If you see spur marks..............

[Allover]

........what do you think? I am talking of raised reddened marks, not rubs!!!

I drives me mad, i really hate it. I was told today that it is OK for professional riders to mark the horses like that, nothing wrong with it

 

[Dancing Queen]

In my opinion;

A good rider does not need spurs.

 

[3Beasties]

I'd say that the spurs are being incorrectly used if they are leaving marks

 

[Ranyhyn]

I have to say, I'd think instantly that something wasn't being done right. Whether that's right or not...well...but that's what I'd think.

 

[MiCsarah]

Im pretty sure its frowned upon to have spur marks in top competitions.

 

[Allover]

No i am told that it is only frowned on in the 1* SJ and above that it does not matter. The guy does come out with some crap

I told him he was talking rubbish of course

 

[JFTDWS]

I'd say that the spurs are being incorrectly used if they are leaving marks

this.

 

[Auslander]

In my opinion;

A good rider does not need spurs.

So why do the majority of riders at the top levels ride with spurs?

Spurs, used correctly, are for the purpose of refining an aid - they are a sophisticated piece of kit, which are sadly maligned, and misused.

 

[brown tack]

I think that spurs that leave marks aren't being used correctly.

Also when I saw people using them "to get the horse going" this isn't what they are for. They are not for making the horse go faster.

They are for making small adjustments to the aids ie latual work.

 

[MissSBird]

There are some times of year when certain horses get little marks, usually when the coat is changing. Our old pony was like this. Same rider, same pony, same spurs, but for 3 weeks out of every year they'd mark.

But there is a huge difference between a little mark and the signs of abuse, and the latter should not be tolerated by anyone.

 

[Allover]

Their use has been adapted to the SJ world though so i have no problem with people wearing them. Its the not giving a ******* about marking them that got my goat most.

 

[Ranyhyn]

I was at a demo with MK who likened her spurs as being able to pinpoint the "buttons" on her horses side with more accuracy, moreso than a whole heel.

 

[mulledwhine]

They are a great aid WHEN used properly, if they are leaving marks them grab the spurs and burn them.

Yet again another 'aid' being misused

 

[olop]

I ride my boy in spurs.....and he gets marked in the winter when his coat is changing, doesnt mean I am using them incorrectly, totally depends on the horse IMO.

 

[only_me]

Tbh it has a lot do to with coat change as well!

My last horse was quite thin skinned, and he had a very small bald patch (basically a spur mark) except that I hadn't been wearing spurs and it was infact a rub off my boot! His coat was changing from winter to summer.

Spurs are a great aid and help refinement and responsiveness and used correctly - a good rider should be able to wear spurs but not have to use them

 

[Allover]

Trust me when i say that they are not rubs! I must admit that i do not see them very often but when i do................grrrrrrrr

 

[Ranyhyn]

Spurs are a great aid and help refinement and responsiveness and used correctly - a good rider should be able to wear spurs but not have to use them

That blows MK's statement out of the water then! and I'd definitely consider her a good rider..

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

My Gelding marks very easily even with my heels So if anyone saw him with them they would think I was abusing him with them.

Spurs are a great piece of kit when used correctly, I dont believe the statements of a good rider doesnt need spurs, so all the top BD people are rubbish riders?? What nonsense really, very narrow minded statement to make.

 

[Dancing Queen]

So why do the majority of riders at the top levels ride with spurs?

Spurs, used correctly, are for the purpose of refining an aid - they are a sophisticated piece of kit, which are sadly maligned, and misused.

Doesnt mean they are particularly good riders!
It like being asked to do something and then getting poked to 'refine' that instruction.

Spurs = not a sophisticated piece of kit in my mind and in my opinion.
Im sure you will disagree but hey ho thats what makes the world go round.

 

[unbalanced]

My Gelding marks very easily even with my heels So if anyone saw him with them they would think I was abusing him with them.

