Introducing spurs

Pigeon

Pigeon

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When people start using spurs, do they introduce them gradually or just start using them as normal straight away?

My horse is actually quite sharp, he's very off the leg in transitions (halt to walk and walk to trot he goes on seat aids) but needs a lot of support, especially in trot, which I just don't have the stamina to give! Also are plastic roller spurs (I have a pair somewhere from when I had my pony) BD legal?
 
Yes, those are dressage legal, and yes, I've always just stuck a pair on and ridden as normal, just remembering to be very very careful the first couple of times! I think I'd probably use a long schooling whip just behind your leg though rather than spurs in the scenario you are describing.
 
Schooling whip doesn't help so much as he drifts away from it? But I think I know what you mean, he needs to be more off the leg in terms of leg meaning impulsion instead of upwards transition! It's annoying that my lack of fitness lets him down :o
 
Two schooling whips? Sounds terrible I know but works well on youngsters which can be a bit wibbly wobbly. My instructor (BE coach) advocates it as which ever way the horse wobbles you've got the long whip there to support.
 
Before riding in spurs, I'd try some walk-trot-walk-canter-walk-trot-canter-trot etc transitions. These need to be done in a very short and accurate space of time (1 or 2 strides of each gait).

It really gets the horse engaged and listening for the next movement, which will help with impulsion and aids.
 
Great advice, thankyou guys :)

I'm going to take him for a blast round the fields today before attempting some schooling, to see if this helps him think forwards more!
 
Am I right in saying your horse is a younsgter? May just be he hasn't himself yet got the stamina to keep going for any length of time which is why he needs the support? What's he like if you lunge him? It will take time for him to build up sufficient musculature to carry himself without help so I'd do lots of transitions as suggested above, and gradually extend the time in each pace between transitions.
 
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