Talk to me about spurs

[SecretAgentMaam]

I feel like there should be a special place here for dumb newbie questions. Then again, it looks like I’m the only one asking dumb newbie questions at the moment!

So I had my second lesson last weekend, and my instructor put huge western rowel spurs on me. At least, I assume they were western. They looked like cowboy spurs to me. I think they did help while I was riding, but they still felt awkward and clumsy and I had to take them off before I could untack because I felt like I was going to trip over my own feet with them on. I’m thinking since I’m riding english, I should get my own english spurs that actually fit me. Of course, I started looking around and have no idea what to even look for. Bumpers? Rowels? Roller balls? The boots I’m wearing right now don’t have a spur rest, but I’m ordering Ariats next payday, which will. Anyone have any suggestions for me?

[alibi_18]

If your trainer haven’t told you to buy spurs, don’t buy spurs.

What was your trainer’s explanation for putting big spurs on you at your second lesson?

[TBHunterPrincess]

I don’t like the idea of a beginner riding with spurs. In my opinion, your leg needs to be steady and at least somewhat educated before you should use spurs. At that point, I would use small spurs with a rounded end. The spurs with the rubber covered branches stay put much better. You can also find rubber spur covers at some tack shops.

[CHT]

I trip over long spurs too. And spur myself when I go down to take off the brush boots and such…

I would ask your instructor what type of spurs she likes. I prefer rounded ends to my spurs. The length of the shank depends a bit on the length of the rider’s leg vs the size of the horse’s barrel.

I have never used roller balls, but have students that do. They seem forgiving so might be a good option if you aren’t sure of your leg yet.

[SecretAgentMaam]

I don’t actually know what the reason was. She just brought them out and put them on me and the other student right after we mounted. I figured they were just standard equipment, but maybe not? It was my second lesson total, but my first with this particular instructor.

[SuzieQNutter]

I cannot wear spurs as I cannot put my heels down.

There is no way I would put spurs on a beginner.

If the horse needs spurs for a beginner lesson then I would not be learning at that place…just saying.

I will also add that I am English trained so know nothing about western.

[Sacred_Petra]

Okay so, I am also of the mind that beginners shouldn’t be wearing spurs. I think spurs are a great tool, but you have to know absolutely where your leg is so you’re not using them accidentally, and I think it’s an unnecessary extra thing for a beginner to be concentrating on.

I would also like to know why your trainer had you use large spurs. I ride both western and english and struggle to keep my western spurs off the horse in an english saddle, it forces me to really contort my legs.

[SecretAgentMaam]

Well, I have another lesson scheduled with her on Sunday, so I’ll talk to her about it. I wasn’t overly fond of the spurs, either. I felt like I couldn’t really tell where the rowels were or how hard I was applying them. I am still trying out lesson barns, so the spurs may be a mark against this one.

[fargaloo]

Unfortunately, spurs on a second lesson are kind of a red flag about the instruction. There’s a reason for the expression “earning your spurs”.

Hope you find a good match for lesson barns – good instruction is priceless!

[Guilherme]

There’s an expression that goes “they’ve earned their spurs.” In some Armored Cavalry units there is a formal ceremony where a pair of spurs are given to soldiers who have successfully completed a demanding training program. It means that a person has achieved a level of competence in some activity where they can enhance their demonstrated abilities.

Before a rider uses spurs they have to master control of their leg. Whether riding English or Western leg control is spur control. I’ve seen folks wear spurs and “gig” their horse with every step because they didn’t have that control. Not only does this annoy the horse (and become a common cause equine misbehavior) it also will “deaden” the horse to action of the leg making quality equitation difficult to impossible.

English or modern military spurs are pretty much small and designed for a utilitarian purpose. Western spurs, and the Spanish spurs from which they are derived, were designed not only to work but to be a “fashion statement.” You don’t have to look at too many Western spur catalogs to figure out you’re looking at some sort of “cowboy jewelry.” By the way, this is not necessarily a bad thing. As long as the cowboy uses the spurs correctly who really cares what they look like? It is, however, a big “if.” And the same “if” applies to rider with more discrete English spurs.

Walking with spurs is a separate conversation. Do it with big Western spurs and you’ll see why John Wayne walked as he did!!!

I would not recommend spurs on a lower level rider unless I saw that I was dealing with a “natural” who had the leg control necessary to use them. Those folks are few and far between. As with some others, I’d ask some questions of the instructor.

G.

[Jackie_Cochran]

Guilherme is right. Learn to control your lower leg before spurs are put on. Then start with the mostly ineffective “dummy” or “humane” spurs just to get used to the feeling of wearing spurs. Lower leg stability is essential for effective use of spurs.

There is another spur that is suitable for people with unsteady lower legs. I have MS and when it gets to the hottest part of the year my lower legs become “shakier”. I always told my riding teacher to take my spurs off when I started irritating the horse, and she always did, every summer when it got hot.

Then I got the Spursuader spurs (http://www.spursuader.com). For the past two summers she has let me keep my spurs on. I still have to work on my lower leg stability during the summer, but when I accidentally touch the horse with this spur it is more of a “whatever, watch your leg, lady” instead of “F— you, why are you stabbing me!”

I ride two mares, both quite willing to cuss me out about my lower leg. Amazingly I get an almost as “sharp” response when I purposefully use the Spursuader as I do with all other spur types (POW, Waterford, disc rowel, dull rowel) and the horses do not seem to resent me using this spur.

Even so, the rider has to gain control over the lower leg whether spurs are worn or not, and learn the proper timing of the leg aids.

[DesignerLabel]

I’m an experienced rider, but I won’t wear spurs. At 5’ tall, it is very difficult for me to keep the spurs off the horse’s side. After a bad wreck on a mare that let me know in no uncertain terms that she DID NOT care for spurs, I realized that spurs can be a crutch in training a horse to move off your leg.

When I give lessons, if a beginner is having a problem using enough leg on a somewhat dead-sided horse, I may give her a crop to use to reinforce the leg aid if necessary, and work on more effective use of the leg.