Comment about spurs... thoughts?

[dafthoss]

I don't understand why people on here think that a standing martingale is up there on the list of evil tack

I'm not saying the standing martingale is an evil piece of tack and yes it surley is kinder than a running used with a stronger bit. But in the majority of cases its when the child takes a yank (and I do mean a real yank) on the ponys mouth it throws it head up because it has such a bit in, its not the martingale that caused the problem its the bit acompanied by a dig in the ribs with spurs at the same time (yes this is what you see at local shows ).

Just the way you tend to see it used when at shows, not saying its correct at all or evil when used properly.

 

[Kat]

Fair enough. Though don't think I've ever seen a standing martingale at a show!

It's off topic anyway, at the end of the day no one wants to see a horse being treated harshly with inappropriate or misused tack/aids, whatever it is.

 

[MagicMelon]

I don't have 'all of that' in my horses mouth but I do have quite a strong bit plus grakle plus martingale etc for show jumping/xc because she is a tank and yet i ride in spurs because in between the tanking she throws in nasty run outs and these happen more if I don't have my spurs on to give her a 'reminder' on the way into scary fillers.

I have heard the odd comments at shows about my bridle/bit/spurs combo.. but is it so wrong!!??? Seems to me I have a logical reasoning behind it...

See, to me logic would suggest that you need to sort out your horses schooling/jumping issues rather than just try to deal with the odd run out by using spurs. IMO no happy horse should ever refuse a fence or especially not quite regularly. If mine was running out, I'd feel there was quite a big issue going on I needed to sort through schooling than simply covering it up by using spurs to try and minimise the problem. Same can be said for martingales which are way over-used.

I'm not a fan of spurs but I totally understand they have their uses, I just think in quite a few cases they're not needed and they're just masking a problem. Same with strong bits, way too many people just automatically wack them in their horses mouthes without even thinking about WHY the horse is pulling etc. Again, same with nosebands - this really annoys me though because most bridles include AS STANDARD a flash noseband, why?! Its quite difficult to buy one with a plain cavesson which is ridiculous! I guarantee if you asked riders at any show why they are using the flash / mexican etc. noseband a lot wouldn't know why. Same goes with martingales!

 

[Switchthehorse]

See, to me logic would suggest that you need to sort out your horses schooling/jumping issues rather than just try to deal with the odd run out by using spurs. IMO no happy horse should ever refuse a fence or especially not quite regularly. If mine was running out, I'd feel there was quite a big issue going on I needed to sort through schooling than simply covering it up by using spurs to try and minimise the problem.

Ahhh magic melon you need to come and meet my nag.... I absolutely agree with the fact I need to be working on schooling/jumping issues and omitted to include in my original post that I am, continuously - and I know it will do a lot to help with her way of going in the future, I still hope with all the time and hard work invested one day I won't need the spurs, or the bit/bridle/noseband combo.

Many people have the same opinion as you re horses shouldn't refuse fences regularly - I did too... until I bought the fat one... and now I am a convert and realise some just do!! Some horses just take the p plain and simple... doesnt have to be pain/inexperience/bad riding/bad fitting tack etc... bet that now opens up another can of worms - ooops!!

 

[Roisin_M]

The spurs debate will always be a divided subject, some people hate and some people love.

I personally ride all of my horses in spurs, I'm not a numpty novice, I've been riding for years and have a secure enough lower leg that i'm not jabbing any of them in the side with every stride. None of them have particulary strong bits in their mouths, one has a copper rollar tom thumb with a plain caveson and a running martingale, one has a french link snaffle, grackle noseband and running martingale and the other has neue shule tranz universal, caveson noseband and running martingale. As you can see, a fan of martingales. My question is, unless somebody is blatently abusing or causing their horse harm, why is it anybodies else's business what tack they are using?

 

[anna22]

You do not have to wear spurs XC or SJ at any level of eventing. Here is a pic of Andrew Nicholson and Armada at Burghley 2010, quiet clearly wearing no spurs.

You do, however have to wear spurs above Advanced level in pure dressage and for Advanced, FEI 2*, 3* and 4* eventing in the dressage phase only.

I knew it was compulsary somewhere, I think I may have assumed it was in the XC phase
Like lots of people have said, in the right context and correctly fitted etc, most tack and aids are fine

 

[Kat]

Same can be said for martingales which are way over-used.

Thing is though that it doesn't matter if martingales are used when not needed as unless the horse chucks its head up then it is totally useless and doing nothing*. In fact a running martingale can actually help protect the horse from the riders poor hands.

A correctly fitted martingale will have no effect on a horse that is working correctly so if it is used when not necessary what harm is it doing other than causing the horse's owner to have to clean more tack?



*disclaimer - I know that a running martingale can affect the angle of the rein in some circumstances when the hore is on the bit, for example you cannot get the benefit of opening your hand really wide, but in normal riding it will be doing nothing.

 

[LaurenBay]

I have used them and would again if the Horse needed it.

I used mine, for a Horse I used to share. He could nap for England! it wasn't a confidence issue, but a stubborn "trying it on" nap. He would buck, plant and spin. He would respond to legs, but took some time. If you tapped him with a whip he would buck. He would even sometimes do this on the road. I used spurs and only used them, when needed. Worked a treat and he napped a lot less.

They have a use, but I don't like seeing them, being used for the wrong reasons.

 

[alext]

I had a horse who was In a strong bit and I rode in spurs for jumping. I think sometimes others are too quick to judge on tack combinations. I heard one lady at a show comment and it annoyed me I'd tried lots of bits schooling etc but it was obvious to me that he was happy with the combination he was in! I think the use of spurs is probably misunderstood by some people as is strong bits. Yes in the wrong hands the outcome is awful but all horses are different and go best in different things.
Well at least that is what my boy taught me! I do agree though that there are probably many horses ridden in tack simply brought cause it looks good without a thought to what it does!!

 

[PapaFrita]

Someone had commented on that veeery long discussion about the horse with all the gadgetry saying 'why would you need spurs if you have all of that in your horses mouth'.

Someone who says that clearly has a very poor understanding of what spurs are actually for.

 

[Shantara]

I don't use them personally, but that's simply because I wouldn't trust myself, I'd feel awful if I accidently jabbed him!
I have no issue with spurs if they're used properly. One that angered me was someone in a show, riding Archie. She was showing off her spurs :O That horse is a fantastic jumper! He never runs out, goes like a mad thing if you want, or goes around steadily. He is the last horse I'd ever put spurs on. Huff, nout I can do now, hopefully she won't in the future.

 

[somethingorother]

Important question to be asked is if the horse is actually happy in this environment, with the use of spurs and strong bitting, to get it over a fence. What can you do long term to make the horse happy to do this without needing to 'remind it' to go over the jump with spurs.

These are quick fixes, and i would hope that people would not expect to need an excessive combination as a permanent solution. I have nothing against gadgets, only how they are used and in what combination. And i've met so many people who say they have good hands so the strong bit is fine. In actual fact, you can say that all you want but in many cases it is simply not true. I tend to want to see it to beleive it, as i think the art of soft and subtle hands is somewhat lost.