schooling really. Transitions, up and down, trotting poles, bit of canter (not fearfully good at canter in the school), serpentines, 20m circles, 10m circles. Just that sort of thing.

The whole point of us schooling is to get Tobes to engage his back end and work from that.

However, because we have zero impulsion in the school, it is very difficult to get any engagement at all.

Tobes is quite bright and finds schooling boring, and I do tend to agree with him!! But it is something we do need to do, but because it is SUCH hard work, it tends to put me off having regular lessons. In fact he dislikes it so much that if I put his boots on (the only time he ever wears them is for schooling in the arena), he then naps and plays up leaving the yard to get to the arena. He knows boots = schooling = boredom.

bitsnpieces · #13 9th Jul 2012, 01:57 PM

Could you maybe think of things to do that would brighten it up for him?

Maybe stick some funky obstacles in there so when he starts to back off and get bored you have something to take his mind off it?

You might actually find it better with regular lessons as it would be more focused (you'd probably get worked harder than you would work yourself) but with a good RI you'd get lots out of it

sjp1 · #14 9th Jul 2012, 02:00 PM

We did have regular lessons. To begin with he was quite interested in the proceedings, but as we progressed, he got more fed up with it. And I never just go in the school without having a lesson because I am not keen on it either!!

Think perhaps might put a couple of mini jumps up. Jumps are quite fun, and I guess could put some crates out for bending around. Would get his leg under him, but more interesting then just trotting circles. Good thinking, will give it a go.

bitsnpieces · #15 9th Jul 2012, 02:21 PM

And maybe some raised poles or slightly spooky obstacles like a tarpaulin? Just something to break it up a bit, so little bit of schooling, little bit of spook busting? Raised trot poles could be good to have dotted around to wake him up if you feel him going flat?

Just another random thought, is he fit enough for what you ask of him in the school? Some horses are easily over phased when they find certain work difficult, Puz is a nightmare to school when she's unfit but is a different pony once she's built up some muscle and stamina.

sjp1 · #16 9th Jul 2012, 02:46 PM

He is pretty fit. But yes, it is hard work having lessons (for both of us!!), and I suppose hard work and no fun - unlike having a blast when out with your mates on a good hack - makes it boring and not something to be relished.

I think my horse grows more like me every day - I hate being bored too!!

newforest · #17 9th Jul 2012, 04:31 PM

I have learnt a couple of Dressage tests for something to focus on, i also do a flat figure of 8 and a normal figure of 8, clover leaf, question box with cones or poles, transitions including yields. My favourite though is not having an empty school, so i add one or two obstacles to use for something.
You could ride bareback to add something different or work without stirrups.
Jack was my best teacher for schooling idea because he hated it and so did i, that changed once we began to enjoy ourselves.

Claire1605 · #18 9th Jul 2012, 07:01 PM

Roller ball spurs have worked wonders on Victory.

Anything more severe and he will go looney tune in the school. He deals with the roller ball ones perfectly and really listens to them too. Great results.

I'd say go and try them and see how you get on.

sjp1 · #19 9th Jul 2012, 07:14 PM

Oh, and schooling whips are just wasted on Tobes. For a horse that can feel a fly land on him in double quick time, he has no respect at all for schooling whips, just couldn't care less!