I nearly never ride with them. I would rather back up a lack of reaction to my leg with a dressage whip, which I never ride without.
I do wear little bobble spurs for dressage shows, because he has a certain lack of focus at shows, and the slightly sharper effect helps.
I’m thinking of Jack le Geoff - “Never go to war without a gun”, meaning stick and spur on x-country.
I have never used them. I can’t put my heels down as I have short Achilles tendons.
No spurs here on my own boy, he’s got plenty of his own forward momentum :D. The lesson pony sometimes needs them.
However I’m still working on just a steady rhythmic W/T/C and consistent straight bending work with my guy. He’ll jump the moon but he’s gumby on the flat 
If I used them right now he’d either be in the next county or I’d be on the ground :lol: most likely will have my trainer introduce them first since I don’t have much experience.
On my current horse, pretty much every ride along with a stick. I rarely have to use either but its nice to have them when I do.
On my previous horse, he would hit sluggy periods and I’d go to spurs. After 2-3 days he got jumpy.
I was raised in the school of spurs and whip every ride. Now, I have exceptions (I do not carry a whip on Toby, unless on xc. He’s a bit whip phobic and the only times I’ve ever needed/used one was at ditchy things).
I use spurs every ride. I find that spurs are more I lateral finesse aid and less a forward aid. I have certainly used them as driving aids on lazy SOBs (as well as a whip- classic squeeze, spur, whip school), but beyond that I use them to get more lateral movement. A little tickle with a spur to get more bend or to encourage more sideways. Particularly with Toby, they pretty much stay off his side unless I need more sideways.
I did find that a longer spur was very beneficial to my jumping, particularly at prelim, when I need to create a powerful short stride (think coffin canter). My conformation can make that tough, and a bit more spur went miles to helping me get that done.
Also taught you always wear the Spurs. I usually have a crop as well.
Up until recently, every ride.
Only not recently because my trainer has me really working on my leg and changing my riding style on a bunch of different horses. Currently, it’s just easier without them until I get used to my new way of going.
I’m a spur believer.
My own thinking is spurs for dressage for finesse IF the rider has enough, and not necessary for x-c at the lower levels. If a horse cannot enjoy the jumping, more schooling or quit…then at higher levels a bit of dutch courage can be useful in the instant when the horse needs a bit.
Schooling should include use of spurs in that case - obviously.
[QUOTE=yellowbritches;8688298]
I use spurs every ride. I find that spurs are more I lateral finesse aid and less a forward aid. [/QUOTE]
Agreed. I find that it makes more sense to back up a lazy response to a lateral aid with a touch of spur, rather than a whip. Plus, my gelding is whip-phobic, so if I touch him with a whip, he jumps into the next county. I had a trainer who decided that to make him less whip-phobic, he’d use the whip all the time, and now he’s a basket case when the whip comes out (the dressage whip, not the jumping bat).
Thinking that it boils down to the horse - willing, forward horses would not need spurs for forward, but for lightness. Perfect scenario is one the has equal amounts of whoa and go. Lazy horses need more push with whatever the rider needs, and to learn to listen to aids better. TB’s or those with TB blood are more what I am used to. Never had a plug one.
I wear them every ride right now because my horse likes to fall in quite suddenly and an inside spur helps to catch it as it’s starting.
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