Spurs are a great piece of kit when used correctly, I dont believe the statements of a good rider doesnt need spurs, so all the top BD people are rubbish riders?? What nonsense really, very narrow minded statement to make.

I think there are bad riders at the top levels of dressage for sure, yes (blue tongue rolkur horse anyone?) We only have to start a discussion about hyperflexion and horses broken at the third vertebrae to see that. Are there good riders? Absolutely.
(Personally of course I am a terrible rider learning from how it is done right and how it is done wrong to see which way to go).
For me to define good riding I would rather look to say the Spanish Riding School or Phillipe Karl or someone like that - again, they wear spurs.

 

[Cortez]

Spurs, with rowels, are actually compulsory at FEI level dressage.

 

[only_me]

That blows MK's statement out of the water then! and I'd definitely consider her a good rider..

As in - only use them when needed.

So a good rider should be able to wear spurs, and not use them - unless they want to!!

 

[charlie76]

Surely a light touch with a spur I'd better than continuous kicking? If you have ridden a dressage horse which is trained to top level You Would understand the need fir spurs. They have such a vast array of buttons that you need the spur to get a reaction from the lightest of touches.
With regards to spur marks- rubs at coat change time is Fairly common. Weales or blood is unacceptable and is a sign of an insecure leg or cheap poorly made spurs!

 

[traceyann]

I wear spurs but only when jumping or eventing never schooling i use them on cob wb and tb and never left a mark. Some horses mark easier than others though. I also only use the really blunt ones so that might be why.

 

[Booboos]

It totally depends on the horse's skin. When R is changing coat heels will rub him and during the winter I leave a patch of unclipped coat around the spur area to avoid problems (copied that one off a top rider on TV).

 

[tallyho!]

Agree with Charlie about the insecure leg thing... I would imagine lower leg at an obtuse angle, gripping at the knees, therefore the spur makes contact continously. It should be fitted correctly i.e. on the ankle and point backwards. Then, it will only be used when rider consciously swivels leg to ask for a certain direction. A light touch is all that is needed.

However, I too see it misused at high levels and at low levels. It's just not right! It's supposed to be a refinement, not a torture implement!

How are people's BOOTS marking their horses?? Must be riding like a clamp!!!! Most of the time, your lower leg is all that is needed... need to do more lower leg strengthening exercises!

 

[Auslander]

Doesnt mean they are particularly good riders!
It like being asked to do something and then getting poked to 'refine' that instruction.

Spurs = not a sophisticated piece of kit in my mind and in my opinion.
Im sure you will disagree but hey ho thats what makes the world go round.

Yup - let's agree to disagree! To me, it's the difference between using a pen and a paintbrush!

 

[JustMe22]

Did it once with my horse when he was being particularly pig headed and YO made me drill him into the ground for over an hour. Felt horrible. Never rode with him again and took the spurs off for a good 8 months or so until my leg was still enough to wear them and SJ instructor suggested it for my tb. Never had a problem rubbing any horse in them since.

 

[showqa]

I totally disagree that a good rider does not need spurs. That in itself shows a lack of understanding about how spurs SHOULD be used. Would the same people say that using a schooling whip is only used by poor riders????

I can honestly say that one of the guys who trains me is a truly superb and highly sensitive, respectful rider (if only I had half of his feel!) and he rides in spurs. He doesn't kick with spurs - and therein is the rub - he uses them properly and in a subtle fashion.

Sorry if I offend, but if any of you were to watch him ride all manner of very different horses in a truly wondeful, kind and harmonious way, then I would have to question your judgement if you were to say he isn't a "good rider".

 

[Jesstickle]

OP did very clearly state they are NOT talking about rubs.

I think a lot of horses get rubs just from boots at coat change time, including mine. Rubs I wouldn't give a second thought to.

Raised red welts and I expect I'd be pretty cross frankly. Either someone can't fit spurs or they have no idea how to keep their leg still! In both instances they shouldn't be using spurs!