Advice with spurs needed please!

[Eloisee]

I have never used spurs and always been abit wary as I would never want to see anyone miss use them

My instructor who is very experienced in dressage/ showing and jumping etc has suggested I get a pair. Not harsh ones just to remind my boy that I'm here and for him to stop taking the mick as my legs are not strong enough to keep him going whilst we work on getting him tip top and taping with whips doesn't really work as he will work correctly for a short while and start ignoring my aids again.
I'm not after people to say don't use them etc as I will not be using them when I am not having a lesson with my instructor etc as I want to do it correctly.
I would just like some advice as to which ones May to suitable and anyone's experience eitj their horse/pony using them

 

[eggs]

Probably best to ask your instructor which ones they would recommend. I tend to use the roller ball type ones but on one of my horses my trainer advised to use the longest, pokiest ones I could find!

What I have found very helpful with my not so forward thinking horses is to ride without spurs or stick. Give a light leg aid and if I don't get an immediate reaction give another, stronger aid a second later. You must let the horse go forward even if it is faster than you want. Don't nag with your leg but keep repeating the exercise as soon as they start to drop behind your leg. It doesn't take them long to learn to go off the first aid.

 

[Eloisee]

Thanks he suggested some small plastic ones but my local tack shop only has some rubber ball shape one ( they seem least harsh to me anyway)

I have actually tried that and he just very stubborn and clever and will just plod along not using himself and carrying himself the way I know he can

 

[Palindrome]

Thanks he suggested some small plastic ones but my local tack shop only has some rubber ball shape one ( they seem least harsh to me anyway)

I have actually tried that and he just very stubborn and clever and will just plod along not using himself and carrying himself the way I know he can

Possibly stainless steel is better than rubber as rubber could tend to catch the skin (depending how much grip there is on the rubber though).

 

[Walrus]

I've just started using spurs on mine following my instructors advice. I have a pair of Mark Todd metal rollerball ones, i bought them new off ebay and they didn't cost much. At first i was concerned and wore them in my lessons a few times but now i'm confident enough to wear them at home etc as well and they have helped.

 

[TT55]

I was in the same boat as you.. instructor suggested spurs and i was reluctant as i'm always paranoid i might catch the horse accidentally or use them wrongly. He assured me that i was competent enough to use them so i got some Mark Todd rollerball spurs and they're great! I haven't had any issues using them... I don't use them all the time though, mainly just for competing.

 

[Cortez]

As long as you are aware of and in control of your legs then spurs are a step up in finesse and refinement of the aids. Roller ball ones are great for a starter pair, I use them on my super sensitive, frightened chap and he goes very well in them. Highly recommend.

 

[Chirmapops]

I used to use rollerball ones, and they were great, HOWEVER be careful when your horse is changing his coat - mine were getting clogged up and actually pulling the hair out. Although my mare is a bit of a special case, so that probably doesn't happen for most people. I now use a pair of fairly long but quite thick and rounded at the end ones - my short ones which I used to use in hunter classes were actually quite sharp at the end and she had *too much* reaction, so even though these look bigger, they're actually more gentle. I also only use mine at competitions and very occasionally at home, so she doesn't start to ignore them.

If you're worried about using them, I'd also recommend getting in the gym and doing lots of "leg day" exercises to make sure you're strong enough to keep your legs still. I'm sure you'll be fine, you sound very sensible.